ISA protests - a day to remember

Yesterday - August 1st 2009 - was a big day in Malaysia, especially in KL, the Malaysian capital, for it was there a huge crowd, which had never been seen before, gathered, to show opposition to the draconian Internal Security Act or (un)fondly called as the ISA. Draconian, because the act stipulates police to arrest people and put them away in the detention camps without judge and jury for a maximum of 2 years. Big day, because such huge sea of people had never gathered before to oppose an act of law passed by the government, several years before. Previously, there had only been scattered protests here and there. ‘Huge’ crowds denotes over 15,000 people, quite a voice to contend with.

The police were kept busy from the previous day, putting up roadblocks, diverting traffic, scrutinizing and scanning for over zealous participants. On the day itself, the protest, which had started off peacefully, ended up in disarray and chaos, as the police and Federal Reserve Units (FRU) battled with the crowd to disperse them. Chemically infused water and tear gases were unleashed at the crowd to defeat their mob like enthusiasm mingled with fury.

 Several protesters had been arrested. They had gone to present an anti ISA memo to the Palace, which, in the end, they were unable to do so. 

However, it is being hailed as a big success due its propensity to attract the world’s attention. The media, too, were in chaos, unable to declare the correct estimation of the crowd in numbers. TV2 said there were around 10,000 and TV7 said 15,000. The online media, Malaysiakini estimated the number to be in the region of 20,000. Crowds do create havoc to the systems! Time to change.