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Tear gas used on anti-law protesters in Malaysia
Sydney Morning Herald - August 2, 2009
Malaysian police fired tear gas and water cannons at more than 15,000 demonstrators who took to the streets yesterday to protest against controversial internal security laws.
In chaotic scenes in Kuala Lumpur, about 5000 police, including riot squad members, arrested scores of protesters as they gathered at rallying points across the capital. The points included two mosques and a shopping complex.
Deputy police chief Ismail Omar said that 175 people had been arrested for taking part in the protest, aimed at pressuring the Government to abolish laws that allow detention without trial.
"We just wanted to disperse them, so we used water cannon and tear gas to do that," he said, insisting the police action was not heavy-handed.
Among the detained were several top political figures including R. Sivarasa, vice-president of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's party. Mr Anwar, who took part in the demonstration and said he was also tear gassed, denounced the police action as "unwarranted". He said it reflected badly on new Prime Minister Najib Razak.
"Najib has shattered his nice-guy image by allowing the police to act so brutally," he told a press conference.
Mr Najib denounced the protest plans on Friday. He said it was unnecessary because he had already agreed to review the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.
At least 75 rounds of tear gas were fired and water cannons were unleashed at the Sogo shopping complex where the main crowd of 10,000 people had gathered, intending to march on the royal palace. The offensive sent the crowd scattering, with many protesters coughing and choking from the effects of the gas.
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