The 2011 Bersih 2.0 rally (also called the Walk for Democracy) is a planned demonstration in Kuala Lumpur to be held on 9 July as a follow up to the 2007 Bersih rally. The rally, organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), is supported by Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition of the three largest opposition parties in Malaysia but has been deemed illegal by the government.
Bersih, chaired by former president of the Bar Council Ambiga Sreenevasan, are pushing the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC) to ensure free and fair elections in Malaysia. They have demanded that the EC clean up the electoral roll, reform postal voting, use indelible ink, introduce a minimum 21-day campaign period, allow all parties free access to the media and put an end to dirty politics.
The rally's organisers plan to march through the streets of Kuala Lumpur, culminating with a memorandum being handed over to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Malaysia's head of state.
Two counter-rallies, led by Malay nationalist movement Perkasa and the youth division of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), have also been announced. Perkasa, led by independent member of parliament Ibrahim Ali, has refuted Bersih's demands for clean elections, arguing that these demands have already been met by the EC. They have also implored Bersih to call the rally off, warning that street clashes might occur between the two rallies. UMNO Youth also rejects Bersih's demands, but are holding a separate rally from Perkasa.
Supporters of the rally claim that demands for electoral reform made during the 2007 demonstration have fallen on deaf ears. Meanwhile, detractors have criticised the rally for having a political agenda, threatening to disrupt public order and slammed the demands made by Bersih as baseless.
Background
The ruling coalition in Malaysia, Barisan Nasional (BN), which consists of parties representing the major racial groups in Malaysia, has won every federal election since independence in 1957.[3] Opposition parties and civil society organisations have long claimed that BN has manipulated elections in their favour.[4][5][6]
The first Bersih rally on 10 November 2007 drew between 30,000 to 50,000 people.[7][8] It was broken up by police using tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons.[8][9] The rally was said to play a major role in helping the opposition parties make big gains in the 2008 general election.[7]
The government has taken a tough stand against public protests, using heavy police presence to block rallies as well as arrest protest leaders. Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was willing to sacrifice public freedoms in the interest of national stability.[10] Three other rallies in 2007 also ended with arrests made by police.[8] A protest in 2009 against the Internal Security Act was also broken up by tear gas and water cannons.[11]
Demands
Bersih 2.0 is chaired by former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan. Ambiga has summed up the main issues raised by the organisation she leads as "unhappiness... in the Sarawak [election], unhappiness about corruption, [and] unhappiness about the independence of our institutions."[12] She stated that demands made during the first rally in 2007 have not been addressed, hence the follow up (2.0) rally.[7]
The communiqué issued by Bersih issued in 2007 called for reforms to Malaysia's first past the post electoral system, ensuring the independence of the Election Commission (EC), eliminating electoral practices deemed unfair to opposition candidates, eliminating corrupt campaign practices, equal access to the media for all political parties, and instituting a caretaker government during election periods, among others in the long term.[13] It also asked for immediate action to introduce indelible ink to prevent multiple voting, the abolition of postal votes, a complete revision of the electoral roll and equal access to state-owned media for all political parties.[13] A statement on 15 June also called for:
Opposition support
Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) deputy president Mohamad Sabu said there were many "concerns" about how the next general election will be conducted. He accused the Barisan Nasional (BN), the ruling coalition, of cheating tactics, including registering foreign nationals as BN voters.[4] PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the EC and the National Registration Department (NRD) "were committing abuses", and that there were "rampant media abuses".[15] Democratic Action Party (DAP) member of parliament Teresa Kok accused BN of "gerrymandering" and "malapportioning" electoral constituencies.[5] She also pointed out how the opposition parties' share of seats in parliament was more than ten percent less than their share of the popular vote.[5]
Plans
The rally will begin with protestors gathering at the Sogo shopping center, Kuala Lumpur City Hall building, and the Kampung Baru Mosque at 14:00 MST. They will then march to the Istana Negara to deliver a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Announcement
After frustration at by being shut out of observing the April 2011 Sarawak election, Bersih announced in a press release on 26 May that it had decided to organise a gathering on 9 July to "to further press for the rakyat’s demands for electoral reform, strengthening of public institutions, and to take a stand against widespread corruption at all levels of society."[16]
Counter-rallies
Perkasa
Malay nationalist movement Perkasa have spoken out strongly against the rally. Its president Ibrahim Ali vowed to stage a protest of their own on the same day to "stop [the rally] from happening".[17] On 15 June, Perkasa announced that they had secured the support of over 30 non-governmental organisations and challenged the Bersih organisers over who could stage a bigger rally 9 July.[18] They called on Bersih to cancel the rally, warning that clashes might occur.[19] Ibrahim warned "[If they proceed] there will be a clash. If that happens, it is for the better."[20]
On 19 June, Perkasa held a gathering attended by 500 supporters to protest the Bersih rally. During the gathering, images of Ambiga – described by flyers as "a dangerous Hindu woman" – were burned, while Ibrahim warned the Chinese community not to participate in the rally.[2] He also claimed that the opposition will use the rally to trigger an uprising similar to Egypt and Libya.[2]
In response, DAP MP Teresa Kok labeled Perkasa as a "volatile group with no clear mission and zero integrity."[5] Mohamad Sabu dismissed Perkasa's threat as a "small matter".[21] Tuan Ibrahim called on the police to take action against Perkasa for threatening violence.[15]
UMNO Youth
UMNO Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin announced on 16 June that UMNO Youth will hold another rally to "strengthen the democratic system" and show that "the voice of the people does not belong only to the opposition".[22][23] He added that they had "a right to assembly guaranteed by the constitution."[24] Khairy also called Ibrahim a racist for making threats against the Chinese community.[25]
Election Commission offer
On 20 June, the Election Commission (EC) extended an offer to Bersih to meet and discuss their demands, on the condition that the rally be called off. EC chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said "a street demonstration will not solve any problem" since Bersih's demands require amendments to the law. He claimed that during a previous meeting with Bersih in 2010, they had agreed that their demands were met.[26] Bersih refused the offer.[27]
Government reaction
Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein warned against the rally, fearing the chaos that might ensue.[7] He affirmed on 7 June that the rally was "illegal", and urged the organisers to call it off.[28] He promised to clamp down on demonstrators if they threatened national security.[29] Hishamuddin also threatened to take preemptive measures against both Bersih and Perkasa.[30]
Opposition reaction
PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu gave the rally his party's full backing.[12][31] Calling the event the "Walk for Democracy", he asked for 300,000 PAS members to attend the gathering.[4] The Leader of the Opposition, Anwar Ibrahim, will also take part in the rally.[32] The DAP also pledged support for the rally.[5]
On 19 July, Anwar reportedly told members of his Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) that he would ask Ambiga to cancel the rally if the government met Bersih's demands.[33] His statement was rebuffed by Ambiga the following day.[34] Anwar later claimed he was misquoted.[33] This incident was criticised by ruling coalition parties, who have argued that the rally is in fact an opposition tool to gain support.[35][36]
Police reports and reaction
At least 418 police reports, from business operators, travel agencies, and UMNO Youth, have been filed against Bersih since the rally's announcement.[37][19] UMNO has encouraged business operators and taxi drivers to sue Bersih for any losses that may be caused by the rally.[38]
On 15 July, the police announced that permits would not be issued, neither for the Bersih rally nor the Perkasa counter-rally, saying that the rallies would "disturb the peace" and "cause traffic chaos".[19] Bersih remained defiant despite not receiving the permit, and promised to cooperate with police during the gathering.[14]
Launch event
Bersih organisers held a launch on 19 June at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur.
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