MORE PICS – Police & UMNO Orchestrated Batu Buruk Clashes – Alleges PAS; Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Was Involved; Reporters barred; Cameras taken

ABOVE & BELOW: UMNO Razali Idris making his police report about the burning of the flag

MORE PICS – RM1M Inflated Damages in Batu Buruk Riots; Police “flex their muscles” - they ”are not weak";A Royal Commission? but NO debate

ABOVE: Malaysiakini report latest from Parliament says "No Debate" for Bloddy ceremah in Kuala Trengganu. Details H E RE . What a big disappointment to the opposition parties and all who want to see justice. And BELOW: More shots the CPO says from Malaysiakini latest report, details H E R E

The Speaker of the lower House, Ramli Ngah Talib rejected the emergency motion filed by YB Salahudin Ayub, as usual the matter was not deemed an urgent issue and was being investigated by the police.

= == = == = == = = === == and the Inflated Damages in the Riot;

The NST boldly proclaimed it at RM1M initially and now the Majlis Perbandaran Kual Trengganu (MPKT), has come out with a figure of RM1/2 M listing amongst others damages of 12 bonzai plants (cost RM2000 each) and 14 “papan iklan” etc

ABOVE: Setiausaha who gave the MPKT estimate RM1/2M

How on earth can they come out with such a huge figure for 3 hours of rioting?. The pictures below show only some road signs uprooted; 1 traffic light damaged, some plastic cones and dividers, a few potted plants uprooted for bonfires (keep warm?) and a few overturned dustbins.

ABOVE & BELOW: Can these broken Traffic Lights & Road Signs cost "RM1m damage" - NST??
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ABOVE & BELOW: Can these burnt out rubbish bins & Traffic Cones cost "RM1m damage" - NST??
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ABOVE & BELOW: Can these damagedrubbish bins & lamp post & Uprooted tress cost "RM1m damage" - NST??
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September 11, 2007 17:53 PM
Rioting Deliberate Opposition Tactic, Says PM

KUCHING, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Saturday's rioting in Kuala Terengganu is a deliberate tactic by an opposition party after not being able to bring development to Terengganu, Datuk Seri Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday. The Prime Minister said the rioting could have been incited by the opposition party due to pressure for failing to bring development to the state during the five years it was in power. "This is proof of their irresponsibility and are devoid of ideas to develop the state," he told a news conference before departing for Singapore where he would deliver a keynote address at the Forbes Conference tonight. Abdullah said the opposition party had purposely intended to smear the Barisan Nasional (BN) government because they had no chance to win in the next general election. Seven people were injured, two with gunshot wounds, when opposition supporters clashed with police trying to disperse an illegal gathering at Jalan Sultan Mahmud. The riot was sparked when police ordered the crowd of 500 people to disperse peacefully. Despite five verbal warnings, the crowd became aggressive and verbally abused the Federal Reserve Unit personnel. They became even more violent and started hurling stones, home-made bombs and motolov cocktails at police. Police have arrested 23 people in connection with the riot. Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, however, said police would not invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) against the rioters who have been detained but would deal with them under normal police procedures. He said the incident, which saw the burning of the national flag, showed the Opposition had bad intentions probably after seeing the people happy and grateful to the government as they ushered in the 50th independence anniversary celebrations. Abdullah hoped the people would appreciate and value the prevailing peace and security besides being able to reap the benefits of the country's progress.

On the 2006 Auditor-General's Report which highlighted several cases of mismanagement of public funds by ministries and government departments, the prime minister said ministers have been asked to explain the expenditures to the Auditor-General so that questions that arose could be clarifed. Abdullah said he issued the instruction at the cabinet meeting before he left for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders' Summit in Sydney. He was confident that the relevant authorities would be able to explain and get to the bottom of the "questionable expenditures".

