My companions on the journey out to Duduk Bantah
Five of us took off a little after 11am by train.
Destination : Jalan Sultan.
Got down at the KL Sentral and legged it to Jalan Sultan.
Along the way, we kept running into clusters of policemen.
I greeted them with ‘Salam’ and they returned with the same.
Jalan Sultan turned yellow and green
When we reached Jalan Sultan, we found the entire street was jam-packed with Yellows & Greens.
A quick phone call to the ‘Headmaster’ and I was informed that the gang had moved to the Bar Council location. We were to head there too.
Made our way to the Bar Council. En route there, joined a group of protestors and we got into a ‘Hidup! Hidup! Hidup Rakyat’ chant.
Hidup Rakyat! Photo posted on Facebook by Alice Lee
When we reached the Bar Council, a carnival-like atmosphere prevailed.
Look at the photos of the folk who were out there and you will see that all were there to peacefully convey a message to Najib : We want free and fair elections.
Folk sitting at the Bar Council site
Folk sitting at the Bar Council site
Sure, the cops were there, in full force.
As was the barricade, barbed wire and all.
But it was all peaceful, notwithstanding the crowd being boisterous.
I tried urging those present to sit down and begin the Duduk Bantah.
Some did.
Others chose to continue to stand and move about.
Ah, well, it was their right.
Until 3pm, it seemed that the protest would end as it was intended – a peaceful one.
Then, some from the political parties came and urged those present to move to Jalan Tun Perak.
I declined.
I said that my Duduk Bantah had already begun and that I was not inclined to move.
Then we received word that the barricade at the junction of Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja had been broken, that protestors were trying to make their way into Dataran Merdeka and that the police had opened fire with the water cannons and tear gas.
Now, something strange then happened.
I did not see who did it, or when, but the barricade at the Bar Council separating the protestors from the police had been completely removed and the first few rows of protestors had advanced to within 10 feet of the several rows of FRU.
I went to the front to access the situation and have to say that I was not comfortable with the state of things as, given the new proximity of the cops with the protestors, it would not take much to provoke one group to move against the other.
I then saw Andrew Khoo, a member of the Bersih steering committee. Given his formal attire, I think he was then with the Bar observer team.
I approached Andrew and urged that measures be taken to get the front row of protestors to step back 10 paces.
Andrew replied that nothing needed be done at that stage as the protestors were not doing anything provocative.
I went back to the others in our group to warn them of my worst fears when the warning bell on the police truck was sounded.
Then the mayhem started.
First the water cannons were unleashed.
Then the tear gas engulfed us.
The carnival atmosphere had vanished.
Peace was no more.
To those who were at the Bar Council yesterday, I need your help to resolve these burning questions for me.
Who removed the barricade? The cops or the protestors?
When the protestors were close up to the rows of FRU, was there any provocation by either the police or the protestors?
You can send in your information by way of comment or by email to thepeoplesparliament@gmail.com
The People's Parliament 
Chong Kok Wai
April 29, 2012
Dea Sir, I’m also interested to know who opened the barrier to Dataran Merdeka. While I was in the LRT train, I heard different accounts from the participants. They told me a different story. Hope you can help shed some light. Thanks
Michael Singho
April 29, 2012
You have done the right thing, Sam….keeping a look out that order is maintained, at least around where you were located.You went on with what you had to do,with dignity and sensibility intact.And you are doing the right thing now by finding out the the truth surrounding the situation that led to the resulting mayhem…I sincerely hope you find the answers you seek.
tk
April 29, 2012
hi HARIS,
(1)
was at Pasar Seni around 11.30am,a friend who was there earlier (showed off his photo w PAK SAMAD at d LRT) said the whole place was closed n ppl were chased out of d building.
I was disgusted that telecomunication n internet were blocked ,just as in MTKL car park on morning of verdict for ANWAR ‘s case.
(2)
minutes before 2, we joined d crowd walking towards Bar Council.Atmosphere was like carnval, everyone happy , smiling n talking to ppl we never met before.
