Day 4 Bersih crackdown: Senator, state rep arrested
As the police dragnet for Bersih 2.0 supporters widens, more have been arrested, including lawmakers.
As the police dragnet for Bersih 2.0 supporters widens, more have been arrested, including lawmakers.
According to human rights NGO Suaram, Senator S Ramakrishnan (
right
) was arrested last night for ‘promoting’ Bersih 2.0 at a DAP dinner in Banting.
“At the dinner, I spoke at length about the unfairness in the elections like the gerrymandering and the political corruption. So I asked the people to support Bersih in whatever way they can,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted.
He added that about five policemen surrounded him and arrested him just as he was about to get into his car after leaving the function at about 9.30pm, citing that he was ‘inciting people to participate in an illegal assembly’.
“But I was cooperative with them, so it was quite amicable,” he said.
He said that he was also asked if he knew who the organisers were and whether he was paid to ‘instigate’.
“I just kept mum and exercised my right to only answer it in court,” he said.
Telok Datuk assemblyperson from DAP Philip Tan ( left ) was also arrested yesterday evening for wearing the Bersih 2.0 T-shirt at the same function.
They were released after having their statements taken at the Kuala Langat district police headquarters several hours later.
According to the Suaram website, since last Wednesday 81 people have been arbitrarily arrested and detained at various locations in the country.
Opposition leader and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has also not been spared and has was called by the police to give his statement at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today.
Anwar’s right hand man and party deputy president Azmin Ali had his statement taken by the police when met at the parliament lobby this morning.
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