Too dirty to be Bersih
This time I took my curiosity to another level - I was at the Bersih 3.0 rally Saturday afternoon to get a feel of the atmosphere.
Didn't actually join in the yellow or green protesters, though. To me this rally is too politically related. If our Election Committee is really biased and provided Bersih is done the right way - I'm up for it. Only for having a clean election, but definitely not for the unnecessary side topics of Ambiga's LGBT and I-believe-many-Malay's Free Education.
As for Lynas, I'm no expert but after watching many episodes of CSI and the movie Erin Brockovich, I think the possibility of it destroying our land and affecting the health and lives of the people there are high. But as what I saw yesterday, the green crowd was smaller, and generally everybody was too focused on PKR winning the next election anyway.
My 3-months-pregnant cousin was as pumped up to go as myself. So I brought her along - on her consent, mind you. Parked our car nearby the bus station at Jalan Pekeliling & took Star LRT.
Titiwangsa LRT Station packed with people
Headed into the city and at the corner from Bandaraya to Masjid Jamek, we can start to see the crowd, police trucks & FRU team. Scary, it felt like we're in a war.
Police trucks at the side of Dataran Merdeka
Huge Bersih crowd facing police officers inside Dataran block
More crowd at Masjid Jamek area
View from inside LRT as it slowly moves by
FRU trucks seen from inside Dataran Merdeka
Our main plan was to go back and forth in the LRT only, but our stomach was growling like an angry lion! And so we stopped by Sogo to eat. Alas, Sogo was closed. So we had our lunch @ Old Town at CIMB beside it. It was really peaceful then. Around 1.30pm++.
Empty - road behind Sogo
Police officers on standby at Bandaraya LRT Station
Like a ghost town - road between Sogo & CIMB
Thinking of expanding our exploration, we head out into Jalan TAR, towards Dataran Merdeka. People have started to move out from Dataran & head towards Sogo for food, I guess. It was around 2.30pm++.
People walking on Jalan TAR
All the while we were walking, helicopter sounds were all over the skies. They flew quite close on top of our heads. At one point while we were walking, there was loud bang which sounded like a gunshot. We stopped, alarmed by the sound, but head down the road anyway. We walked until we were right behind the huge, packed crowd facing Dataran Merdeka.
Helicopter flying close
The crowd
That yellow line was our boundary - didn't go in further
We hung out for a while, taking pictures & taking in the atmosphere that we came out to have a feel of. Until the shooting of the tear gas started. Even then, we stayed to take pictures.
Participants buying drinks from a hawker
The 1st sign of smoke seen from far
People came closer to take a look & snapping pictures
Until I guess the 2nd or 3rd shooting and the crowd began to run in our direction in a very scary manner that we ran off into Jalan TAR's Saturday night market.
People have started to shout "They've fired gas!"
We saw the smoke cannons flew out, took this picture & ran off. Crowd was shouting to move back.
Some of those who were shot took a rest here at Semua House
We walked very fast, trying to get away from the people build-up behind us but our attempt wasn't a success. Trapped inside a very packed crowd heading towards Sogo, we forced ourselves towards Semua House. On our way back to Bandaraya LRT, we saw a whole lot of people who was hit by tear gas - sweating, wet, and one with traces of blood in the face.
By the time we got back to Sogo, the crowd has grown so much bigger. We stopped at a corner everytime we hear a group of people shouting. We tried to go every way possible to get to the LRT but with no success. Finally when we reach there, LRT was closed. Some asked to go down, and some said stay upstairs is safer.
Crowd grew bigger in front of Sogo
All the while we've been chased, I was calm, until at this point. I have never been scared as I did at this moment in life. We were stuck at the bridge that links LRT to Sogo, with nowhere to run. Below us, crowd has started to provoke police officers somewhere down the road nearby KWSP. People were running here & there, shouting, angry, scared. The road between Sogo & CIMB which was clear earlier was in a very chaotic situation at this moment.
There were no pictures taken here, although it would be very interesting if I hadn't been too shaky to hold my phone out. My cousin wanted to sit & wait until the LRT opened, but looking at how the crowd was reacting then, I doubt it was gonna be soon before LRT started to operate again. I wasn't ready to see anybody battered to death in front of my eyes, and no way I am getting sprayed!
So once again, we ran against the crowd, heading towards Semua House. It was crazy - with people shouting and running and the sound of gunshots. When you're with a large crowd & your anger starts to build up, you're no longer human. So these people have been possessed by Satan. Evil spirits had overcome them! But Alhamdulillah I managed to stay calm. I had to, since I have to be the one who has to take care of the other 2 human lives who was with me.
Upon our arrival at Semua House, the smell of tear gas was already there. Luckily I prepared 2 towels in the bag - apart from our own mineral water. Coughing & a little bit of teary-eyed, we headed to ESSO station in front of the police station opposite Sogo, where my cousin's husband & family were. They were the participants - somewhat deep in the crowd in front of Dataran Merdeka, and was hit by the tear gas. So yeah, they were very messy with reddish eyes & heavy sweat.
Everybody calmed down by then. The husband & wive was very glad to see each other again, alive and well. Myself on the other hand, was glad to meet them because one of the family members, the much younger cousin to be exact, is VERY good looking. So I was all smiles as we hung out talking to the uncles, sharing our experiences. He's not much of a talker, the cute one. He's one of those shy types. Which makes me want him more, right?
People talking to each other updating on the situation & the closing of LRT stations
This was around 4-5pm++ and after everybody finished eating at the mamak shop nearby, police had already closed the road in front of the station towards Sogo. And suddenly the smell of tear gas filled the air again. Shop owner quickly announced that they were closing & shooed everybody out of the shop. It could be by this time, the incident of crowd attacking police car had happened.
We walked to Dang Wangi Putra LRT Station, heading home at last. On the way, there was a crowd with a cameraman doing an interview. Turned out somebody was injured at the legs. Blood was all over. I couldn't actually care less, I took the opportunity to get close to the cute cousin & asked what happened. He said he had no idea, and that was the start and end of my conversation with him.
A whole load of people was in the LRT area, queuing up to buy tickets & sitting down on the floor to wait. We joined them on the floor while waiting for the cute one to queue. Talked to a young girl participant, who shared her stories & told us about the flipped over police car, a few other attacks to police officers & vehicles, and there was a possibility that somebody died.
Tired crowd at Dang Wangi LRT Station
It wasn't a pleasant conversation. Who would be happy to hear of such riot? And mostly between the same race & supposed religion?
It's peculiar that they were the ones who shouted "Allahuakbar" at the start of the rally, and yet they are the ones who did all the violence. This is an absolute disgrace to our own race & religion. On the bigger picture, obviously an embarrassment to or country. We were known for our culture & the politeness of the people. And now it's on CNN, BBC, Al-Jazeera and all other world news for our violence.
It's shameful.
On another side note, after getting a slight hit of the tear gas, Coke has never tasted bad! My throat & taste buds was in a bad condition. But I was happy & glad that I get the experience that I came for.
So no, this is not Bersih. With the trash that was left on the roads afterwards, this is even further than Bersih. And no, to me Bersih 3.0 was not a success.
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