At least eight Malaysian opposition activists were arrested yesterday in the run-up to a nation-wide rally in July 9.
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections or "Bersih 2.0" released a statement yesterday (June 24) that activist Khairul Anuar was arrested in Shah Alam, about 20 km west of Kuala Lumpur, where a Bersih 2.0 road show was planned at 10.00 p.m . on June 24.
The purpose is to raise awareness of the eight electoral demands of Bersih 2.0.
Organisers could not proceed with the road show due to a heavy police cordon preventing organisers and participants from accessing the whole uptown area.
In Johore, seven other activists from the Socialist Party of Malaysia (Parti Sosialis Malaysia - PSM) were arrested for handing out Bersih 2.0 materials. The local police alleged that the materials may be seditious. The seven activists who were arrested are Letchimi, Devi, Josephine, Shanta, Jaya, William and Saravanan.
“The police arrests are an attack on freedom of expression, which is guaranteed under the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.”, said a Bersih 2.0 statement.
Bersih 2.0 also strongly demanded that the police immediately release all 8 activists, facilitate the smooth running of all road shows related to electoral reform, and allow citizens to exercise their right to freedom of expression.
Bersih 2.0, which means “clean” in Malay, involves the Pakatan Rakyat, a coalition of the three largest opposition parties in Malaysia, and civil rights groups with the stated aim of reforming the electoral process in Malaysia.
Bersih 2.0 has asked the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) to clean up the electoral roll, reform postal voting, use indelible ink, introduce a minimum 21-day campaign period, allow all parties free access to the media and put an end to dirty politics.
The group also plans to launch a fresh rally on 9th July in Kuala Lumpur, which has been deemed illegal by the Malaysian government.
A previous rally demanding electoral reform on November 10, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur was dispersed by police and hundreds of protesters were arrested.
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