The Malaysian government sent riot police and tear gas Saturday to stop a reported 20,000 marchers demanding electoral reform. More than 600 were arrested and oppposition leader Anwar Ibrahim sustained a slight injury.
The marchers were told beforehand that the march was illegal and that anyone with Bersih paraphenalia such as yellow teeshirts could be arrested.
The battle is engaged over the increasingly unpopular policies of Prime Minister Najib Razak's government.
Ibrahim posted on his blog the following Bersih goals:
"Our reason for gathering is pure and simple -- to demand that the electoral roll be cleaned, that the postal voting system be reformed, that indelible ink be used, a minimum 21 day campaign period be instated, free and fair access to media for all be provided, public institutions be strengthened, and for corruption as well as dirty politics to be stopped."
The Malaysian state news agency Bernama quoted the Prime Minister as saying,
"If there are people who want to hold the illegal rally, there are even more who are against their plan to hold the illegal gathering."
Thomas Jefferson said, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground."
The Arab Spring was ignited exactly because governments did not heed this axiom. Too much government, expressly when it is aimed at suppressing the rights of its citizens, will finally be challenged and defeated.
Let's hope that calmer minds prevail inMalaysia
The marchers were told beforehand that the march was illegal and that anyone with Bersih paraphenalia such as yellow teeshirts could be arrested.
The battle is engaged over the increasingly unpopular policies of Prime Minister Najib Razak's government.
Ibrahim posted on his blog the following Bersih goals:
"Our reason for gathering is pure and simple -- to demand that the electoral roll be cleaned, that the postal voting system be reformed, that indelible ink be used, a minimum 21 day campaign period be instated, free and fair access to media for all be provided, public institutions be strengthened, and for corruption as well as dirty politics to be stopped."
The Malaysian state news agency Bernama quoted the Prime Minister as saying,
"If there are people who want to hold the illegal rally, there are even more who are against their plan to hold the illegal gathering."
Thomas Jefferson said, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground."
The Arab Spring was ignited exactly because governments did not heed this axiom. Too much government, expressly when it is aimed at suppressing the rights of its citizens, will finally be challenged and defeated.
Let's hope that calmer minds prevail in
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