HuffPo on Bersih 2.0 and the July 9 rally
Technorati tags: Huffington Post, Bersih 2.0, Police Overreaction, Democracy, World Attention
Many times, when Malaysia makes it to the international news, it's always for the wrong reasons. Many times, too, those wrong reasons are self-inflicted.
This is one of those reports, about one of those instances when Malaysia shoots itself in the foot... again.
When will the Malaysian government learn that suppression is not the answer to addressing 21st century grouses by Malaysians... never again are we gonna party like it's 1969... a year that many of those in power seem to think is the year nation is perpetually stuck in, and will be stuck in forever more.
Malaysia Protests: Over 1,400 Arrested During Demonstrations
At least a dozen people were hurt in the demonstration for electoral reform in downtown Kuala Lumpur. There were no reports of serious injuries but some analysts said the police action was excessive and would dent Najib's image.
"We are not criminals, we are just asking for free and fair elections," opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, told reporters after her father was knocked down and hurt in a melee when he and his supporters were tear gassed.
"Many innocent people were injured. We condemn this act of cruelty by UMNO and Barisan Nasional," she said, referring to Najib's party and the ruling coalition.
Street protests are rare in this Southeast Asian nation, but foreign investors are worried that any groundswell of anti-government sentiment could delay economic reforms seen as essential to draw investment.
