Riot policemen firing into the protesters during the Bersih rally July 9 2011.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Six special police teams tasked with investigating its own actions at the July 9 rally concluded that police officers exercised “restraint” and were “hospitable” when dealing with Bersih supporters, Internal security and public order director Datuk Salleh Mat Rashid (right photo)said today.He also showed video clips taken by the police as well as “individuals” present that day which “proved” that police officers were patient, and had to deal with “individuals as well as provocative groups.”
- The video clips depicted police giving warning shouts to protestors before shooting water cannons or tear gas canisters. One video clip, claimed Salleh showed PKR’s Chua Tian Chang running towards police officers in KL Sentral while another clip angle showed protestors “running” towards a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) water cannon truck near Dataran Maybank.
- “There was provocation by protestors against the police...some protestors ran towards the water cannon truck. Warning calls were given nine times before any action was taken.
- “The police acted according to standard operating procedure (sop),” said Salleh.
- However, he said the police teams were still investigating the incident at the Tung Shin Hospital where eyewitnesses including medical specialists contradicted official accounts that there were no tear gas or water cannons fired at the hospital along Jalan Pudu.
The police commissioner also showed pictures of Bersih supporters detained at police centres, and stressed that they were treated “excellently.”“This is hospitality, the police were very pleasant, detainees were given good care, they were given a place to pray..like in Mecca, and transportation services and food was provided.
“Its like attending a kenduri (wedding),” said Salleh.
The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that Bersih organisers and independent observers have yet to be called by police for statements or evidence. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has been put on the defensive over the Bersih rally for the past week as the international community, from Singapore to the UK, criticised the government’s handling of the public dissent.
Bersih estimates that 50,000 people showed up at the July 9 rally for free and fair elections despite efforts to prevent it from taking place while police have said there were only 6,000. The protest turned chaotic when police fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of demonstrators, resulting in nearly 1,700 arrests, scores injured and the death of ex-soldier Baharuddin Ahmad, 59.
The government has promised to investigate allegations of police brutality while the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will hold a separate public inquiry into police conduct during the rally.
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