The Malaysian Insight

FED up with the constant police harassment, Bersih 2.0 today lodged a report with the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) following 122 arrests and investigations in the period just prior to and after the Bersih 5 rally on November 19 last year.

Chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said between October 1, 2016 and August 15, there has been 122 arrests and investigations related to Bersih 2.0’s activities. 

Today’s complaint with the EAIC is the third filed by the electoral watchdog, after lodging reports with Paul Low’s office, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of governance and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

“Until now, there has been no response, especially from Paul Low’s office, as well as the police who have not given us an update on all the cases. They (EAIC) will now present our case to the police and get a response… how long will it take, we have to wait.

“But we will follow up with all three institutions,” she said after lodging the report at EAIC’s headquarters in Putrajaya. 

Out of the 122 cases, 63 were over the Bersih 5 convoy (from October 1 to November 18, 2016); 36 over the Bersih 5 rally (November 19, 2016); 14 investigations related to Maria’s detention under Section 124C of the Penal Code and nine investigations over the Bebas Maria vigils. 

Maria said all the cases focused on alleged violations of the Peaceful Assembly Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act, Sedition Act, Section 147 of the Penal Code (rioting), Section 504 and 505 of the Penal Code as well as Section 124C of the Penal Code (attempting activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy).

“After the rally, many activists were called up to Bukit Aman for investigations but till now, there has been no response and we want answers from the police. 

“When we organise convoys or rallies, our agenda is simple – we want a clean and fair elections. So, what’s wrong with the agenda that non-state actors have to beat and threaten us till we can’t conduct our activities?

“That is a very honest agenda, no hidden agenda.”

Bersih 2.0 also wanted the EAIC to investigate the failure of police to act against the death threats received by Maria, Mandeep Singh, Ambiga Sreenevasan and Maria’s three sons, the abuse of power by police during the Bersih 5 rally, the raid on its office and Maria’s detention. 

In June, Bersih urged Suhakam to carry out an inquiry into the continued police harassment of Bersih 2.0 activists. – October 3, 2017.