[asia-apec 785] MALAYSIAN FRU POISED TO DISPERSE DEMONSTRATORS!

[appasec]

10th OCT, 8:00 pm: 
MALAYSIAN FRU POISED TO DISPERSE DEMONSTRATORS!

Tens of thousands who had congregated peacefully at the National Mosque moved on to Merdeka Square from 7:30 pm onwards. The crowd, reported by AFP earlier, stretched more than 3 km long. 

At approximately 8:10 pm, plainclothes police had started arresting some of the demonstrators. By this time, the sea of people sat down on the square. Observers said that the people were calmly chanting. 

The Federal Reserce Unit (FRU) brought in their 'chemical' truck, poised to spray at the crowd. The police had asked the crowd to disperse. 

Some people were attacked by plainclothes police. Freelance journalist, Sharaad Kuttan, was punched in the face, 'mace'-d, hit in head with a motorcycle helmet and kicked in his back, when he asked one of the plainclothes police to identify himself. The man beckoned another 'friend' before proceeding to assault Mr. Kuttan. 


TWENTY MINUTES LATER....

At 8:20 pm, the organisers informed the police that the crowd will disperse in 10 minutes time. They have also called another rally on the 17th of this month. By the time this announcement was made, the crowd began standing up, ready to leave the Square. 

At 8:35 pm, people began walking away from the Square in high spirits. By 8:58 pm, most of the crowd had already left the Square. 
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* * * * ABOLISH I.S.A.! MANSUHKAN I.S.A!
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* * * SIGN JUST WORLD'S 
* * * WHITE RIBBON/SIGNATURE
* * * CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE!
* ** http://www.jaring.my/just
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On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, please urge our
Malaysian government to ratify the International Covenant 
on Civil and Political Rights, and the International 
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 
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SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA (SUARAM)
struggling for human rights in Malaysia

add: 11, Jalan 1A/71E, Jalan Carey, 
46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
tel: 60-3-7943525 fax: 7943526
email: suaram at geocities.com, wkpeng at pc.jaring.my
website:http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/1577