Bersih 3.0

Once in a while, I need to take time off from running AnimalCare and do other things which are important to me.

So, today, allow me the indulgence to share my day with you.

Last year I was in Penang attending my brother-in-law’s funeral on 9th July (Bersih 2.0). So this year, by hook or by crook, I just had to go. Talk about “social responsibility”, this is it.

It’s for our children’s future, and their children’s. And who knows, the animals might have better deal too, if we had a fairer and more compassionate government.

Yes, I’m an optimist.

So, at 6.30am, Nandhini came to my house. I had packed my backpack the night before, and off we went. We met Bernice and Donovan at our first checkpoint and proceeded to the LRT station to meet Andrew and Elene. Elene had come all the way from Penang. We had our “Plan A” and “Plan B” lined up, but Plan A went like clockwork. There were no roadblocks at all. We were on email communication until almost 2am last night, keeping up with the news from Dataran.

Contrary to rumours that the LRT would be shut down or several stops blocked, we got down near enough and walked to Dataran Merdeka.

�There were just small groups of people on the road and also groups of police officers.

We did not go in yellow on the train as we weren’t sure if there would be “trouble”.

�We stopped for breakfast and it was filled with yellow-shirted people.
It was time to change into yellow.

Yellow for Bersih and green for Lynas. I should have worn a green ribbon as well.

�Here we are…the six of us.

�The crowd started building up.

�Dataran Merdeka had been cordoned off with barbed wire.

�DUDUK BANTAH peacefully, cheerfully and happily.

There was a cheering crowd in front, right next to Dataran and they urged everyone to DUDUK and join in the cheering.

We were on Jln Tun Perak, leading to Dataran. This was as close as we could get.

The spirit of camaraderie was incredible.

The atmosphere was one of unity, goodwill and commitment to a cause which we all believe is for the nation’s future.

�For each procession that came in, the crowd cheered and clapped.

�Just look at the crowd.

Someone came over and offered us bananas to eat.
Hmm…good energy food, and the right colour too.

After awhile, we figured we were a bit too near to Dataran, and it was getting a bit hot, so we moved further down the road. Our next DUDUK spot was in front of the OCBC Bank.

�There were people from as far as Johor and Perlis, and all had come in one spirit – to support what we believe is our right. There was no race or religion today – we were all Malaysians in one unified spirit.

 

 

�There were all kinds of yellow and green tshirts. Some people fashioned their own attire.

�Bersih dan cantik!

 

�The crowds came in non-stop. It was incredible, like an ocean of people dressed in yellow.

�As far as the eye could see, there was no end.

�We came from all walks of life.

 

 

�Surmounting all challenges, we came, in solidarity.

 

 

As we sat there, cheering every crowd that marched in, I was very proud to be a Malaysian today. We had all come in peace, and even as we talked with each other, shook hands, etc., we lamented our dissatisfaction with the present system, but there was NO hatred expressed. No hatred, just disappointments and a wish for a change for the better.

The rally was a very peaceful one. Everyone was happy and proud to be here. United as Malaysians.

There was many anti Lynas groups.
I’d say yellow and green were definitely the colours of the day.

I wish someone could have given me a green ribbon!

Himpunan Hijau deserves support. We’re speaking up against possible radioactive contamination here which could threaten our very existence. No green ribbons available, but never mind, we cheered them on in full force and chanted their slogans with them.

If only we could have clean and fair BERSIH elections, the Lynas issue would then be addressed as well.

�Each group that came through was applauded and cheered on.
They came in chanting their slogans and we all joined in.

�Age is no barrier – we all have only one wish.
We want a change.
And a better future for our younger generation.

This pakcik had come with his wife from Kedah.

�We decided we were a bit too close to Dataran and we had planned to leave by 4pm since all of us had to come home to feed our pets, so we moved down the road. The crowd was very, very thick by then.

�Lawyers came dressed in lounge suits so that they could be easily identified should we need their help.

“Isn’t it hot in that suit?”, we asked them. “Yes, it is, VERY”, they replied, “but it is for a good cause, we don’t mind.”

�Some hawkers had brought in ice and water to sell, and they sold it at the normal price – there was no price hike at all. After each batch was finished, they wheeled their wagons out to bring in more for the people. This is the spirit of Malaysians in solidarity. It was very touching.

�As the police trucks drove by, the crowd cheered, and even the policemen waved back.

On the balcony of the old court house, a few policemen were watching us and they were smiling at us. We waved back. Some people playfully beckoned them to join us. It was a nice feeling.

There was clearly an air of friendliness and goodwill.

None of us had broken the law. This is a peaceful rally. We were just standing and sitting. The policemen have to do their duty to keep law and order. All is good. There is mutual respect.

 

We all sat when we were told to Duduk. The crowd was, I must say, absolutely, obedient.

Just on this one street alone, I could safely say there were perhaps 50,000 people, or more.

And what about other streets? Our friends on other streets reported the same scenario.

Malaysians, from the whole nation, had come together today, for Bersih.

 

�There were large groups who had come with their state flags.