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CPO: Cop was protecting women, kids
By R.S.N. MURALI; Star

KUALA TERENGGANU: The police constable who shot at rioters who attacked him at an illegal gathering here on Saturday night was trying to protect a group of women and children. State police chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Datuk Ayub Yaakob said Kons Azmi Husin, who was in plainclothes, was directing the women and children to leave the area as the situation in Jalan Sultan Mahmud was unsafe. About 20 men armed with sharp weapons and sticks then spotted Kons Azmi and shouted “This man is Special Branch!” before assaulting him.
SAC Ayub said Kons Azmi, 29, was beaten until he collapsed, bleeding from the head. “Lying on the ground, he took out his gun and fired four shots,” said the police chief yesterday. Two assailants were hit, one in the neck and the other in the shoulder. They have been warded at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital here and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kelantan, and are reported to be in stable condition. The riot was sparked off when police tried to disperse an illegal gathering of more than 500 at a political gathering organised by Bersih, a coalition of 60 non-governmental organisations pushing for electoral reform.
The gathering was supported by opposition parties PAS, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP. Following the melee, seven people were injured and 23 arrested, of which 19 were later released. In Parliament yesterday, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang called for a public inquiry, saying that the incident could have been avoided if the police had not disregarded the Royal Police Commission’s recommendations to “respect the right to hold assemblies, meetings and processions”, ELIZABETH LOOI reports.
Datuk Mohd Aziz (BN – Sri Gading) countered that Bersih should not have held the gathering because it did not have a permit. At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu PAS commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali said the gathering was part of Bersih’s programmes to educate the public on the need for fair elections, LISA GOH reports.

When asked about homemade bombs and Molotov cocktails that were reported to have been hurled at police, he replied: “We didn’t know about that. That claim was made by the police.”

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Anger over burning of Jalur Gemilang

KUALA LUMPUR: Two state Umno information chiefs have hit out at those who burnt the Jalur Gemilang during the riot in Kuala Terengganu on Saturday night.

Terengganu Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said that such acts reflected total disrespect to the nation’s 50 years of Independence. “I am shocked and sad over what happened especially, when there are reports of destruction to public property,” he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

ABOVE: Setting it ablaze: An unidentified person burning the Jalur Gemilang during the riot in Kuala Terengganu on Saturday night.

Kelantan Umno information chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad echoed Ahmad Shabery’s sentiments. “I condemn the Opposition’s tutelage of young minds, which had led to the burning of the national flag,” he added. Marang MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar expressed his disgust on the torching of the Jalur Gemilang. “They (rioters) should not be forgiven,” he said. The riot in Kuala Terengganu was raised in Parliament yesterday. Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said the incident had marred the “feel good” effect of the 2008 Budget as well as the 50th Merdeka celebration. He questioned why a peaceful political gathering held by Bersih, a coalition of political parties and non-governmental organisations, had turned into a confrontation between the police and the crowd.

“There should be a public inquiry into the incident,” he added. Terengganu Umno Youth information chief Razali Idris has lodged a police report against rioters who torched the Jalur Gemilang. More than a dozen Jalur Gemilang and Umno flags, and Barisan Nasional banners, were burned during the riot. MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said those involved in the riot should not have taken the law into their own hands. In Putrajaya, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the clash showed that the Opposition was resorting to cheap publicity. “This is their way of attracting the people’s attention now and to get their support,” he said.

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Batu Buruk: BERSIH calls for a Royal Commission of Enquiry

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (ES) - Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) Terengganu Commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali noted a group of individuals who came later at a roadblock erected by the police some half a kilometre away from the intended venue of the event on Sept 8, at Batu Buruk in Terengganu. Mustafa said several of these planted "agents of provocateur" had burned the flag of the rival party UMNO and instigated the crowd, who were prevented from reaching the intended venue for a political event. "But the people there could allegedly identify these (agents of provocateur) which had instigated the crowd as policemen who were not in uniform," he said. Mustafa stressed that provocations and instigations were not practices condoned and inculcated by the party, said the skirmish which resulted in two members of the public getting injured by live ammunition occurred after the public tried to nab these agents of provocateur. On reported claims by the police that they had acted in such a manner to defend themselves, Mustafa said that was "their version of the story".