We were told to DUDUK BANTAH, on the tar road right in front of BAR COUNCIL.
Twice we had to stand up to make way for an ambulance,followed by a dark-tinted four-wheel n another car to make their way towards the Bar Council.
There were ppl taking photos from the windows on higher floor of the Bar Council building.
(3)
after about 30 min ,my husband cannot tahan d tar road, so we decided to take a walk.
We walked to Jamek LRT, there were too many ppl ,we could hear cheers but did not know who the speaker was.As we walk along d river , i noticed quite q lot of ppl in d compound of Masjid Jamek.Also took photos of some guys walking on d river bank.
(4)
As my hubby was tired , he sat down on d walkway of AmBank (opp HongKongBank HQ) while I stood around to take photos of the carnival like atmosphere.It was so peaceful ,so much so my husband fell asleep for some 15 min.
When he woke up, i commented that it was so boring, couldn’t get to hear any speech cos ppl are scattered all over d places, unlike if we were all at DATARAN.We did not know if anything was going on. Could not get in touch w friends who were there because phone line was blocked
Helicopter was circulating all d time
Still we decide since DUDUK BANTAH is 2 to 4,we shall leave around 4 to give BERSIH full support.
(5)
Around 3.30,as we walk towards Pasar Seni,a commotion broke out n we saw ppl retreating from location of Bar Council into where we were.After taking photo of d water cannon, I turned back n saw gas coming up from below at d river bank (photo) as well as fom top ,out of HongKongBank HQ.(photo)
SHIT, I said to my husband, they won’t even give ppl another 20 min or so !
AND , it looked like it was all PREPLANNED !!!
Wonder Y MalaysiaKini reported a day or so earlier that HongKongBank denied advising staff not to attend BERSIH!
(6),
i ran into a beef noodle shop, packed full of protesters,helping each other, washing n eating salt, There were a few rounds of tear gas.
This shop is behind MayBank,near Jalan Silang.
My husband called from MayBank ,Bukit Makhamah ,said he would meet me here
My husband called again, ALL GAS ,cannot come,,to meet me near Hotel Furama instead,
(7)
fom noodle house , iran towards Jalan Silang,a row of policemen were at MayBank ,MS ALI junction.As i ran across d road , i found a small pellet landed on d road about .2 feet from me , someone else was also running beside me.We both saw it , not sure if he took pic, I just ran like mad !
Opp old Rex cinema, a young man stretch his hand out offering everyone SALT.
(8)
took a rest inside Mandarin Hotel.
Several commotion out there while we were there
When we left ,d road towards Jln Bandar Police Station was blocked by many trafic policemen
(9)
AFter reading news,
(BTW,up to now I still cannot access MT n DAP )
(A)
I feel that if BERSIH was held at DATARAN, every genuine protester would have been
informed n would disperse after AMBIGA made d annoucement at 2.30
What was d motive for not allowing Dataran, plus d blocking of telecommunication?
Any VALID reasons at all?
Given bn ‘s CRUEL trck record, i wld never go into a stadium which they can lock all d exits n use it like a gas chamber with all their opponents lokcked inside!
(B)When Tunku Aziz (correct me if i am wrong ) was president of RSC, he argued fiercely to have Dataran returned to d RAKYAT.
But now there is much less freedom for d Rakyat to even walk on it ,unlike when it still belonged to RSC
DATARAN MERDEKA belongs to ALL RAKYAT MALAYSIA !!!
BEST WISHES,HARIS !
Thanks for your take, tk
Paul Warren
April 29, 2012
I was at D Merdeka. But was at the front of DBKL when the melee started. But my brother and nephew were close to the truck on which were Anwar and Ambiga. According to my brother Anwar had gestured moving on towards Raja Laut. Ambiga had gestured that the sit in was over. It was about then that the barricades were breached. My nephew who was close to the breach felt himself pushed through it and he was in. The cops up front had receded. The major question my nephew has burning in his mind is, how come the razor wires were rolled up rather neatly and left lying by the side like as if someone who is familiar with piling it up had done it.
