In which dynast_harmonia blogs about the state of her country.
Right! Since I have no idea if there'll be a telecommunications blackout tomorrow like what the rumours are suggesting, this goes up today. Yes, Malaysians from all walks of life are probably sick to hell of hearing about this, but I believe that as tiring it gets to keep explaining, people should know about these things. Not interested? Please scroll.
On the 9th of July (aka tomorrow), there is a call for Malaysians from all walks of life to assemble at Stadium Merdeka under the banner of Bersih 2.0. Bersih is a coalition of civil society organisations unaffiliated to any political party that's rallying for FAIR AND CLEAN ELECTIONS. In 2007, there was a rally for the same purpose; the objective behind the march has not changed.
What has changed, however, is how the government has reacted. Let's have a
June 26th
- 30 members of the Malaysian Socialist Party who were campaigning for Bersih were arrested under charges of (apparent) possession of paraphernalia alluding to communism and attempting to revive the communist ideology.
June 29th
- Police start arresting people who wear the yellow Bersih shirts.
- Make sure you don't have shoes, cars and buses with the Bersih logo too, or you might be arrested.
June 30th
- An MP is arrested for wearing a yellow shirt. It was not a Bersih tee.
July 1st
- Mainstream media told to demonise the rally and submit daily reports of their news coverage on the rally.
- They are instructed not to name the rally, but nevertheless to discourage people from joining in. Footage of police using violence on the rally-goers is taboo.
July 2nd
- A follow-up from the arrests of the 30 Socialist Party arrests-- 6 of them are re-arrested under the Emergency Ordinance (EO). The EO basically states that a person can be arrested without a magistrate's remand order for up to 2 months. If the Home Ministry deems you a threat even after that, this can be extended to two years- without a trial. All 6 activists were denied legal access.
- Bersih is now declared an outlaw organisation by the Home Minister.
July 3rd
- Another MP arrested, this time for wearing a yellow shirt that read "Negara Bersih, Rakyat Bertuah" (A Clean Country Means Healthy Citizens, roughly translated). They were walking about to promote a community cleanliness campaign.
- Three other people were arrested for wearing the Bersih tee under another shirt.
- Arrest count so far: More than 100.
- The king issues a statement.
July 5th
- Ambiga, head of Bersih, meets with the king to discuss options. Bersih agrees to hold the rally in a stadium instead of on the streets.
- The prime minister agrees to allow Bersih to hold the rally in a stadium.
- Police find weapons together with Bersih shirts in various parts of the capital.
July 6th
- Police erect roadblocks 'to prevent “undesirable elements from smuggling weapons” into the city.'
- Bersih wants rally to be held at Stadium Merdeka in the capital. This place is symbolic- "Merdeka" stands for independence and it's one of the country's most well-known places.
- A "fitness activity" is arranged in one of the states possibly in a bid to prevent teachers from attending the rally.
- Home minister repeats: Bersih is still illegal.
- Police refuse to grant an assembly permit to Bersih as they are illegal.
- Army carries out a simulation exercise. The banners read: "Disperse, or we will shoot."
July 7th
- Civil servants forbidden from joining the rally
- Police place a restriction order on 91 individuals from entering the capital, including the organisers of Bersih.
- Announcement: Bus routes to the city centre (where the rally is supposed to start) have been rerouted.
July 8th
- Lockdown of the capital starts at midnight. However, people on the highways have been reporting that it's already started around 7 pm.
- ??
So as you can see, it's been a long two weeks. Frankly, I've left out quite a bit-- of how there were originally another two rallies supposed to run concurrently against Bersih, of threatening SMSes to Ambiga. I'm aware of how many of these links lead to the same websites, and how this may be considered some sort of bias. I'd however like to remind everyone that the mass media in this country is controlled by the government. Alternative news sites are how we can get our information-- and Malaysiakini is being DDoSed as I type this.
For extra information, you may want to read these (possibly triggery) and browse the main Bersih website and the Bersih wiki.
I realise that it may seem hypocritical for me to write out about this when I'm not joining in the rally. That's okay, I don't mind being called that. I only ask that all of you out there keep the people who are marching tomorrow in your thoughts, that no one will be hurt. They do not march for political reasons-- they march for fair elections. There will be other rallies in other cities around the world for this as well, and I hope you keep them in your thoughts as well.