"We have ours," he said. Mustafa said "this is the first time the police had used live ammunition in (disrupting) political event" said any used of live ammunition is contrary to "all convention". He said police reports had been filed and that the party would be instituting legal proceedings soon. In a press conference held at the party headquarters here today by a coalition of political party, non-governmental organizations and trade unions calling themselves as BERSIH, he also said a memorandum of protest would be sent to the Inspector General of Police, the state police and the National Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM). A motion had also been submitted to Parliament to debate the incident. Among those present at the press conference were Democratic Action Party (DAP) Central Executive Member Ronnie Liu, BERSIH steering committee member Syed Azman Syed Ahmad, PAS vice president Mohamad Sabu, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary general Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) pro-tem secretary general S. Arutchelvan and human right group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) executive director Yap Swee Seng.

Syed Azman said BERSIH would go on with its agenda of pressing for a free and fair election in Malaysia by holding an event tomorrow in Seremban. He also called for the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Batu Buruk incident. Mass demonstration for a free and fair election to be held Nov 10 Syed Azman who is also PAS central committee member, also reiterates BERSIH’s plan to hold a mass demonstration on Nov 10 in Kuala Lumpur to press for a free and fair election. Abdul Khalid said the action of the police using live ammunition was "most scary" and he said PKR was "offended" that the prime media had continued with the trend to portray the party as being responsible for skirmishes.

Mohamad noted an official reply to a question in Parliament from the government which had acknowledge that any political event from the opposition would be peaceful without provocation from the police. Arutchelvan said that a SUHAKAM report and the Police Royal Commission of Enquiry had acknowledge the "double standard" in giving out police permit for a public assembly. Image Ronnie meanwhile condemned deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who seemed to condone the action of the police and described Najib statement in letting the police to use live ammunition as "dangerous".
He said all photographs in the prime media were "all similar", and charged that the photos came from a "single source" and that they were "supplied by the authorities". Ronnie likened the action of the government to indirectly smeared the opposition of being violence like the tendency of the western media to "portray Palestinian youth throwing rocks at Israelis" without showing how army of the Zionist regime had first instigated violence. Yap condemns the "tragedy" and noted how live ammunition has now been used to disperse a crowd for the first time ever. –ES

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ABOVE: This flag burning issue was raised in today's sitting of Parliament and Minister Datyk Nazri (BELOW) commented that the guys are "gila".
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ABOVE & BELOW: Malaysiakini Updated stories of the Clashes in Pantai Buruk details H E R E and H E R E
BELOW: Malaysiakini in the afternoon partial account of the PAS Press conference, more H E R E by Subscription


= = == = = ==UPDATE : Sep 10 1am, exclusive 4 REMANDED
1 week remand order from Trengganu session Court for several PAS Supporters to help investigation into riots last night. At least 23 were arrested last night in clashes with close to 1000 people at Padang Batu Buruk, Jalan Sultan Mahmood to attend a ceremah which do not have a permit.
5 people were injured in the clashes including 4 police personnel. The rioters were throwing Molotov cocktails and stones and shouting abuses at the Police. At press time, 19 of the 23 were released on Police bail whilst 4 were remanded. The speakers (PAS (Vice-President, Mohd Sabu) Keadilan PKR treasurer (Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim) and DAP (Leong Ngah Ngah) ,MP Triong, Pahang were told to attend a meeting regarding the ceremah permit but failed to turn up at 6pm.Some 350 FRU & policemen dispersed the crowd with the aid of water cannons.
ABOVE & BELOW & BELOW: The 4 who were remanded for 1 week. All believe to be PAS supporters


= = == = == = = =At the end of the Press conference DAP Ronnie Liu stated:

“Personal account from a Chinese reporter – He was barred from entering the scene. There is no chance of taking any photographs. We have reasons to believe all these photographs were supplied by the authorities.
You show people throwing up stone but never show the police beating up people. Just like sometimes we complain about CNN showing the Palestines throwing stones at the Israelis but you never show the Israeli’s solders beating up ther Palestine youths. This is the same case. BN leaders used to complain CNN doing this. You are now showing the youngsters who are angry but never the Police. I myself is a victim of the Police .we know how the police would beat up people”

Datuk Mustafa Ali added: "Two cameramen present have their cameras taken away"
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Batu Buruk: Skirmish pre-planned - PAS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (ES) - The police and the ruling party has been accused of colluding to a “pre-planned” skirmish which resulted in two people being injured by “at least two rounds” of live ammunition after the authorities denied permission for an organised political event from being held at Batu Buruk in Terengganu, Saturday Sept 8.

Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) Terengganu commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali (ABOVE Left) named Internal Security Minister political secretary Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as among those allegedly responsible for the pre-planned skirmishes. In a press conference held at PAS headquarters here today by a coalition of political parties, trade unions and non-governmental organizations calling themselves BERSIH, Mustafa said witnesses are willing to come forward to testify that the skirmishes was pre-planned.

ABOVE & BELOW: The FRUs were on "standy mode" before they strike
MORE PICS Coming .. check back

He said a police officer was informed in a meeting on the afternoon of Sept 8, of the identities of those attending the event and that plainclothed policemen were asked to wear a ribbon to identify themselves. “Full investigation must be done by the police to get the whole picture on what has transpired,” he said. He said UMNO from the ruling coalition had taken the measure because "the people had shown they were more than willing to reject UMNO and the ruling coalition in the next election." "That's why they have (to resort to these measures)," he said. Wan Ahmad Farid could not be immediately contacted for comments. Mustafa also noted that an application submitted for a police permit Aug 30 for the event which was to be held in a private premise, and the police rejected it on the grounds that the area was heavily populated and that the event would be a nuisance.

ABOVE & BELOW: PAS supports wait & see for the action

He rejected the reason given as "groundless" and noted that police officers came twice on Sept 7 and 8 to ask the owner of the premise to sign a letter not to allow the event from being held there. Mustafa said the police then dismantled a platform erected for the event at about 5pm on the day of the event - in the absence of owner - in a move he described as "morally and legally wrong". The event by BERSIH was to highlight the growing call for free and fair elections which among others includes the demand for postal ballot to be abolished, the use of indelible ink during voting day, the cleaning up of the voters rolls deemed to be littered with “phantom voters” and equal access to the media.

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RM1m damage, 23 held in riot; By : Sean Augustin and Azura Abas; NST

KUALA TERENGGANU: The rioters at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat ceramah here on Saturday night caused RM1 million in damage. State police chief Datuk Ayub Yaakob said 23 people were arrested for rioting in the incident, adding that three were injured along with four policemen. He said two of the rioters who were injured had been shot by a policeman when he was attacked. He said the constable had fired twice in the air after being pushed to the ground, somehow hitting the two suspects. Ayub said the two men and the constable were warded at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, but the policeman was discharged yesterday. Also warded was Federal Reserve Unit personnel Lance Corporal Azmi Hussein, who was assaulted with sticks by a group of about 20 men. The others injured were given outpatient treatment at the same hospital. The 23 suspects, in their 20s and 30s, will be charged under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting and for other offences. The incident on Saturday saw 350 police and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel quelling about 600 rioters.

A crowd of 200, which had been waiting for a ceramah by Keadilan treasurer Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim in Jalan Sultan Mahmud, Batu Buruk, turned unruly after the police Light Strike Force asked them to disperse. The crowd later swelled to 600 and began attacking the Light Strike Force, forcing it to call in the FRU. The FRU then used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd, which became even more aggressive and began hurling Molotov cocktails and burning sticks. The FRU started to retreat around 1am, three hours after the incident, hoping that the crowd would become less aggressive. However, the mob pursued the police and FRU personnel. Three bonfires were lit using plastic road dividers, tree branches and construction material. Several flags were thrown into the bonfires. Commenting on the incident in Petaling Jaya, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he felt police had acted according to the law. He said everyone, including Umno and other Barisan Nasional component

parties, were required to get police permits before holding functions. "Such laws apply to all and not just to the opposition parties. "The police acted accordingly. They have the responsibility of enforcing the law." Asked to comment on the rioters' refusal to disperse, Najib said they had to obey the law. "If we don't follow them, there will be anarchy in the country with no one respecting the rules and regulations." Earlier, Ayub said he ordered the police and FRU to retreat to prevent the situation from turning ugly. "Our main priority is to restore public order. We would have preferred it if no confrontation had taken place, but at the same time, we had to take action to show that we are not weak," he said. Ayub said police had invited organisers of the ceramah to the police station here for talks over the permit but up to 6pm on Saturday, no one had turned up. The permit for the ceramah, he said, was rejected on safety grounds as it was being held at a residential area and near government quarters.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said opposition supporters who were at the incident on Saturday had gone overboard in their actions by rioting and burning flags, including the Umno flag
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UPDATE: Sep 10 9.30am; Monday September 10, 2007

