Hindraf: Two Hours of Tear Gas and Terror
I took about 180 photos at the Hindraf rally.
I find it difficult to analyze everything while describing my experience, so I will do these things separately I hope.
What follows is just a narrative of my experience, with highlights from the photos I took.
Click on them for larger versions, and click here if you’d like to see the whole collection (thanks for the hosting, polytikus/obwique!)
In my first blog post on this, I remember searching for a word to describe much of my emotion that day.
I didn’t have it then but I do now: Terror.
*
This is the first picture I took, outside Ampang LRT, 10am. Things were pretty quiet and subdued, I was wondering whether I had missed everything.
The police were spread out and everything seemed uneventful.
This was the first sign of something happening – 2 Hindraf leaders seemed to make it to the scene.
The 2 guys = the one in a tie, and just behind him, tall fellow in light blue.
People got very excited.
But they managed to calm many down, and sit them down – disciplined, peaceful protesters.
Then, the crowd started moving towards the embassy, coming up against cops in light blue (which I think is the police Field Force: authorised to shoot firearms).
This is when things got messy, as the crowd probably moved a little too suddenly in that direction, not being led particularly well. Cops can’t take that kind of sudden movement, so in their imbecilic trigger happy nervousness, this is the next thing we see, tear gas raining down on us, filling the sky with unholy streaks:
I saw this one old man (beige shirt with arms raised), Gandhi like, who appeared to be fearlessly approaching the tear gas shooters to appeal to them to stop inflicting violence on the helpless crowd:
To no avail :( The cops just kept firing and firing into the crowd.
They fired to the back of the crowd, as you can see, which is very strange.
It has the terrifying effect of cutting off your escape route. There is no logic, and no compassion in this. What did they want to do? Trap us so they could start beating with their batons?
Then, the gloves came off, and they fired right into the front line area:
At this point, I was now in the thick of it. The gas from the canister pictured above hit me full force.
I was completely unable to open my tear soaked eyes, and not being able to breathe properly.
It was like 90% of your breathing tract was suddenly closed off, and there was nothing you could do.
I just kept walking, semi-blindly following the crowd. I wanted to have some record of things as I was walking, so I just pointed randomly and clicked.
After a long time, I was finally able to clear the gas from my system. I felt like shit.
The next thing I saw was this, a lady who had seemed to have collapsed. Maybe from a tear-gas asthma attack >:(
They were very keen that I took pictures:
There wasn’t much we could do :( :(
I don’t remember what happened between that and finding ourselves backed up by the police to retreat even further back. We took some refuge here.
This situation repeated itself umpteen times. The cops/thugs would push us back some distance, and then stop.
We would sort of regroup and hang about, until they decided to charge us once again, without warning.
The cops kept a watchful eye:
I witnessed this, which brought home to me how much people were willing to suffer to stand together in the face of oppression:
Meanwhile, we could see from afar that along Jln Ampang, they were still letting rip into crowd >:(
Soon after, I saw this guy who was convulsing on the floor, having fits :(
This time, I tried to step up more courage. I approached these guys below, only one of whom – as you can see – was clearly identified as a cop.
The uniformed guy was blur like sotong, and didn’t seem to care very much. Somewhere between dumb and numb.
The blue shirt guy next to him was rude and condescending. Neither were much help.
I went around to look for someone else and found this guy in the hat below. He was a teeny bit more helpful, but certainly not a whole lot friendlier. They said an ambulance was on the way. Quite a bit later, I actually saw one.
Soon after, the real terror started.
Completely out of the blue, these random guys just came charging at the crowd.
As you can see, they’re not wearing any identification, so I don’t know who they were.
They were screaming and shouting like rabid dogs, displaying the worst kind of violent aggression.
The crowd scattered in fear.
I followed one ‘division’ into the side road of a building, which I think was a dead end. That’s where I took these pics.
They went around angrily harassing at everyone who was hanging around inside buildings. I was a little too nervous to be taking good pictures.
These two guys below were two of many who were really angry and screaming at everyone, insulting them, and treating people like dogs and criminals.
It made me really, really angry.
At the next fall back point, some made an attempt to stand united.
Soon after though, one of the leaders from earlier turned up, people got excited. I didn’t really know what was going on though.
