| Police roadblocks jam up roads, again http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75125 |
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Scores of police roadblocks have been sighted across Selangor on roads leading to Kuala Lumpur, causing major traffic jams. Malaysiakini received information that roadblocks had been set up since this morning bringing the rush-hour traffic to a crawl. Selangor Traffic and Public Order Department chief Supt Che Hussain Che Omar, when contacted, said roadblocks have been set up in all 12 districts in Selangor. “It is for crime prevention. We have placed roadblocks in all major strategic area this morning. When it will end depends on the situation. We still study the situation,” he said. More than a week ago, similar roadblocks were set up to frustrate thousands of people from attending the Bershi rally demanding for free and fair elections. However, despite the lockdown, about 40,000 turned up in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Show police presence A police source confirmed that the roadblocks have been set up to block those attending the Hindraf rally. “We just want to show police presence in the areas,” said the source, who requested anonymity.
Roadblocks were spotted on several highways including the Silk Highway (from Kajang and Semenyih to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya), near Sungai Ramal, Sungai Besi Highway (photo) and Sungai Way on the Federal Highway. Other areas include Ampang (at Taman Dato Ahmad Razali before Ampang Point and another at Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre), Jalan Puchong (near Bintang supermarket), Klang (Bukit Tinggi and Bukit Raja) and Bukit Mertajam in Penang. Heavy police presence has also been sighted in Ampang and in Kampung Cheras, the latter being an Indian predominated area.
In a statement today, Hindraf chairperson P Waytha Moorthy advised those attending the gathering to leave their homes early. “There may be roadblocks and the presence of Federal Reserve Unit. They may hinder you from proceeding to the venue," he said. “Insist upon them that you are exercising your rights under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution and Article 20 (freedom of assembly) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948." Volunteer arrested Hindraf has not been issued a police permit for the rally after Cheras police chief Ahmad Amir Mohd Hashim rejected the application for technical and safety reasons three days ago.
Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar told Malaysiakini that their appeal to Kuala Lumpur police chief Zulhasnan Najib Baharuddin was rejected today. He also said that a Hindraf volunteer S Tanendran was arrested in Puchong at about 4pm for taking photographs of the roadblock. “They have taken him to the Puchong Jaya police station now,” said Uthayakumar. “Is it an offence to take photographs?” asked Uthayakumar, adding that he was not given a satisfactory response by the police office in charge of the district, ACP Zainal Rashid Abu Bakar. “He merely said that he would investigate the matter,” said Uthayakumar, who also said that his staff and volunteers in his office have been receiving threatening phone calls over their involvement with Hindraf. Petition to the Queen The gathering is expected to attract 10,000 people, with Hindraf to hand over a petition addressed to the British Queen to support a class-action suit against Her Majesty's government for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years. The quantum being sought is US$4 trillion (RM14 trillion) – or US$2 million for every Indian currently residing in Malaysia. The gathering has sparked rumours via the short messaging service on mobile phones that Queen Elizabeth II will make an appearance at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, but this has been dispelled by Hindraf. Other rumours are that that Uthayakumar has been beaten up and the lawyers in Hindraf has been arrested. These have also been clarified as false. |