Ceramah clash in Terengganu; By R.S.N. MURALI; STAR
KUALA TERENGGANU: Seven people were injured – two with gunshot wounds – when opposition supporters clashed with police trying to disperse an illegal political gathering on Saturday night. The riot was sparked when police ordered the crowd of 500 people gathering at Jalan Sultan Mahmud, close to Batu Burok, to disperse peacefully at 10pm. Despite five verbal warnings, the crowd became aggressive and verbally abused the Federal Reserve Unit personnel. Soon they became even more aggressive and started hurling stones, homemade bombs and Molotov cocktails at police.

ABOVE : An ugly scene- Bricks and stones litter the streets as riot policemen and the opposition supporters stand off after the violence which occured when policemen ordered the crowd to disperse. No permit had been issued for the gathering.

Police retaliated with tear gas and water cannons and in the melee, shots were fired injuring two opposition supporters, aged 21 and 38. The two have been hospitalised. One is in serious condition with a neck injury at the Kubang Kerian Hospital in Kelantan. Four policemen were also injured. One was warded at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital.

By 12.35am, 13 people were detained and the situation was brought under control. Police have obtained a remand order against four men believed to be members of opposition parties to facilitate police investigations into the clash. One of the remanded men is being investigated for having dangerous arms during the riot while two others are being investigated under the Explosive and Dangerous Weapons Act. Police later released 19 men on police bail. Several police 4WD and public vehicles were damaged in the clash. Kuala Terengganu Municipal Council’s decorative lights, flower pots, motorcycles, Umno flags and Barisan Nasional banners were also damaged.

Damage was estimated at about RM1mil. Terengganu police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ayub Yaakob said 20 rioters attacked a policeman at Permai Inn Hotel’s car park. “One of the injured policemen had no choice but to fire at two of his attackers,” he said. SAC Ayub said the FRU was summoned to the ceramah after the organisers who invited PKR secretary-general Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to speak at the gathering failed to turn up to discuss the issue of obtaining a permit. It was learnt that the venue was not suitable for a ceramah as it was a tourist area and the road leading to the venue was often congested while top government officials also stay there. Police had suggested to the organiser to hold the ceramah at Rusila but no one turned up to discuss the matter. The ceramah was supported by PAS, PKR and DAP.

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KeADILan condemns police violence in Batu Buruk; Tian Chua

Sun | Sep 09, 07 | 07:25:13 PM

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan) condemns the heavy handed fashion in which the police violently disrupted a peaceful gathering and talk that was scheduled for the night of 8 September in Pantai Batu Buruk, Kuala Terengganu. Mere hours after the release of a "people friendly budget", we are shocked that the police decided to shoot live bullets into a crowd of innocent people gathered peacefully at a talk organised by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH). This was in addition to the use of tear gas, batons and handcuffs to brutally disperse the crowd.

While we have come to expect such injustices from the current government, the sheer amount of violence is appalling and has not been used to break up such a simple, peaceful gathering in an extremely long time. The shooting, gassing, beatings and arrests of scores of people whose only "crime" was to seek alternative views and information clearly indicates that the BN government has reached the heights of desperation in their cowardly and dishonorable attempt to hide their corruption and cruelty from the Malaysian people.

The extremely last-minute decision of the police to revoke the permit for the gathering which they had originally granted is not only unreasonable but also highly suspect, and points towards political meddling. KeADILan demands that the Prime Minister immediately ordered an independent inquiry into the incident. We also call upon all Malaysians who wish to preserve their rights to gather peacefully and seek alternative views to voice up our unequivocal condemnation of police brutality. Tian Chua; Information Chief; People's Justice Party

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MORE PICS & Video – 500 Rioted & Battled (23 Arrested) with Police in Trengganu - hurled Molotovs & Objects; 19/23 released – 4 still remanded. Official 7 Injured – 4 policemen