Not long after, the cops advanced on us again, as in pic:
But look, they seem to be peering behind us. What were they looking at?
A huge column of FRU were coming to cut us off from behind. By the time some of us realised they were there, they had already fired tear gas.
Look again, on one side of the road where we were originally facing, there is a column of FRU who look like they’d enjoy nothing more than beating the crap out of you. Behind us, even more of them, with tear gas already filling the air.
Where the hell were we supposed to go?
I crossed the street, only being able to act on flawed instinct and herd mentality.
If you look carefully on the left, there is a guy running.
He was running into this construction compound, which seemed to be the only way not full of cops.
I was hoping there would be another entrance/exit to the compound so that we could get out that way.
I would soon learn that this was not the case.
That’s a view of the cops waiting outside the entrance we took into the compound.
We circled the perimeter of the compound, hoping to find a way out. I felt like a trapped rat.
No way out, so back out the way we came in, into the lion’s den.
Terrifying.
We came out behind the FRU lines, and when we came out they were screaming at us.
I took a quick glance back at where we were previously:
Then we walked silently, unwilling and unable to respond to their angry screams of “Keluar!!”, “Cepat!!”
We finally passed the lines.
Thus began our long and staggered exile. Get pushed, wait, fall back.
Here’s waiting on Jalan Tun Razak:
When the cops would get impatient, they just fired and fired their tear gas and marched their stormtrooper march:
This repeated many times.
Until we reached not too far from the National Library. Then it finally looked like the cops had thinned out.
I decided to take a parting shot.
My last picture was of these gents, who were hanging about near where I caught the cab home.
They seemed to be proud of their attendance, and wanted their photo taken.
*
I was really unhappy at the end of it all.
Anyway, that’s what I experienced.
Later, my thoughts, after it all.
[...] I didn’t have it then but I do now: Terror. Read on … [...]
Dear Nat,
I was wondering if an industrial mask would help. My suggestion is that next time when you attend these sort of rally, carry an industrial mask and also perhaps a swimming goggles. That wyay, perhaps the effects of tear gas may not be so bad. Maybe you can try it out next time. Besides, these items are not so bulky and you cna just place them in your camera bag.
wow, that a lot of photo here.
hey, pls sign the petition for Lee Song Yong and circulate in ur circle and post it in ur blog.
we only have 30 days , time is running!
http://www.petitiononline.com/notoUUCA/petition.html
Thanks Nat for being there and giving us the real coverage. A 100% better than NST and the STAR. You are my hero. Lets hope there will be some change in the administration of the Government.
Thanks for highlighting this issue here, complete with pictures. Will be getting my friends to come here to know about the full actual situation, and not by looking at the media which are controlled by the government.
Kudos to you! =)
The Filipino veterans’ provisions in HR 760 are similar to a plan passed by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. If signed into law, it would provide full veterans’ status to World War II era Filipino soldiers and even their survivors. This would include pay for service related disabilities, survivor pay for service-connected deaths, as well as pensions and death benefits.
Those who are living in the Philippines, and are not U.S. citizens, would receive $6,000 to $8,400. Low-income widows would receive $3,600.
http://www.timesgazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=147067&TM=54783.2
Hindraf could use that as a guide, whatever. Also those many Chinese and Indians who gave up ther lives during WW2.
The Wind of Change in Malaysia
Four essential ingredients for the eventual triumph of good over evil are
1. Widespread economic imbalance and thus discontentment;
2. An increasingly oppressive regime; and
3. Enormous elite-based corruption
4. Ever increasing mass calls for justice and freedom
- all four are now clearly present in Malaysia.
Add to these, other factors that have surfaced recently, such as the crisis in the judiciary and recent action and march by the legal fraternity, Bersih and Hindraf rallies, as well as widespread disgust at abuses of power, police brutality, and threats to use the ISA to suppress all opposition, then one can only conclude that the wind of change is blowing stronger with each successive day and that positive change in Malaysia is inevitable.
This will change will occur sooner rather than later.
I think packing a gas mask and industrial goggles for the next outing is a very wise suggestion. Think of it as an extreme case of severe haze, with mad dogs added in. :(
Thank you for the story and photos. That was awesome coverage. My prayers are for this nation and you guys sticking your necks out for her. Godspeed.
