The lop-sided nature of the face off is reflected in Ms Batek’s poem, which contrasts the baton-toting police with the candle-bearing protesters.
we have a right to assemble, you say it is illegal
we hold our candles peacefully…..
you say disperse at once
we stand against a draconian law, your stand supports a fascist state
we hold our candles peacefully……
you sound the sirens
we hold democracy close to our hearts, you refuse to acknowledge democratic rights
we hold our candles peacefully……
you bring in trucks and block the roads
we are calm despite ‘provocateurs’, you let them go but censure us
we hold our candles peacefully…….
you arrest our friends and drag them away
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we sing our anti-ISA songs, your cameras zoom in close to our faces
we hold our candles peacefully…..
you shout at us and threaten worse
we chant Man-suh-kan I-S-A, you snatch our banners and destroy our placards
we hold our candles peacefully…..
you crowd around us and blow them out
I held my candle peacefully……..
you stepped out in front of me
your gun casually slung,
your finger on the trigger…..
just what were you thinking?
we know you were acting on instructions
instructions you so efficiently heeded
well, you tell your bosses
they gained nothing by dispersing the crowds
by showing might in numbers,
by using threats to intimidate
they lost much more instead
they lost the respect of the people
the change we want will take a while
so go tell your bosses
a denial of rights only strengthens resolve
until the ISA is no more
we will meet again…. and again…
your force and ours
we with our candles and T-shirts
you with your batons and guns.
Ms Batik
5 August 2010
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
