Loke: Dont practise double standards

KUALA LUMPUR, AUG 26: Don’t practise “double standards” and release the 16 students arrested yesterday for the #Langkahsiswa movement, the DAP today urged the police.

DAP National Organising Secretary Anthony Loke Siew Fook said, an anti-Bersih protest recently which used and promoted violence was left unharassed by the authorities, yet the students who were in a peaceful sit-down was arrested.

“Earlier on, there was also another group of anti-BERSIH protestation that used and promoted violence and the authorities did not act against them.

“However, the group of students occupied the vicinity of Parliament peacefully, yet they were still caught,” Loke said at a press conference here.

The students were last night arrested by the police after their “sit-in” in front of parliament as their endeavour to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Initially, policemen were deployed to disperse the gathering, but the students refused to budge.

Students arrested in front of Parliament yesterday (Pic from Malaysiakini)

All the students were warned and later arrested to Jinjang police station. They were charged under Section 124B of Penal Code that outlaws “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy”.

This is in contrast to participants who self-inflicted harm via wooden sticks and roof tiles to demonstrate their “endurance” against Bersih 4 supporters but police took no action against the utilisation of violence.

The outcome of the occupation contrasts starkly with the anti-BERSIH protest, sparking allegation that police force observes a “double standard”.

“The call for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is not a crime; it cannot be considered as anti-democracy. It is ridiculous for them (the students) to be investigated under section 124B of Penal Code,” added Loke.

Meanwhile, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, who was also present during the press conference, advised the rally-goers and police to be vigilant towards belligerent participants.

“The police and Bersih participants must be on the lookout for these agents/provocateurs and take all necessary action to prevent them from disrupting Bersih 4,”

“In fact, if there are participants who act disorderly which disrupt the peaceful nature of Bersih 4, all other Bersih 4 participants should exercise their citizenship duties to stop them from further mischief,” said Lim.

The Gelang Patah MP also criticised the theme of this year’s Independence Day – #SehatiSejiwa (One heart, one soul), citing that the latter is too “exclusive” and it should be more “inclusive”.

Lim believes that the theme should incorporate the virtues embodied in BERSIH 4, which are cekap (efficient) and amanah (trustworthy).

-The Rocket