Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Police to use all available laws to prevent July 9 demonstrations

Thursday June 30, 2011

thestar.com.my

Police to use all available laws to prevent July 9 demonstrations


KUALA LUMPUR: Police have warned that they will use all available laws to prevent the July 9 rallies, saying they have information that foreign elements were out to create chaos.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar issued the warning to groups who planned to defy police orders, regardless of their political affiliations, from holding the rallies.

“Intelligence gathered has revealed attempts by certain quarters, including foreign elements, attempting to seize the opportunity and exploit the situation.

“There is a possibility that should the rally proceed, it could create chaos, destruction to property, injuries and even the possibility of loss of lives,” he told a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday.

Ismail said there were certain groups openly and secretly planning to gather thousands of people to create chaos by instigating public participation in illegal assemblies.

He said police have arrested 101 people nationwide for allegedly inciting the public to join the rallies.

He said 45 of them were still being detained, adding that 1,830 reports had been lodged by the public opposing the rallies.

Ismail said that if such a situation was not arrested immediately, it could pose a public order situation as well as a threat to national security.

“The police force will not allow any individual or parties to take advantage and create chaos or anarchy.

“We will take stern action within the confines of the law against anyone or party that plans to organise or participate in illegal gatherings,” he said.

Ismail said police would continue to take action against those distributing leaflets, T-shirts or any other method to incite the public into participating in the illegal rallies.

“Action will be taken against anyone found wearing the yellow attire, or driving cars, and buses with the Bersih 2.0 logo to incite people to attend the rallies,” he said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said action would be taken against the Umno Youth members who surrounded the PKR headquarters on Monday and allegedly threatened to burn down the office.

“I told the police to treat them as with Bersih. Nobody is above the law,” he said.

He said T-shirts with messages in support of Bersih have been outlawed because they were related to an illegal assembly.

“The Bersih T-shirt is related to an illegal assembly, then whatever they are wearing is illegal,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Hishammuddin dismissed claims that the police arrests of those supporting the July 9 march for electoral reforms were politically-motivated. can also ask the same thing of them,” he said.

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