By Anthony Row

Mr. Anthony Row, member of the Tamil Annual Conference and the Secretary of the General Conference shares with us on his participation on the Bersih 2.0 walk.

9th July has come and it has flown by. Many a story has been told by word of mouth, print, YouTube and what not. Let me share with you my experience.

I woke up early on that auspicious day. I was all excited as it was to be my first involvement in a peaceful walk for a just cause. Over the weeks leading to this day so much fear had been drummed up by the authorities, so much so I did not know what to expect. I picked up a friend on the way and got my first experience of the "Lockdown of the City" when I was deterred from entering the road leading to the city near Megamall. I was directed to go towards Cheras even though I pleaded with the police to allow me to go to Brickfields as my intention was to park my car in the grounds of the Tamil Methodist Church and then proceed to Merdeka Stadium. Not being able to do so we had to go through Old Klang Road to reach the LRT station in front of Amcorp mall. All along the way I noticed there was a heavy presence of policeman and they were setting road-blocks at random as though they were out to frustrate the people and make them angry towards Bersih. That was causing more road jams and many were indiscriminately breaking the law just to get out of the jams in frustration.

We took the train from Amcorp Mall and made our way to the Station at Central Market. We were joined there by Rev Dr. Joseph Kumar, who had made his way to KL from Seremban earlier in the day. We were glad that we had come into KL early, as we heard that the stations’ shutters were closed at about 12 noon. On the train to Central Market, we noticed that there was an eerie silence surrounding the city. Helicopters were flying about, few cars were on the road except for police trucks whizzing around like they owned the roads. KL looked like a "war zone". We decided to grab some food as we did not know what the rest of the day was going to be like.

Most of the shops around Central Market were closed except for a few. We finally found our way to a shop and observed that it was difficult to get a seat as it was packed with many who had come to be part of the rally. We were offered to join a table by a group of Christians, many of whom had come from different towns in Malaysia and even as far as Singapore. Talking to them was so refreshing because they were there to make a stand for their future.

Having had some food we made our way to the Merdeka Stadium. We wanted to go through Petaling Street. All along the way, what I witnessed was amazing – people from all walks of life but most were young people coming out to be part of the Bersih Walk. We were not able to make it to the Stadium for the crowd that had gathered at the entrance of Petaling Street was soon joined by others from the surrounding streets. The numbers had grown and we then marched to Jalan Sultan and there was already a group amassing there. The numbers continued growing and the chants became louder – "Bersih Bersih….Hidup Rakyat…Adilan…" The group was joined by many others. Not being able to reach the Stadium the group retreated and made its way to Menara Maybank. There was so much of laughter, commitment, and sharing within the group It was truly 1Malaysia. No rhetoric. People shared water, gave out yellow flowers, shook hands and chanted with one voice irrespective of age, creed or color. I was proud to be in their midst. We met so many people. I met neighbors of mine who were surprised to see me just as I was to see them. Once again I met many Christians from different walks of life some of whom, had booked into cheap hotels the night before because they did not want to miss out on the march.

There were people on wheel chairs, youths, and seniors. All shapes and sizes, professionals and ordinary citizens were there. They were marching for their future. They were marching to send a message to the Government that electoral reform was needed.

The crowd moved to the front of Menara Maybank and there we were joined by more people. We were wondering where they had come from. I believe that in that crowd there were already more than 30,000 people. That is my assessment. I could be wrong but the streets were filled with people – from the junction of Kota Raya to Menara and from there all the way to the Tung Shin Hospital. Through it all the group was well mannered, even allowing cars and motorbikes to pass through. It had a carnival atmosphere. Helicopters were still flying around and the heavy presence of police surrounding us was so very evident and very eerie.

