JPG: Stories: Photo Essay: A peaceful gathering for human rights in Malaysia

A peaceful gathering for human rights in Malaysia - tear-gased and hosed with chemicals

By colinizing phot with colin boyd

3 Aug 2009

In Malaysia, a lot is censored and dissent towards the government is highly controlled. This weekend, an important event took place where tens of thousands of Malaysians gathered peacefully in the capital to protest against the Internal Security Act (ISA).

What started peaceful, remained so throughout, but the military and police forces unnecessarily flexed their might and fired tear gas canisters and hosed the cornered citizens with chemical water. No one seemed interested in provoking the authorites, only in delivering their petition to the Sultan. The crowd was made of families, including elders and small children, all trying to support the cry for change.

While the police demanded on loudspeakers for the activists to disperse, all roads leading to the palace had already been blocked off. As a result thousands of men, women and children walked into a tear gas trap.

This Internal Security Act was established more than 50 years ago to deal with the threat of communism in the area. Today it acts as a way to control the people, and stamp out dissenting opinions. It is a preventative measure for anyone that 'may cause trouble'. Malaysian people will admittedly censor their own opinions regarding 'sensitive' issues out of fear from authority.

The drama has yet to fully unfold as opposition MPs including Anwar Ibrahim will be brought in for questioning and no doubt a meeting with the ISA.

Reportedly around 20000 people gathered to try and get their voices heard this weekend. Who knows whether change will come.