On 21st July, the police went public with their version of what transpired in KL on 9th July at the BERSIH 2.0 rally.
We all know what ought to be done with most of what was said by the Internal Security and Public Order chief Salleh Rashid at Bukit Aman that day.
However, something he is reported by FreeMalaysiaToday as having said caught my attention.
“One of the clips shown today depicted policemen facing protesters in the rain in front of the Puduraya bus station. Referring to the protesters, Salleh said: “We can see them gathering, even though we gave them warning.”
Salleh also pointed to a similar occurrence in front of the KL Sentral complex, saying the police “did nothing even though the demonstrators were in front”.
He said tear gas was fired only when a group led by Batu MP Tian Chua allegedly charged at the riot squad“.
5 of the BERSIH 2.0 steering committee members, myself included, were at the scene that Salleh speaks of, being the culmination of a journey through KL Sentral, after having left KL Hilton, down the escalator
Down the escalator to the level where the LCCT coaches are parked. Photo credited to Malaysiakini
leading to the level where the LCCT coaches are parked, and through the passage by which those coaches would make their way to Jalan Tun Sambanthan enroute to the LCCT.
Quite frankly, I was baffled by this eleventh hour planned route, after it bacame obvious that the original plan to have us taken to the Masjid Negara and to lead the crowd from there to the Stadium Merdeka became unworkable.
The plan was still to try and get to Stadium Merdeka.
It would have made more sense to turn right, having exited from the hotel, and take the wide open road that led straight onto Jalan Tun Sambanthan and then straight to Stadium Merdeka.
Instead, we were directed into KL Sentral, after the police cordon blocking the entrance had been pushed aside.
Twice, a lawyer present came and warned me that the FRU was already waiting for us.
Once, inside the KL Sentral, and the second, after we had gone down the escalator to where the LCCT coaches were, and were already on the road usually taken by those coaches to exit the KL Sentral complex.
I received this video clip from an eye witness who was present at the point where our group came face to face with the FRU.
You will see from the 49th/50th second into the video clip that what Salleh said is true.
Some of the frontliners appear to have charged out before the tear gas was fired.
From the video clip, you will not hear anyone giving the order to charge the FRU.
However, I have heard from 3 independent sources, all present at the scene in question and two of whom I have too much respect for to disbelieve, that Tian Chua did in fact give the order to charge that led to those frontliners breaking rank and charging the FRU.
We were supposed to rally peacefully.
We were not supposed to be the aggressors.
The MP of Batu owes us all an explanation.
Can we hear from you on this, please, YB?
The People's Parliament 
Kian Ye
July 28, 2011
TIAN CHUA wanted to BITE the FRUs.
opAir
July 28, 2011
.
charging the fru? that is suicide.
common sense says they were trying to get past the blockade prolly.
.
Bonnie
July 28, 2011
agreed…from the police video u can see that they were going sideways , i think thats where the walkway is
not RPK nor Haris I
July 28, 2011
Nitpicking is a vintage Haris Ibrahim characteristic ( aka petty lawyer ) & fatal achilles heel.
Haris, You do not have a helicopter vision ( nor any vision for that matter). Forget your MCLM, forget your political inclinations.
You are doomed to fail.
Try to exit dirty politics and save your remaining sanity
Haris Ibrahim
July 28, 2011
Ah, the PKR cybertroopers have come out, I see.
Why don’t you let Tian Chua account for himself and you not try to do his dirty work for him?
bystander
July 28, 2011
how typical of a cybertrooper, regardless of which side they stand on – resorting to personal attacks instead of addressing the issue at hand. be more mature!
Voting Hands
July 28, 2011
Why is YB Tian Chua seen like either charging at FRU? Maybe he was deserting the Bersih 2.0 team to clear off tear gas cannisters or got taken over my emotions and ran for cover screwing every1 else.. Whatever it is, it made a group of people go with him & this is 1 time his leadership sucked big time with a record low showmanship at peacefull rally.. YB Tian Chua, Senator Kohilan Pillay gonna take on you for Batu MP seat in the next GE, easy to trash him but as voters – we command & you are answerable, what d heck happen lah brader??
Daphne Bartlett
July 28, 2011
Dont be harsh on Harris. He has to protect his reputation too. And I do agree the video clip does look awful. But let us wait till YB Tian Chua speaks up which is what Harris wants too!
SS2 Girl
July 28, 2011
Just hazarding a guess: but could Tian Chua have been leading a group to try to negotiate with the FRU leader? In the video, he looked like he was walking mere milliseconds before the first shot was fired (which triggered the group to begin running).
Haris Ibrahim
July 28, 2011
SS2 Girl,
I think the video in the follow up post answers your question
YCA
July 28, 2011
Was he charging with a weapon? Was he shouting obscenities? Yes, he is only guilty of charging/dashing towards the FRU, but for what reason we will need to hear it from YB himself.
Haris Ibrahim
July 28, 2011
YCA,
You don’t need an explanation from Tian Chua?
Ok, suit yourself.
I still want to hear his explanation, thank you very much
Daphne Bartlett
July 28, 2011
YCA…. it is better to let YB Tian Chua clear the air than to let BN bad mouth BERSIH!
Paul Warren
July 28, 2011
Aiya, Tian Chua does not know the meaning of Peaceful Walk. Or maybe he said sit and someone heard charge.
