Defying police, #KitaLawan goes ahead with rally
Ignoring police warning against taking part in the #KitaLawan gathering in Kuala Lumpur, some 150 protesters, led by PKR's Batu MP Tian Chua and PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, proceeded with the rally outside Sogo shopping complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman today.
The demonstration, to express support for jailed opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also called for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to resign.
It was deemed as illegal by Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainol Samah, who said that there was no application from the organisers and warned that those involved were looking at action under Section 143 of the Penal Code for illegal gathering.
Clearly unperturbed, the group decided to take it further today by marching to KLCC, waving black flags and singing tunes calling for the resignation of the PM.
"Citizens have the right to gather, it is not for the police to decide where we want it... There is no issue where people want to gather," said Tian Chua.
Protesters also stopped in the middle of an intersection between Jalan Ampang and Jalan Sultan Ismail, bringing traffic to a standstill for a few minutes.
The group marched on till it reached the Suria KLCC shopping complex and finally ended at 6.20pm with a pledge to continue fighting for Anwar's freedom.
#KitaLawan has plans for a bigger rally next Saturday and intends to gather outside Sogo despite police warning against it.
Police had asked for the March 7 demonstration to be held in a stadium, but earlier today, the organisers rejected the proposal.
The decision was made after the organising committee met today.
The #KitaLawan movement has so far held three gatherings in front of Sogo.
Three of its committee members Fariz Musa, Adam Adli and Nik Nazmi were arrested by police last week under Section 143 of the Penal Code for having a gathering of five or more persons with criminal intent.
Civil rights lawyers have warned that police appeared to be using a "new tactic" to curb freedom of expression by using the Penal Code instead, as the Peaceful Assembly Act which regulates demonstrations does not criminalise protests.
The Federal Court on February 10 upheld a Court of Appeal verdict from March 7 last year that found Anwar guilty of having sodomised his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008. He was jailed for five years, and is serving his sentence at the Sungai Buloh prison. – February 28, 2015