Dear Nat
The police and the power that be have clearly shown their utter disregard for their own citizens by an ACT OF WAR. They came to pulverizes a peacefully gathered people. The thorough planning shows they basically wanted to win a WAR. Dividing and conquering a simple non-armed people. What were they thinking? Is this World War 3? The malaysian police so starved of any physical outlet they resort to citizen bashing (like spousal abuse). How lame is that? These kind of people are known to crumble when on the other end of the stick. Hopefully, they don’t find themselves in that situation. We should all practice TAI-CHI and equate the balance of QI here. I speak in metaphors here! Get my drift?
If airways get contstricted, use an inhaler for asthma, such as Ventolin. That may help to achieve temporary relief but if you keep inhaling the gases, it won’t be effective.
For water cannons, use a raincoat !
I made some research about the CS gas used (the “tear gas”). There is a small risk of lingering effect on your cornea if the exposure to the irritants is direct and severe. So do take care.
Also, don’t shave for two days before you go to such demonstrations. Small cuts will increase the effect of exposure too.
I wish to experience the gas (and chemical-laced water) myself in order to understand and appreciate what went through those brave fellow Malaysians who stood out for justice and their rights.
As an outsider watching in on this, I am gobsmacked by the blatant racism that is on display on various Malaysian blogs (this and Elizabeth Wong’s a welcome relief from some of the others, believe me!)and indeed that which is expressed by Malaysian ministers like Nazri Aziz who repeatedly calls the indians protesting thugs. Incredible really but what to expect after 50 years of racial brainwashing?
Nazri Aziz also compared the msian police’s use of force favourably with the current clashes in Paris. But those in Paris – predominantly muslim youth btw – are criminal elements (many belong to drug gangs) RIOTING on the streets, FIRING at the riot police (120 plicemen in hospital with gunshot wounds so far) and burning schools, libraries, their poor neighbours’ cars . The minorities in the banlieus may have legitimate grievances re racism and unployment but do remember that they are ALL reciepients of social welfare provided by the state nevertheless. That is much more than the Malaysian govt has done any poor person! The sheer stupidity and gall of that minister is hard to stomach.
The one thing I regret about the Hindraf rally is that it is religion that now seems to be a motivating force for an oppressed people. I understand why it happened – it is a blowback to the islamist directions that malaysian society has taken in recent decades – but its a dangerous and regrettable development nevertheless. Apart from the religious issues of temple destructions and conversions(which also affect other non-muslim minorities), I’d urge Malaysian Indians to pull back religious grievance and focus clearly on bread-and-butter discrimination issues.
I’m also one of those who disagree with Hindraf’s memorandum and the walk, but if I was in KL I would still have gone to take photos to help expose brutality; or find some other way to help preserve the right to rally peacefully.
Nat, take a break from politics. It’s toxic – like the shit they spray on humans who oppose the regime. Remember, in 1987 they called dissenters and NGOs “lalang.” Thank you, all who have marched in the last two months – for judicial and electoral reform and now for basic decency and an end to ludicrously lopsided apartheid policies guaranteed to tear Malaysia apart at the seams. Yes, it’s the goddam NEP introduced by Razak after May 13 that is the greatest problem, it really ought to have been dismantled and dumped in 2000 latest, but the pirates reneged as usual, having ballsed up the economy and lost the bulk of their loot through sheer greed. Anyway… take a break or you’ll overheat with anger. Come chill in the river of life. Integrity is unassailable. Those possessed by demons of insatiable greed have already lost their seats on the evolutionary train. It’s going to be a very long walk back to the end of the queue for those pathetic ego-driven fools who believe their own brainless propaganda. Attn: Ananda Krishnan, Vincent Tan, Yeoh Teong Lay, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, Lim Kok Wing, Patrick Lim. Money mean that much to you? You wanna be the Rothschilds, Rockefellers and Murdochs of Asia, eh? Silly buggers.
Hi Nat,
I want to say something about your comment on the part when the police fired tear gas to the back of the crowd to cut off the escape route…..
I don’t suppose the police can fire tear gas infront, too near a proximity and the gas canisters might injure someone badly.