Voting Hands
July 28, 2011
Unplanned hura hura dah start siang2 when the Bersih 2.0 team broke the police barrier at KL Sentral enterance & went rounding in the complex aimlessly just to find all access to public transport has been either cordorned off our closed.. No back or further plans were available, in my video YB Nurul Izzah was recorded saying ‘ I don’t know where are we supposed to go ‘.. Of couse YB Tian Chua was leading & the group was followed by FRU in full battle gear.. After you passed in front of me & the FRU stopped following & discussed something. They decided not to follow the Bersih 2.0 team suddenly but gathered at the only exit they know the Bersih 2.0 team will be forced to channel through.. I showed the video to many friends and all agreed tht FRU was much more better a replanning a strategy but Bersih sucked big time when it came to backups !!
Damien T
Redhuan D. Oon
July 28, 2011
From Manila here. I think Brother Haris has every right under our pristine democratic principles to raise doubt over any politician’s reported or alleged conduct. Otherwise he has nothing to do. And so will I have nothing interesting to read.
residentwangsamaju
July 28, 2011
TC did charged into the fru, But no policemen were bitten in the process. Living a spartan lifestyle, taken to new heights. lol
kuda
July 28, 2011
tianchua charged at the fru la..whether it triggered the fru to shoot or not is another thing..but he did charge..it’s all over the internet..
Ah Pek
July 28, 2011
I don’t understand, in a peaceful rally, not allow to walk, charge or move forward (whatever you to call it) , so if the FRU is blocking in front then how, everybody should go home? stand still ? sit down singing?
Daphne Bartlett
July 28, 2011
Until YB Tian Chua says something to exonerate himself I believe we should not be presumptuous although the video clip does not look very good. Stand united and we will definitely have a cleaner and just elections!
Dr. HC Pang
July 28, 2011
PKR politicians are the worst lot within Pakatan.
Dr Suresh Kumar
July 29, 2011
When the ‘kepala’ Anwar Ibrahim himself is of a questionable character. What to expect from his protege? Politicians never seem to remember the maxim, ‘live by example’. We are quick to condemn, curse and annihilate BN/UMNO leaders as immoral, racist, discriminatory etc, but fail to look at the opposition leaders’ flaws and drawbacks. Partisanship has become so deeply entrenched in Malaysians that the term civil society has gone to the dogs in Malaysia today. Everything is viewed through a narrow political lens. If I were to praise and defend the opposition leaders eventhough they are at fault, I will be given the thums up and praises, on the other hand if I were to criticize them for mistakes and failures, I will be demonized and whacked with brick and bats. In a nutshell, most Malaysians lack courage and principles when it comes to questioning politicians, instead they simply nod their heads in agreement. Partisanship has blinded them of humanity and humility.
rick
July 30, 2011
That is why we should all continue to vote for BN give them another 50 years It will be good for the country.Just like the last 50 years -so much development.So many rich Malays created out of thin air -miracle isn’t it? Don’t vote for Pakatan with it’s ‘questionable character’ leader.Don’t even consider MLCM they are opposition.Don’t believe me?Go watch Harris’s documentary After the Tsunami about how ‘badly’ opposition states have fared after 2008.
Katharina Sri (ex Noor Aza)
July 29, 2011
I realized now how much worst evil the Opposition PR is – which consists of the of the Chinese-dominated Communist/Maoist-loving party DAP, and the Islamic Nazis of the murderous Jew-hating Muslim Brotherhood/Qardawi-loving Anwar Ibrahim of PKR party and the thuggish Iranian-Mullah like Muslim extremist party, PAS. They will turn Malaysia into savage Egypt, Tunisia and so on – which is now under the control of the Islamic Nazis of the Muslim Brotherhood. UMNO is evil right now (it was mostly due to Anwar being Deputy PM to Mahathir, when he infiltrated UMNO as an agent of the Muslim Brotherhood – he managed to turn Muslim-Malays and UMNO to be more fanatical),yes – but at least UMNO is in alliance with the (non-Communist) Chinese-dominated MCA and Indian-dominated MIC to form the majority ruling BN, that can still reform the half-moderate Malay-Muslim UMNO (although PAS/PKR infiltrators are hijacking UMNO, turning it to be more fanatical – imagine if MCA and MIC are not in the alliance with UMNO; how dangerous it would be for Malaysia and non-Muslims)!
Daphne Bartlett
July 29, 2011
Interesting! But it would be more interesting if you can support your statements!
Loyalty
July 30, 2011
Haris,
If you have nothing better to do, My advise is that you study the Arts of War to learn how to play politic like a big boy. MCLM is embarrassing and falling apart. Half of them/candidates are gone. When are you going to explain or even apologize for the departure of SUPP, Zaid, Haslinah & others? Or do I care? Moreover, we learn from mistake, no one die or get hurt and it’s not important. Move on
Haris
1) If the order is not clear. It’s the fault of the leader
2) If the order is clear and TC don’t follow. It’s also the fault of the leader
Any good leader would be able to see clearly are we better off with or without TC?
Any explanation should be uncalled for. Why waste time?
A faithful friend is a strong defense
Dr Suresh Kumar
July 30, 2011
PR maybe doing well in some of the states, but not all, believe me. They have their flaws and drawbacks, which they will never admit. Anyway, PR has become a champion for the Malay, Chinese and the orang Asli community. What about the Indian community? What happened to all their promises made before the 2008 GE? I personally spent lots of money and time campaigning and convincing people to vote PR, many were reluctant to vote PKR and esp PAS. I did that from abroad, with daily phone calls, on line campaign etc. I did that, thinking PR would be fair to all Malaysians regardless of race or religion. But they are not, as far as the Indian poor esp the estate dwellers are concerned. I dont care about the elite and the rich Indians, I talk about the Indian poor who have been hoodwinked by UMNO for so long and now by PR and the so called ‘PR’s multi racial Malaysians as well as the civil society. If you think PR is your guardian angel, well so be it, that’s your democratic right to think that way, in the same breath I too have my freedom of expression.