There is a tie up between the time the breach happened and the time Ambiga announced the rally over.
Until then any agent provocateurs would have remained quiet, thinking their job to begin only at 4.00. But when Ambiga prematurely announced the rally over the breach had to happen. According to a friend who also made through the breach at the Raja Laut entry point, discovered the cops missing. My brother finds all the DBKL staff locked in their building.
Later on at night, past 9.00pm there were 3 identical looking buses parked along Jalan Ipoh, in front of the Police Station that is under reconstruction. They had 1 Malaysia insignias on them. I saw 3 guys in mufti and another 3 in BERSIH T shirts chatting away. Agent Provocateurs? I wonder.
pmcpm
April 30, 2012
Was there myself. I experienced a once in a lifetime experience there. To all who went through it the good, the bad and the ugly (in that order) good: what a beautiful warm and windy day it was with a carnival like atmosphere and a camaderie I have never seen in my fifty years among people, the bad: being the prople who started the provocation who ever they might be and the ugly: those who went on fighting till late evening for whatever reasons they seem fit. I would like to tell all who have gone through this experience to put it behind you and treat this as an event that just had to happen – fate maybe -.
Know that a new era would be awaiting all of us when we saw that GOOD PART OF 28/4. EVERYONE, EVEN ALL OF YOU ABANG ABANG POLICEMAN PLEASE CONCENTRATE ON THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE LARGEST ” SUDAH BANTAH ” CARNIVAL – REMEMBER MALAYSIA BOLEH !
MayaRae_O
April 30, 2012
Just thinking…. you said “completely removed”, could the protesters had easily done that? Assuming if they did, they would probably have just stealthily left gaps of opening right? Just wondering because it seem the only one who could completely remove them would have been the authorities. Again just CSI thinking….
MayaRae_O,
My initial thoughts too
Bryan Lee
April 30, 2012
Hi Sir,
I am not one of the protestor, but I found this picture which is very disturbing. I hope someone can identify whether pic is real or doctored. https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/574991_442447959106118_186756544675262_1870979_678734608_n.jpg
baronvonchesto
April 30, 2012
Haris there is more and more evidence of police/perkasa/UMNO agent provocateurs gradually emerging on the net. https://www.facebook.com/poliszalim is a place catalogueing all acts of police brutality. there you can see a few pictures where people clad in bersih tshirts later seen assaulting protesters together with the uniformed police!
Also read what Zaharin Mohd Yasin (Secretary for Banda Tun Razak UMNO) wrote on his FB page http://darisungaiderhaka.blogspot.com/2012/04/nak-tahu-siapa-rempoh-pagar-dan-sekatan.html?spref=fb
I reproduce in verbatim
“Polis dah lebih cerdik dari dulu.. Dia bagikan anggotanya dua pasukan, satu pakai uniform polis, satu pasukan lagi pakai baju bersih tergelak saya jumpa seorang kawan yang masih polis, pegawai lagi dari Pahang, pakai baju kuning dan terpekik ayat refomasi. Saya tak tegur dia pun. Tapi bila tengok kat lengan dia ada getah warna kuning.. Dan saya jumpa banyak yang pakai getah yang sama.. Saya rasa terjaminlah dalam kumpulan pencacai yang tidak tahu apa benda ini ..”
baronvonchesto
April 30, 2012
Also as a telco engineer I can tell you tk that the government dosent really need to block the mobile phone and internet networks. I can safely say there were not blocked because most people could make intermittent calls or SMS.
The fact is that the cell towers simply cant handle that many mibile phones + ipads + whatnot in the same area trying to use the mobile network at the same time! 250000 in a samll area is an awful lot to handle!
Its the same reason why people cant use mobile phones in disaster areas. Everyone trying to use the mobile network at the same time simply overloads the cell towers!
Mike Tee
April 30, 2012
Hi Haris, you might want to have a look at this video?
