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Janji Demokrasi: Who will the Police charge for defying them?

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WHEN YOU GO TO DATARAN MERDEKA, REMEMBER:

1 No banners or placards; no provocation.
2 No loudspeakers.
3 Do not approach RTM’s broadcasting equipment.
4 All participants to follow the organiser’s instructions.

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BLOGGER: THIS IS NOT UNEXPECTED

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Malaysia Chronicle

Thursday, 30 August 2012 17:50

Najib cannot LEARN: Like Bersih rallies, Janji Demokrasi declared illegal at 11th hour

Written by  Maria Begum, Malaysia Chronicle

Given the past experiences with the Bersih 2.0 and 3.0 rallies, few Malaysians were really surprised when news broke that the police had decided to declare the Janji Demokrasi (Promises of Democracy) gathering planned for tonight illegal.

“We did not expect this but we can’t really say we are surprised either. We are just shocked at how silly the police and Prime Minister Najib Razak are making themselves over this issue of public demonstrations. It goes totally against Najib’s own promise of greater freedom to peaceful assembly and confirms yet again what a sham the government of the day has become in Malaysia,” PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

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However, it may be too late to stop the crowd from showing up in Dataran Merdeka at 10pm tonight where they plan to wear yellow in a show of solidarity and to pressure the BN government for greater democratic space.

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Oddly, the Inspector General of Police himself had a day ago promised that the gathering could take place. “There will be no issue as long as they follow the rules to gather peacefully,” IGP Sri Ismail Omar told the press.

However, Ismail was ridiculed for his comments that Malaysians should celebrate the day without politicising it. “We should celebrate the day in peace. There should be no room for indifferences and political agendas,” Ismail had said.

His comments were derided because Najib himself had chosen for this year’s Merdeka celebration the theme of Janji diTepati or Promises Fulfilled in a bid to ramp up public sentiment for his government ahead of general elections which are widely expected to be called soon.

Najib cannot LEARN: Like Bersih rallies, Janji Demokrasi declared illegal at 11th hour

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Malaysiakini

3:34PM Aug 30, 2012

The police have announced that the Janji Demokrasi gathering tonight is against the law.

Organising committee member Maria Chin Abdullah, when contacted, confirmed that Dang Wangi district police chief Zainuddin Ahmad sent her an official letter about an hour ago.

“I received the letter around 2.15pm by hand. A few policemen came,” she told Malaysiakini.

Regardless, she said Gabungan Janji, a coalition of 47 NGOs, would still go to Dataran Merdeka despite the letter.

In case the rally’s participants are barred from entering the historic field, she said the committee would then ask people to “celebrate where they are.”

“This is a Merdeka celebration, people can celebrate it anywhere in town. We hope that they will wear yellow.

“We just want to celebrate Merdeka, but the police are making it difficult,” she said.

The letter said that the rally is illegal because the organisers have failed to give Zainuddin advance notice of the rally and for failing to obtain permission from the venue’s owner, Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

Both conditions are required under Section 9(1) and Section 11 of the Public Assembly Act 2012, respectively.

In addition, Zainuddin wrote that the rally would affect the preparations for tomorrow morning’s Merdeka Day celebrations.

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Following the receipt of the letter, Gabungan Janji’s Facebook page issued a notice informing would-be participants of the letter and reminded them of several do’s and don’ts.

These are: No banners or placards; no provocation; no loudspeakers; do not approach RTM’s broadcasting equipment and for participants to follow the organiser’s instructions.

The rally, meant to remind the government of unfulfilled promises for clean and fair elections, was slated to be held on the northern corner of Dataran Merdeka, at 10pm today, but was later changed to 11pm.

Police declare Janji Demokrasi rally illegal

Malaysian Insider
‘Janji Demokrasi’ rally unlawful, cops say

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