Lift the Ban on all Peaceful Public Gatherings

Aliran is very upset that the police have rejected the Barisan Nasional’s application to hold a rally at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on 10 October. The police have offered no valid explanation as to how the proposed gathering could threaten the nation’s security.

The people have always been told that the BN parties conduct themselves in accordance with the law. In fact, only on 5 October, UMNO vice-president Najib Razak confidently asserted that Barisan gatherings had always been peaceful and orderly. Even Dr Mahathir’s mammoth Semarak gatherings in the past, held without police permit as far as we are aware, have been peaceful.

Indeed, recent large public gatherings involving opposition parties, NGOs and Anwar’s supporters - in the past as well as recently - have also been orderly.

Aliran feels that Malaysians have always been mature, responsible and peace-loving. This has been especially evident in recent times.

Allowing Malaysians to gather publicly in large numbers, in fact, is a right guaranteed by the Constitution. It is only the Police Act and other legislation that subsequently restricted this right to assemble peacefully.

Aliran calls upon the police to join in this endeavour to reclaim our rights and re-establish the rule of law. Lift the ban on all peaceful public gatherings.
 

Aliran Executive Committee
8 October 1998