Peaceful demonstrators: They are merely exercising their constitutional right to freedom of assembly

We take issue with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's statement that the peace and stability of the country is partly due to the stern action taken by the police. This statement ignores the peace-loving nature and tolerance displayed by Malaysians of all ethnic groups; instead, it glorifies the police's aggressive tactics and solely credits them for the peace and harmony that the nation enjoys.

Abdullah reportedly added that the police have unfortunately become the victims in performing their duties. ''When they are the victims, there are not many comments, but if the enemy becomes the victim, there is much comment and dissatisfaction,'' he said.

First, we want to ask Abdullah how the police can become victims when they are armed to the teeth - with batons, tear gas, water cannons and police dogs - in facing peaceful unarmed demonstrators. From eyewitness accounts, it is the police who have often acted aggressively in many instances when confronting peaceful demonstrators.

Second, we are appalled that Abdullah can regard Malaysian citizens as 'the enemy' just because they do not share his political views. If this is the attitude of the Home Minister, is it any wonder then that the police often react harshly when dealing with opposition politicians and activists who demonstrate peacefully?

Aliran demands the immediate and unconditional release of the eleven demonstrators - most of them from the opposition National Justice Party (keADILan) - who were detained in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Those detained were merely exercising their constitutional right to gather peacefully to express their concern about former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial and their solidarity with eight others charged with illegal assembly in a separate case.

They were among a crowd of about 200 demonstrators who bravely showed up this morning outside the Kuala Lumpur courts to exercise their democratic right to free assembly. At no point were they a threat to national stability and security.

Malaysians are concerned that the government is becoming increasingly intolerant of dissent and is slowly but surely drifting towards the nightmare of a police state. The authoritarian Mahathir administration is at a loss over how to deal with criticism and appears to blindly believe that only strong-arm tactics can quell the growing disquiet among the people.