Ok! Before you accuse me of being pro-opposition or anything, let me make myself clear. I've said this before and i'll said it again that I never believe that demonstration *or assembly...or whatever you want to call it* would solve any problem. Just see what happened to Egypt, Tunisia or Libya. Protesting against their government had caused them to lose their lives, made them lived in fear and give UN a reason to 'legalise' using armed force to stop the protest in Libya *I don't agree that we should use international armed forces to settle a national crisis...sovereignty of states anyone? But I won't go into that...*
I'm sure you know what I'm getting at, don't you? Yes, I don't agree with BERSIH 2.0 that is scheduled to happen tomorrow, 9th July 2011. I agree with most of their 8 demands in the memorandum for a fair election, yes, but as I had repeated many times before, I never believe demonstration will get the message through. It will only caused inconvenience and dissatisfaction among the rakyats who wants to get on with their daily weekend routine.
But no, today I'm not going to talk about how dissatisfied I am with Bersih 2.0. I don't agree with the assembly, that's my personal opinion, but I also realised that we hv a right of association guaranteed by Art. 10 of FC. Simply put, I don't hv to join the assembly if I don't want to, but I hv no right to prevent other ppl from attending the assembly. It's their right as a citizen of Malaysia guaranteed by the supreme Law of the Land, the Federal Constitution.
Thus, the actions of the government in trying to prevent the assembly from being held is shocking, to say the very least. It makes me feel embarrassed being a Malaysian. I know in fact that Malaysia did not have an 'A' record when it comes to protection of Human Rights *hell we still adopt the doctrine of incorporation in accepting Treaties and Conventions instead of adopting doctrine of transformation PLUS we did not signed the Statute of Rome, which simply mean that our State is not subject to the jurisdiction of ICC and that is scary, indeed* but I'm sure this radical actions taken by the government would only caused us to plummet even lower in the eyes of the world when it comes to protection of human rights.
Doing roadblocks days before the assembly, arresting ppl wearing Yellow shirts *Yellow is the official colour of Bersih*, closing all roads heading to KL tomorrow, banning 91 ppl *which most of them are Bersih leaders* from entering KL tomorrow, threatening to declare Emergency, arrest ppl under Emergency Ordinance, ISA? Seriously? It seems like our government is desperate and is willing to do anything to stop the assembly from happening. But the big question is WHY? Why are the government so afraid of the assembly if they did not do anything wrong? The demands are reasonable, IMO. It is a call for a fair and transparent election, for God sake. Isn't the more reasonable step to be taken is to allow the assembly to be held , while the police will be on standby AND they will ONLY arrest ppl who creates trouble during the assembly. No need to treat this assembly like it is a threat to national security! *What's the definition of national security anyway? It is not defined anywhere in the ISA nor it is defined in the Sedition Act. Don't tell me that 'national security' is defined by the government in power according to their whims and fancies...*
I'm pretty sure the gov will win some brownies points from the rakyats if only they support Bersih 2.0. However, as things stand, they don't. And as usual, Bersih 2.0 will be the scapegoats if anything bad occurred tomorrow. They will be criticised, bashed and blamed even though if we look at a neutral point it is not Bersih organisers who decides to close roads or to have roadblocks! I just dearly hope nothing bad will happen tomorrow. I especially loathe bloodshed and I pray that no one will be hurt tomorrow let it be the assembly participants or the authorities *or the anti-bersih groups, for that matter*. Do remember that each and everyone of you have your loved ones waiting anxiously at home so pls, pls don't do anything rash and stupid. May Allah bless you.
p/s: As for me, I'll stay at home watching Korean dramas! Not that I'm adhering to the gov's call not to join the assembly. It's just that I hate crowds - except if it is Korean Artists concert...:p - and being stuck in car/sandwiched in public transports is a very uncool way to spend my weekend...:)