Mike,
Thanks
Chun Li
April 30, 2012
There’s also this video…
Chun Li,
Thanks
Joe
April 30, 2012
I found this on internet… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yGCDOcchB8&feature=share
bigjoe99
April 30, 2012
If you look at videos of the point of breach, when Azmin stepped down from his perch, the crowd had to move to make room for him and nudged the barricade, that prompted the mainstream media to back off and the police to back off , and consequently the crowd expanded and the flimsy barricade fell apart.
Why was the mainstream media the frontline of the barricade and why such a wide berth given based on just nudges AS IF THEY WERE PREPARED TO LET THE BARRICADES FALL? If you ask me they were all along prepared to let the barricades fall all along..
No question in my mind, the breach was NOT the participants fault.
jamesloh
April 30, 2012
This is the video of Azmin Ali giving his speech. Why is Azmin Ali giving a political speech?
http://sinismalaysia.blogspot.com/2012/04/bersih-30-public-speech-and-interview.html
SS Lim
April 30, 2012
Dear Sir,
My friend and I can vouch that there were no provocations whatsoever by the protesters at the Bar Council area. We were there for about 10 – 15 mins before the mayhem started. The provocations came after the water cannon and gas were unleashed. Some protesters (no more than 3 – 5) were throwing plastic bottles at the water cannon..
We had walked from HSBS to the Bar Council. The plastic barriers and barb wires were already pushed to the side by the time we were there. We walked to almost the center of the bridge, where I saw a bald-headed gentleman in black coat talking to someone. Someone, beside him gestured to the crowd to sit and I help passed the message on. Less than 2 mins later, I heard the ring of bell and I told my friend, “Let get out, the water cannon will be coming” (having experienced the same during Bersih 2). As we were heading back to the Bar Council, people were running pass us, I glanced back and saw the water cannon heading toward the protesters.
Lim,
Very useful info. Thank you
baronvonchesto
April 30, 2012
Haris, regarding the video I was right there. Around the time azmin Ali showed up people were gesturing the crowd to move backward. The bulk of the crowd gradually pushed itself backward
but at the same time groups of people were pushing against the crowd going forward and I remember thinking “hmm… People are taking turns being at the front line”
By the time I noticed azmin Ali I was near the waterfall along jalan TAR-tun perak junction trying to get some shade as I was afraid I was getting heatstroke. I bought water from someone selling a bottle for just rm1 and as I opened to drink I could see azmin Ali but not hear him. Right about then the first clouds of teargas could be seen and within seconds teargas started landing where I was which is some 590m from where I remb the fru were originally parked. This was planned. They had guys in the buildings ambushing us from above
baronvonchesto,
This info is useful. Thanks
baronvonchesto
April 30, 2012
Haris – Upon measuring the approx distance using Google Earth Its more like I was about 250-300m away from where I think the FRU originally were. I say originally because all accounts seem to suggest that the FRU initially withdrew.
In either case it seems abit too far a distance for the FRU to be able to shoot a tear gas canister. I stand by my statement that there must have been police in the buildings shooting at us and this is something other people have stated as well.
Also there are several eyewitness reports on facebbok about people seeing police officers change into Bersih T-shirts and then go join the crowds some time before the commotion began. There are several who claim to have seen this near the HSBC building
arphan
April 30, 2012
Hi Haris. We met at Leboh Pasar Besar/Bar Council. I was there when the FRU fired the water cannon and tear gas. I was there 10 minutes before this happened and I talked to one of my son’s friends who was there all the time with the students protestors. He confirmed that it was the police who removed the barricade and after removing it they retreated to the back and disappeared. Then the FRU truck came and the FRU human barricade took over mid way across the bridge. I think you would also recall that the FRU sounded only ONE WARNING BELL, whereas the SOP is for THREE WARNINGS to be given.
Hope this helps
arphan,
It helps. Thanks
Advocate Of Change
April 30, 2012
BBC news uncensored version vs censored version by Astro.
