Heavy handed police action against a gathering of Malaysians, near the capital of Kuala Lumpur, protesting against a draconian preventive detention law, suggests government nervousness at persistent public vigils. The show of force comes at a time when the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)and its coalition partners are experiencing leadership transitions and factional struggles after a general election in March saw the coalition losing substantial ground to opposition parties. On Sunday, riot police moved in as the crowds were singing the national anthem and about to disperse peacefully. They detained 23 people, including three elected representatives, media personnel, activists and a Catholic priest. All of them were released the next morning but await possible charges.

A few protesters complained that they were assaulted and roughed up. The incident took place near a shopping mall in the residential town of Petaling Jaya, bordering Kuala Lumpur. The police action came as a surprise as, until now, the weekly regular protests in four major cities passed without incident. “Two guys came over to grab one arm each and pushed me towards the (police truck),” recalls parliamentarian Tony Pua in his blog. “I stated that I will walk, don’t be rough but they tore my shirt instead.”

Against a storm of criticism, police have defended their action. “We don’t take sides. Even if an NGO, or even government parties were to organise such a gathering without permit, we would have acted in the same way,” Selangor state chief police officer Khalid Abu Bakar was reported as saying. The country’s police chief, Musa Hassan, pointed out that the group had not applied for a permit, the gathering was illegal and police had acted lawfully. The candlelight vigils to ‘Abolish the Internal Security Act’ began in September, when three individuals were detained without trial under the law. An immediate outcry was followed by weekly vigils in Penang and later in Petaling Jaya. Instead of the vigils gradually fizzling out, residents in Ipoh city and Seremban, a town south of Kuala Lumpur, have joined in with their own weekly protests.

Each of these protests typically draws 150 to 300 people. Holding lighted candles and clad in ‘Abolish ISA’ T-shirts, they listen to speeches and poems, sing songs of freedom and justice and sign petitions. Afterwards, eye-witnesses post pictures and accounts of these vigils on blogs and websites, reaching a larger audience. The ISA allows the police to hold anyone for up to 60 days for interrogation, after which they are either released or sent to a detention camp in northern Malaysia under renewable two-year detention orders — in effect, indefinite detention without trial.

Meanwhile, the Abolish ISA Movement — which comprises over 80 civil society groups and other civil society activists — is unlikely to slacken the campaign to repeal the law. The police action on Sunday may deter some from participating in future vigils, but others are vowing not to be cowed. “In the midst of all this uncertainty and adversity, something pure is bound to be born,” says a regular participant at the vigils, who declined to be identified. “My friends have literally come face to face with reality and now have to choose between fear and truth. I remain hopeful and steadfast.” — IPS