PROTESTING STUDENTS CAMPING IN MALAYSIAN CAPITAL CITY, ATTACKED

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia - A group of unknown attackers assaulted students camping out (occupy protestors) at Dataran Merdeka (Freedom Square) early this morning,
Mohd Syahid Mohd Zaini from the student group Malaysia Bangkit told FMT that about round 50 to 60 men dressed in black attacked the students for about 10 minutes at 3am this morning.
“There were about 50 of us in 14 tents that were set up. The group suddennly came and started smashing things around.
“They spoilt our tents and punched a few students. They even took away the cameras of the people who were trying to record the assault,” he said.
He added that one protester suffered injury to the side of his eye and was taken to a hospital.

• These students have been camping at the Dataran Merdeka since Saturday following a rally where 300 undergraduates marched into the city centre demanding free tertiary education and for the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan scheme to be abolished.
• Tempers flared on Monday between Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) officers and the students when the latter defied orders to leave. Punches were thrown and one undergraduate suffered a minor gash behind his neck.
• Students have complained that DBKL has been harassing them daily to force them to vacate the area.
• It is learnt that KL mayor, Ahmad Fuad Ismail, has yet to reply to the student’s request to carry on with the protest.
• Although the students have occupied a small spot at the far right end of the field, there is a big rush to clear the students from the area because the “Konsert Di Raja” (Royal Concert) will be held at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday.
• The students are seen to be interrupting preparation for the concert which began early this week.

In an immediate reaction, human rights group Suaram condemned the attack on the students.
“Such gangsterism acts must be stopped. It is the duty and responsibility of the police to protect citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble and speak,” said Suaram executive director E Nalini in a statement.
She said that the police should conduct an investigation on the attack and immediately arrest the offenders.

Source: FMT