And then the worst of my fears came to pass. Out of nowhere and for no apparent reason, I had my first experience of being fired upon by chemically laced water and tear gas. People were running in all directions to get away from the effects of both. The tear gas burnt the eyes but more damaging was the difficulty in breathing caused by the tear gas. Many were struggling to breathe and see where they were going. Instinctively we looked for any road/lane/way out. I made it to the back of the Menara, my eyes still smarting and gasping for fresh air. After a short while we gathered once again and this time in front of Puduraya barely realising that it was a tactical move by the police to get us pegged in from both sides. We did not realise that there police had already blocked off our exit and we were sandwiched by police in riot gear armed with batons, supported by armoured vehicles spewing tear gas and chemically laced water and police in helicopters directing operations. Once again they fired water and tear gas into the crowds. Again the group ran looking for any outlet fleeing from the onslaught of the police. The second round of tear gas made more people vomit including me. People were helping one another. Water was shared, wet towels were shared, salt was handed out and helping hands were stretched out to those in need. Once again we assembled and this time we linked our arms together and sat quietly on the road. This angered the police more. They charged at the crowd whilst firing water and tear gas into the crowd and it was one big thick cloud of smoke. Those who could not run fast enough were beaten and dragged to the police vehicles. We found refuge in the Tung Shin Hospital and even then they fired tear gas and water into the compound with one canister bouncing off the window of the hospital. I saw people with bloodied faces being dragged away. It made me want to weep. But through it the people stood firm. The police tried rushing up the road and many ran into the hospital to take refuge. The police pursued and again many were dragged away.

A short while later there were signs that the police was willing to negotiate and agreed to allow the crowd to march through on one side of the road by providing a way out of the impasse. Sivarasa a PKR’s MP tried to negotiate on behalf of the group. While the negotiations continued there was a hush and someone led in the singing of the "Negara Ku". It gave me goose pimples. It was absolutely wonderful. That feeling was short-lived as the police turned on Sivarasa by arresting him and dragging him off into the waiting Black Maria. That was a ruse by the police to lure the people out from all the lanes and the buildings. The police began chasing people and the crowd began shouting at the police and it led to another round of tear gas and water cannon and another charge by them. More arrests and more beatings. We have seen such incidents unfolding in other parts of the world on TV but never thought it would happen in our own country.

It was after 4pm and many started to disperse using the back lanes to get home. We made it to the Masjid Jamek LRT Station hoping to catch a train to AMCorp Mall. To our dismay it was still locked and whilst we were seated on the steps waiting for the doors to open the police once again harassed and chased us away from that place. Many tried to reason with the police but they became abusive and violent threatening to arrest and beat us up. I wondered then, who actually were the criminals and who were the victim. So the long walk home began and by the time I reached AmCorp Mall to pick up my car another roadblock confronted me, this time at the Jalan Timur Lake. They checked my IC and asked me some questions and grudgingly let me pass. I think they saw the annoyance on my face.

Some of you may ask what we have achieved or what it is that I have experienced. Let me state this:
1. 1Malaysia was more evident here than at any other gathering I have been to. 
2. The Youth are becoming more vocal and want to see justice being done. They are well aware of what is going on.
3. There was willingness to help one another that transcended age, creed or colour.
4. People were not afraid and if there was to be another peaceful march, more will definitely come forth.
5. The police seemed to be more concerned with stopping the march at all cost than with tactful means of crowd control. It raises questions about what instruction were given them by the powers that be.

More can be said and added to this list and I am certain those who attended will add more but for now let it suffice. As for us as a Church:
1. We should continue praying.
2. We should make sure that all our members have registered as voters. This task must be taken seriously. It is not a call to vote BN, Pakatan or some other party. What is needed is that we should do our duty to vote.
3. Educate our members on the events unfolding before us. This is to help our members to respond intelligently.
4. We need to stand up and be counted. We cannot let others do the fighting for us. We must be own our future and the future of our nation.
5. As a church we who are called to do justice and show mercy and stand up for righteousness. Unfortunately, many stayed within the safe confines of our churches or our homes and all we did was to pray. I am glad that many of us did this, but I wish we had done more. We have read accounts when Christians stood up and were willing to be counted in wanting to make a difference. John Wesley, Martin Luther King to name a few. Where was the Church on that day? Even now a man has died and many continue to be in prison. Where is the voice of the Church?

Let me close by saying this: I have no choice but to stand up and be counted for I believe that it is part of “holy living”. I cannot just speak and not act. I must be willing to join hands with all, irrespective of age, creed or colour. This is my home and if I do not stand up for right, for justice, for mercy, for transparency, then my faith is in vain and my hope for the future is in vain.