Entitled: “BBC News on Bersih 3.0 – What the government doesn’t want you to know”
ACR
April 30, 2012
In determining how it all happened, don’t fall into BN’s ploy and be distracted by it to the detriment of the primary purpose of Bersih—the push for fair and free elections.
The push has to continue relentlessly and greater efforts made to engage the foreign media
and international bodies. Whilst the Bersaih rally was successful on many fronts, there were also apparent weaknesses that need addressing. Much more can and needs to be done.
There are still large sectors of the public that fall prey to the local media’s propaganda. Perhaps flyers can be prepared giving the right account of what transpired as well as the reasons for the rally and such flyers can be distributed through the news vendors, who will be happy to include them in the local newspapers at 5 cents a copy. It only cost RM5,000 to reach 100,000 households. May be worth a shot.
shakuntala
April 30, 2012
I stood confused for a few minutes behind the Pasar Seni LRT. I had departed earlier with two others, from near the Maybank, to have a drink and when we came out we were near the old Ocean Supermarket and walked towards the back of Pasar Seni….there was tear gas smoke billowing from the vicinity of the Pasar Seni LRT..my first thought was why was tear gas being shot into this area which was not even near the barricades. People were running helter skelter,screaming, we saw police on motor cycles, giving chase and people dispersing not knowing where they were running. It was dramatic and frightening…..the quickest change over, you had ever seen, from a relaxed atmosphere to one of total mayhem.
When I tried to ask some young people why or what had turned an absolutely fun occasion into a fearsome disarray, every single person was confused, had baffled looks,some were in tears, they just did not know anymore.
It was heart-breaking to realize that darkness, and confusion had overshadowed a perfectly peaceful gathering of like-minded Malaysians, out to tell their country that they were loyal citizens..
When all is said and done, one still asks a very relevant question, why did not some police at least have the sense to just verbally warn the people,again and again if necessary, instead of resorting to tear gas and water cannons….quite beyond the means available to the ordinary man to counter this kind of menace It was plain power, on display, as usual.
At the start of the rally, we were all so united, we were unmistakeably One Malaysia,even the Gods would have envied us our Spirit of oneness, spontaneously so, not being goaded to be One People via slogans or the use of brainwashing tactics by the authorities.
I am sorry I do not have any video evidence….when I left my home, I said to myself that I would not want a paid thug to get hold of my only little idiot proof camera and smash it to the ground.
Much earlier, our hearts were already troubled when we saw our national Poet sitting sad and alone near the ticket barriers and on the bridge at Pasar Seni, the poor man was heavily guarded by a group of policemen. We asked to be allowed to go to wish him and perhaps cheer him up, the police gave out a definite no…..as if Pak Samad was also soley their property like the Dataran Merdeka….. and not the Peoples’
We had to be contented with just calling out our wishes to Pak Samad. Of course he responded with smiles and hand waves…..smiling just to show us how brave he was and to extend to us his Spirit which was so willing, and yet, not allowed to flourish.
Tok Rojak
April 30, 2012
Again, kudos for the Rakyat!! Hidup Rakyat Malaysia!!
After two days, there are tons of video clips both on pro-UMNO & pro-Pakatan blogs. The sequence of events are clear. After Ambiga spoke, she asked the people to disperse and clips show people starting to walk to Masjid Jamek LRT. However, since there was such a large crowd, it took some time for them to slowly move there. Once the melee broke out, some innocent participants were hit from behind by gas cannisters. Some clips show a Chinese lady with a big gash at the back of her head.
By Haris accounts, he sensed that the situation was quite tense and ask people to move back from the barricades. From the clips we saw Super Mario give Donkey Kong instructions to proceed with Plan B, monopolize the charged up situation. Even Chegu Bard standing beside Super Maro did not see the secret signal to Donkey Kong. Spice up the situation. What happen next is, if you give a brainless person enough rope to hang himself… Police wantonly arresting people, pulling people out of coffee shops and slapping them before arrest. A leaf from the “Rioting 101” playbook. Poor Chegu Bard was arrested & “subdued” and didn’t know what hit him. We condone the subsequent actions that befell the rakyat. However, the PAS front guards (in red shirts) were trying to stop more people aggrivating the situation by charging in. They were trying to re-inforce the barricades again.
