JOHOR DECLARES "STATE OF EMERGENCY" ON CYCLIST
6TH. December , Skudai
This morning, the SUARAM office near the vicinity of Skudai turned into an emergency zone, when the police mobilized their entire unit, from Light Strike Force, FRU to traffic police, erected road blocks which caused a massive traffic jam and massive public nuisance. This is to ensure around 40 young and energetic youth from cycling.
police force under the leadership of Skudai OCPD ACP Ruslan called for the arrest of those who wanted to negotiate with him and said that he is arresting them for illegal assembly. Around 12 people were arrested including PSM Secretary General S.Arutchelvan, Treasurer A.Sivarajan, Jerit Coordinator K.Simon, Semparuthi's Mohan, Salleh Alim and 13 year old son and many others. This was followed by the arrest of another four JERIT and SUARAM Johor coordinator including Ngo Jian Yee, Nyam Yee Han in which the police said that they were arrested for preventing the SUARAM office to be opened.
While 16 people were held in Skudai police station, the police put the others in "house arrest" at the SUARAM office when they were prevented from leaving the office. They also started to collect intelligent report in an intimidating way. Before that the police threatened to break down the SUARAM office doors.
After negotiation held between the OCPD and S.Arutchelvan, the police allowed everyone to leave with the condition that they will not allow any cycling in Skudai. He said that he will arrest if any person is found cycling even when he was assured that the cyclist will go on a single line. The only assurance the OCPD gave was the cyclist and their lorry will be allowed to leave his district without any problem.
What was further frustrating was when the police intimidated one of the lorries which was carrying the bicycles to Simpang Renggam when the team was heading to Kulai. Meanwhile plain-cloths policemen intimidated and harassed the cyclist by snapping photograph etc.
With less bicycles and after sheer bullying by the police, the JERIT southern team decided to cycle one by one and even decided that they will cycle even if it means arrest. The police initially did not want to allow the cyclist to cycle at all.
Then, our team was met by Samad, the OCPD for Kulai. He allowed the cyclist to cycle but warned that he will arrest if they did any traffic offence. Braving the intimidation, our team cycled on but less then 2 km, the police once again diverted all the cyclist to the police station and this time said that they were stopped because they don't have a reflector. This outrageous attitude further delayed the journey. The lorry carrying the remaining cyclist was harassed and even summoned. With this, since the day was getting dark, the organizers decided to move to their next destination Simpang Renggam. On arrival, the police was once again there harassing the cyclist and the team. The team were met by some supporters from PKR, where the team stayed in their office.
It was a day when the three district in Johor had nothing to do except monitor a cycling team. It was a day when there were as if no other issues matters in Johor. A small ceramah was held at Simpang Renggam.
For the cyclist, it was a frustrating day but yet the spirit was high. By midnight, the young cyclist were putting the reflectors and ready to pedal for the next day.
Signing off at Simpang Renggam 12 midnight
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