And well, ahaha, our capital's like it's under siege this Saturday. All this for a rally that'll only last for 2 hours.
Thank you so much for reading this!
On the 9th of July (aka tomorrow), there is a call for Malaysians from all walks of life to assemble at Stadium Merdeka under the banner of Bersih 2.0. Bersih is a coalition of civil society organisations unaffiliated to any political party that's rallying for FAIR AND CLEAN ELECTIONS. In 2007, there was a rally for the same purpose; the objective behind the march has not changed.
What has changed, however, is how the government has reacted. Let's have a
June 26th
- 30 members of the Malaysian Socialist Party who were campaigning for Bersih were arrested under charges of (apparent) possession of paraphernalia alluding to communism and attempting to revive the communist ideology.
June 29th
- Police start arresting people who wear the yellow Bersih shirts.
- Make sure you don't have shoes, cars and buses with the Bersih logo too, or you might be arrested.
June 30th
- An MP is arrested for wearing a yellow shirt. It was not a Bersih tee.
July 1st
- Mainstream media told to demonise the rally and submit daily reports of their news coverage on the rally.
- They are instructed not to name the rally, but nevertheless to discourage people from joining in. Footage of police using violence on the rally-goers is taboo.
July 2nd
- A follow-up from the arrests of the 30 Socialist Party arrests-- 6 of them are re-arrested under the Emergency Ordinance (EO). The EO basically states that a person can be arrested without a magistrate's remand order for up to 2 months. If the Home Ministry deems you a threat even after that, this can be extended to two years- without a trial. All 6 activists were denied legal access.
- Bersih is now declared an outlaw organisation by the Home Minister.
July 3rd
- Another MP arrested, this time for wearing a yellow shirt that read "Negara Bersih, Rakyat Bertuah" (A Clean Country Means Healthy Citizens, roughly translated). They were walking about to promote a community cleanliness campaign.
- Three other people were arrested for wearing the Bersih tee under another shirt.
- Arrest count so far: More than 100.
- The king issues a statement.
July 5th
- Ambiga, head of Bersih, meets with the king to discuss options. Bersih agrees to hold the rally in a stadium instead of on the streets.
- The prime minister agrees to allow Bersih to hold the rally in a stadium.
- Police find weapons together with Bersih shirts in various parts of the capital.
July 6th
- Police erect roadblocks 'to prevent “undesirable elements from smuggling weapons” into the city.'
- Bersih wants rally to be held at Stadium Merdeka in the capital. This place is symbolic- "Merdeka" stands for independence and it's one of the country's most well-known places.
- A "fitness activity" is arranged in one of the states possibly in a bid to prevent teachers from attending the rally.
- Home minister repeats: Bersih is still illegal.
- Police refuse to grant an assembly permit to Bersih as they are illegal.
- Army carries out a simulation exercise. The banners read: "Disperse, or we will shoot."
July 7th
- Civil servants forbidden from joining the rally
- Police place a restriction order on 91 individuals from entering the capital, including the organisers of Bersih.
- Announcement: Bus routes to the city centre (where the rally is supposed to start) have been rerouted.
July 8th
- Lockdown of the capital starts at midnight. However, people on the highways have been reporting that it's already started around 7 pm.
- ??
So as you can see, it's been a long two weeks. Frankly, I've left out quite a bit-- of how there were originally another two rallies supposed to run concurrently against Bersih, of threatening SMSes to Ambiga. I'm aware of how many of these links lead to the same websites, and how this may be considered some sort of bias. I'd however like to remind everyone that the mass media in this country is controlled by the government. Alternative news sites are how we can get our information-- and Malaysiakini is being DDoSed as I type this.
For extra information, you may want to read these (possibly triggery) and browse the main Bersih website and the Bersih wiki.
I realise that it may seem hypocritical for me to write out about this when I'm not joining in the rally. That's okay, I don't mind being called that. I only ask that all of you out there keep the people who are marching tomorrow in your thoughts, that no one will be hurt. They do not march for political reasons-- they march for fair elections. There will be other rallies in other cities around the world for this as well, and I hope you keep them in your thoughts as well.
And well, ahaha, our capital's like it's under siege this Saturday. All this for a rally that'll only last for 2 hours.
Thank you so much for reading this!