I still do not like the idea that the police actually used Tear Gas on these people. Keep up the good work, and please stay neutral as much as possible when reporting.
Kudos for braving the situation to bring us the actual incident. Bringing goggles , industrial masks and most importantly raincoat the next time will definitely help. A peaceful rally was marred by the trigger happy FRU!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
HINDRAF SEMAKIN LEMAH
Perhimpunan HINDRAF di Batu Caves pada 2 Dis 2007 bukan sahaja lemah tetapi ternyata gagal. Masyarakat Hindu menganggap penyokong dan pemimpin HINDRAF telah tersasar dari perjuangan kerana menggunakan kuil untuk tujuan yang salah. Sejak demonstrasi pada 25 Nov 07 di Kuala Lumpur dua minggu lepas, pelbagai usaha telah dilakukan oleh pucuk pimpinan mereka untuk mengekalkan sokongan terhadap HINDRA tetapi penyertaan dalam aktiviti yang dianjurkan selepas itu terbukti berkurangan. Ini disebabkan sikap pemimpin-pemimpin HINDRAF yang suka meniupkan api perkauman dalam agenda perjuangan mereka. Mereka mendakwa akan mengumpulkan lebih 10,000 orang semasa perbicaraan pemimpin-pemimpin mereka di Klang pada 26 Nov 07, bagaimanapun cuma 1000 orang yang hadir.
Masyarakat India sedar api perkauman yang ditiupkan HINDRAF akan membinasakan masyarakat Malaysia yang berbilang kaum. Apakah ianya munasabah apabila HINDRAF dalam ceramah – ceramahnya mendakwa 100 orang India telah dibunuh oleh kaum Melayu di Kg. Medan pada tahun 2000 yang lalu. Dakwaan ini dibuat semata – mata untuk menyemai rasa benci orang India terhadap orang Melayu di negara ini. Satu dakwaan HINDRAF yang tidak berasas ialah tuduhan mereka bahawa kerajaan telah merobohkan sebuah kuil setiap hari di negara ini.
Di Batu Caves sendiri orang India dapat hidup aman dan tenang malahan patung Murugan telah didirikan begitu besar untuk masyarakat India beribadat. Ketenangan di Batu Caves mula tercemar apabila pemimpin HINDRAF cuba menjadikan kawasan tersebut sebagai tempat untuk menabur fitnah terhadap kerajaan dan orang Melayu. Sekiranya kuil tersebut dijadikan tempat untuk memusuhi orang lain, adakah ia sastu langkah yang baik untuk dipertahankan???…. Rasa curiga dikalangan rakyat Malaysia akan wujud setiap kali orang-orang India berkumpul di kuil dan orang – orang Melayu menjalankan apa jua upacara di masjid. Masalah ini tidak pernah wujud sebelum merdeka kecuali dengan kehadiran HINDRAF yang cuba meniru cara dan tindakan pejuang bangsa dan agama yang dilakukan di luar negara ini seperti di Sri Lanka.
Sebagai contoh, cuba kita lihat apa yang telah berlaku di negara Bosnia di mana orang Islam yang merupakan kumpulan minoriti enggan menerima realiti dikelilingi majoriti masyarakat Serbia, akhirnya hidup dalam kemusnahan yang berpanjangan sehingga ke hari ini. Cuba renungkan.
Apa yang jelas disini, perjuangan HINDRAF hanya bersifat perkauman dan sekali gus akan menimbulkan suasana tidak aman dalam jangkamasa yang panjang. Sejarah turut membuktikan perjuangan puak ekstrim tidak dapat diterima masyarakat negara ini yang cintakan kedamaian. Ayuh….tinggalkan perjuangan HINDRAF yang akan mendatangkan bencana kepada negara dan bagsa Malaysia yang hidup dalam kedaan aman sentosa. Kita juga khuatir perjuangan HINDRAF akan merugikan banyak pihak.
Tindakan pemimpin-pemimpin HINDRAF membangkitkan soal – soal lama seperti tindakan British membawa mereka masuk ke negara ini boleh diumpamakan tuntutan yang tidak munasabah di mana “apabila masa lalu, bertelagah dengan masa kini, masa depan rugi”.