Politicians are putting citizens in harms way just to win. Hidup Sabah!! Hidup Rakyat!! I hope there will be a hung parliment!! Let Sabah & independent members of Parliment dictate & voice the wishes of the people. Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi (kedua pihak politik sama aje, tidak boleh diharapkan)
mohd2196
April 30, 2012
abg harris, youtube jelas dsai suruh org belok kanan ke jln TAR.tapi ada org jerit suruh mara.tapi from my previous demo’s, agent provocator ada di mana2
navinda
April 30, 2012
Haris, around 2.30, I decided to push forward and see what was happening at the junction of Tun Perak and Jalan Tuanku Abd Rahman. From there I could see the crowd in both the roads as well as the approach from Bank Negara. It was here that I heard a couple of guys, both in Bersih 3.0 tees, urging the crowd to ‘masuk’. They kept repeating the words, but they themselves did not move an inch. Even then I decided that they had been planted tp provoke. The two, both Malays, were tall and well built.
I believe that they had been planted there.. I moved away from that spot back to Masjid Jamek station. I left as soon as Dato Ambiga ended her speech and was newhere near when the alleged breach took place.
Chee-Shyong Lau
April 30, 2012
I was there. Remember a guy in green who asked you “Hi, do you know who order to move to Jalan Tun Perak?” That’s me. I met a DAP representative by the name of Madeline Chang, who said “Right now, I am giving the order.” I declined because I smelled something fishy. Not long after I saw a protester who walked from the barricade after I heard voices raised and cheers up front. I asked him what’s going on and he told me that a small group of protesters in front had moved the barricade away. Upon learning this, I urged my friends to leave with me immediately. You know what happen later better than I because I had already left. But I had my share of the tear gas blowing in the wind around Popular Book Store.
Sheila Pakiam
April 30, 2012
Hi Haris,
Got back in time for Bersih 3 in Penang– good crowd, a carnival!
However always felt Penangites need to embrace the SABM concept more fully.
Fully support ACR’s suggestion to counter local media’s propaganda through flyers.
ACR
April 30, 2012
DBKL’s decision was that Dataran Merdeka was off-limits. So was the Court Order issued.
Their brief was to ensure that Dataran Merdeka was safeguarded, nothing more.
Dataran Merdeka is quite some way off from Sogo, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek and the Bar Council building.
What justification can the police then have to pursue and brutalize the public in areas way off from that they were to protect? What excuse do they have to pursue and assault people as far as half a mile away or more? After firing the tear gas and water cannons causing the crowd to disperse and run away from the scene, what was the necessity to pursue them when the objective of safeguarding Dataran Merdeka had been achieved? Clearly the police exceeded the terms of their brief or terms of reference. They exceeded and abused their powers.
The police have to learn that they are our servants(repeat:our servants) paid by us to protect us, not to bully and brutalize us on the orders of their political masters. They have to learn that we, the rakyat, are their employers and that we pay their salaries. I suggest we shame them.
Lets have car bumper stickers “Stop Police Brutality” and sell it at RM2 a piece to the public. Lets have thousands of cars in our major cities carrying that message. They ought not to get away with one afternoon’s vile abuse of power. They probably think that Malaysians generally have short memories and that it will soon be a matter of the past. Lets remind them that we have not forgotten.
wandererAUS
May 1, 2012
I saw the brutality UMNO police, 5 to 8 police personels whacking a helpless protester…that poor fella was not armed or abusive!…he laid on the floor for these bastards to punched and kicked him. What sort of animals we have, the baboons in blue. All these police provokations must be directives given by that SOB “Kissmyarsemuddin” UMNO HM.
victor chin
May 8, 2012