�After about five hours of sitting, standing and cheering, we figured we had better get going, and we were hungry too.

So, we went down the road.

�As we passed Datuk Ambiga, the crowd was singing Negaraku.

The spirit was electrifying, to say the least.

�This is one brave and visionary lady, who will bring change to our nation.
We salute her.

�At this point, Nandhini and I had lost sight of Donovan, so we just sat with this group to listen to Datuk Ambiga. Donovan came back to get us and led us to the restaurant. Luckily he did, because later, it was precisely at this place that the first tear gas was fired, about half hour after we left.

After we got into a restaurant to eat, in the midst of our meal, we saw people running past. And we heard the explosion of tear gas being fired. Smses came in. Datuk Ambiga had called the crowd to disperse and the crowd WAS dispersing. It was then that the police fired the tear gas.

What was going on?

And why?

The rally had been such a peaceful and happy one. There was absolutely no violence at all – not in the five hours that we had sat there, watching the procession go by and talking to so many people. Everyone had come in total peace. Even as we made our way through the very thick crowd, people were so polite and they gave way. Of course it was shoulder to shoulder and the whole crowd had to keep moving, but everyone did so very courteously. No one pushed. Some people even stopped to let the smaller sized people go first.

As we made our way through that thick crowd, I couldn’t help thinking of grand sales at shopping malls. Now, those crowds are terrible. They push and shove. But not this crowd. I’ve never, in my life, been in such a thick crowd before, yet, NO ONE pushed. There were many “excuse me”s and people moving aside to let others pass, but no one pushed anyone. Now, THESE are the courteous and civil-minded Malaysians.

So, we did not witness ANY form of violence or hatred at all, so why did the police fire the tear gas?

We waited for the crowd to thin out a little, and by then, more people had come into the restaurant, so we made our way out to let others have our seats.

The air outside was stinging, still filled with remnants of the tear gas, but bearable. We wanted to get home already, so we talked towards the nearest LRT station, but as we crossed a few junctions, we saw people running, all covering their faces with towels. More tear gas had been fired.

The air was getting even more stinging and we started to choke a little.

�So, we went into a mall and waited.

We tried going out the back way, but the air was unbearable now. The tear gas in the air stung our eyes and faces and made us choke. We went back into the mall and the security closed the shutters this time, to protect us from getting the gas. We saw people who had suffered from direct exposure to the tear gas. They talked about old people falling over and being trampled on.

We decided to take another way, and covered our faces with our wet towels (soaked in salt water). It was bearable. We went through the alleys and at one of them, we saw a group of people trying to revive a girl.

When we arrived at the Pasar Seni LRT station, they had closed the station down.

Now, why on earth would they do that? Here we are trying to get home. We were already dispersing, why must they close down the station?

So, we had to walk to Sentral. It was quite a long walk. By now tweeter messages were coming in. The street (Petaling Street) which we had just passed was being tear-gassed, and police were arresting people in yellow attire. Oh gosh, luck must be with us. We were just there minutes ago.

We missed the tear gas by minutes, and we missed the arrest by minutes.

Bernice and Donovan had impeccable timing and foresight. They promised me I’d be safe if I went with them, and I was. They promised me no running and we did not have to run. Nandhini said she’d be my Bersih buddy and she looked after me. If not for Nandhini’s height, I would have been lost in the thick crowd. Nandhini and I got separated from Donovan and the rest while we were moving through that thick crowd and we thought we’d sit where Datuk Ambiga was speaking, and execute Plan C (meet back at the Kelana LRT). The phone lines had been cut off, and we could not call or send text messages to each other. But Donovan came back through the thick crowd to get us and told us to move to the restaurant. That saved us from direct exposure to the tear gas because that was the exact spot the tear gas was fired about half hour later. I am really thankful to my friends.

Sentral was open and we got onto the train.

�On our way home…

And as we were travelling home on the train, I was on the phone with Andy Lew, asking about Baloo.

They had cut off the reception while we were at the rally and communication was down. Baloo was in a critical condition and I had to make some calls while on the train. Rain or shine, rally or no rally, AnimalCare work goes on.

Nandhini and I got home, safe and sound.

As I now watch TV, I see footage of what happened after we left the place. It was scary – tear gas was fired and so were the water cannons. People were injured and some were arrested.

Why was there any necessity for such treatment when the crowd was absolutely peaceful and the organisers had called for a dispersion?

And one wonders what will be reported in tomorrow’s media. That only 1000 people turned up? Just take a look at the photos above. And this is only on one street (Jalan Tun Perak). What about the other streets? What about the other towns in Malaysia? And the other cities all over the world? Millions of people support Bersih and this is a fact. It is time for clean and fair elections.

28th April, Bersih 3.0, would be one day I shall remember for a long, long time. The spirit of solidarity, goodwill, peace and camaraderie reminds me that I love this country and its people. We are a gentle and courteous people, and we are united. It is just the system that has to be changed.

I am glad I was there.

Some of my friends were on another street:�http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150674940290518.389555.141418170517&type=1

�For our children, human and animal.

Source: http://myanimalcare.org/2012/04/28/bersih-3-0/

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