HINDRAF Wawasan 2020
_________________________________________________________________________
- English Version -
HINDRAF LOSING GROUND
A clear indication of HINDRAF failure is the poor turnout during the HINDRAF gathering at Batu Caves on 2 DEC 2007. The Hindu community now realizes that HINDRAF has deviated from its cause the moment it misuses the temple for its own ends. Following the 25 NOV gathering in KL, HINDRAF leaders has been desperate for support that is increasing by dwindling. The attempted to rally 10,000 people for the court case in Klang on 26 NOV 2007 but less than 1000 showed up. One of the main reasons for this is because HINDRAF leader is seen to be fanning the fires of racialism as part of their agenda.
The Indian community realizes that the racialism issue played up by HINDRAF would eventually lead to the destruction of multi-racial Malaysia. HINDRAF exploitation of racialism is not only ridiculous but is down right dangerous. This include examples of their rhetoric whereby HINDRAF leaders claimed that 100 Indians were killed by the Malay during the Kg. Medan incident in the year 2000. Another example is the HINDRAF allegation that the government is destroying Hindu temples at the rate of one temple per day. These ridiculous and bare less allegation are designed to instill Indian hatred toward the Malays.
Life in Batu Caves is peaceful and serene. The construction and placement of the imposing Lord Murugan deity is another milestone in Hindu work ship here. Now, all these is marred when HINDRAF leaders manipulate this religion site to spread lies against the government and the Malays. This is wrong and must be stopped. Otherwise every time the Hindus step into a temple, the Malays will get suspicious and every time the Malays congregate in the mosque, the Hindus will get worry. This has never happened before and it must be nipped in the bud before it escalates into another Sri Lanka.
It is clear that the HINDRAF cause is racially motivated and will lead to public disorder and insecurity in the long run. The peace loving Malaysia people has time and again, rejected such extreme ad fanatical causes. Forget HINDRAF and let’s embrace stability and security. HINDRAF will only lead to despair.
Forget about the British connection and colonialism. Let us bury the post and work for better future for all. Remember, when the pas clashes with the present, the future suffers.
HINDRAF Wawasan 2020.
http://bersih.blogspot.com/
Dear Mr Nat,
My primary school going child and I sat and went thru’ all the pictures you have painfully taken. My utmost respect to you for a good job done.
I have made up my mind, we are leaving the country. for my child’s sake we will go, there isn’t respect or humanity here. Some may think we are running away but for my child’s betterment and future best we leave.
the time has arrived.
Cheers
nat: :( makes me wish i had never written the post…. but i respect and understand your decision. good luck wherever you’re going!
Dear Mr Nat,
Thank you for your reply. I have seen so many pics in many blogs and read so much about the 25 Nov. rally but your pics gave me a wake up call. Going thru your pics only tears rolled down my eyes and soon was joined by tears of my child. Kids today mature faster than we did during our time and her capacity of reading has widen her knowledge. this also make her realise that she is an Malaysian of Indian origin -all these while she was just Malaysian( and that’s how I have brought her up).
Thank you once again.
Cheers
Bro, this is from Singapore. great Job may your struggle perservere
good luck
i was one out the 70 who were arrested in jalan ampang on 25th November 2007.i was caught by the blue shirt police wearing a cap(which u referred as rude and condescending) and the red shirt police who were screaming and insulting everyone.i told them i didnt do anything illegal,but they refused to listen to me.all they were shouting at me was,”aku tak kisah,aku tak kisah!”.i even told them that im a student,and as usual,they repeated their line.on the way to the police truck,F.R.U. whacked me like a dog.they locked me in the police truck for more than 6 hours,sent us all to PULAPOL,and from there,all of us were sent to Pudu Jail.Sunday,Monday and Tuesday.3 days!imagine that.i and my fellow inmates suffered a lot,but we were proud.we know,we did it for our people.too bad for us,we will be charged on 10th of January 2008.lets pray nothing will happen to all of us.
[...] remember being chased by plainclothes policemen at the first rally. I’ve never felt so threatened by gangsters ever in my [...]
[...] back and forth with the cops – reminiscient of my horrible, deeply infruriating day at the Hindraf rally – continued until we had been pushed back to the Esso station at the end of Jln Munshi [...]