I digress.
As Numerous As The Sand
In full of expectancy, I, well, expected the crowd to be big but not in this scale. It was truly massive. In that long, slow march towards Dataran along the streets of Jalan Tun Perak, I saw this:
courtesy of Jimmy Yek
They say a picture tells a thousand words. But I'll still say it anyway. Seas of people were there yesterday and like Bersih 2.0, it reflected the Satu Malaysia spirit that Najib and his cohorts have been barking about.
The weather was hot and the air was choking but nobody complained or even, at the slightest hint, tried to be rude.
"BERSIH! BERSIH!" ala "Ole Ole" rang about.
Shouts of "REFORMASI!" echoed about.
Reformations, my friends, not revolutions. They're different things. And these reformations are for a better, cleaner Malaysia too.
Things were going well. We retreated a bit from the front line after rumours of water cannon being shot at the protesters were spreading. Resting at an alley, behind the court, we heard a little bit about Ambiga's speech. But the only words that was understandable for me was "...our leaders should heed the citizens' voices..." which was then again replied with endless shouts of Bersih.
Then, after a while, hell broke loose.
At the first taste of a pungent smell, I knew what was coming. Tear gas. I knew we have to hide, I knew we had to run.
And so, we got our butts off the ground and off we go... about 20 meters from where we were sitting, as by then, despite the pungent gas, everything else seemed okay and normal. I refilled my water by asking an abang in the mosque who was kind enough to walked over to the fence and get me water, barefooted too.
Then someone shouted, SMOKE SMOKE!
The Second Round- The Mosque of Shelters (Masjid Jamek)
We gathered ourselves as rounds of tear gas are now shot nearer to us. Away, we must go. As everyone else ran helter-skelter, we slowly made our way into the mosque.
The mosque was opened for us to get inside. Water! Shelter! These two words rang in my head. Sure enough, people are around to help. Salt first-aiders were standing by, offering salt and direction as to where we could get water and rest a bit.
My friends, on their first rally and first taste of tear gas, were feeling the full effects of it. Perhaps, I've had experience. And I knew I looked just like them when I first tasted it too.
courtesy of Adrian Wong
Even in the midst of such chaos, people were extremely polite and respectful. As we know little of the customs in the mosque, we kept out of places where the Muslims pray and places where we knew we should not trespass. The rest of the people were the same too. Instead, we found this garden (with trees, to protect us from the sun) behind the mosque and we went there.
courtesy of Adrian Wong
To Control or Too Trigger Happy?
Right across the garden, separated by the Klang River was the HSBC building. We're about 10 feet above the river bank (in all honesty, I always thought it looked more like a huge drain).
courtesy of Adrian Wong
As we tried to stay calm and take a breather, we witnessed another none-merciful act from the police.
The third round. And this time with the red jolly water cannon truck. A canister landed IN the garden too! People ran (we did, too) but a brave man ran over to the canister and threw it into the river. If it were not for his bravery, we could very well be suffering more than we did.
Crazy, ain't it?
courtesy of Jimmy Yek
courtesy of Adrian Wong
Tasting it for the second time. It's no fun thing.
courtesy of Adrian Wong
Milo, eyes reddish, choking looking on at others
courtesy of Adrian Wong
Cassia's face says it all
courtesy of Adrian Wong
At that bridge alone, they fired at least 4 rounds of tear gas. Imagine the many canisters that landed on the peeps at the HSBC bank side of the street. We only tasted one... At this time, people were angry and frustrated as we saw how they fired shots after shots (without warning) and they seemed to enjoy doing so. Was it really for control? Was it really to disperse the crowd? I have no idea...
The Great Escape
After about 40 minutes inside the mosque (we were initially surrounded by the police, barricaded the entrance, they had), they finally let us out. Instructions were given that we are to get out of the mosque and out to Pudu. We obliged.
As we make our way to Pudu, JF is rushing over (after his exam and kudos for the spirit). I thought things were calming down a bit because if not, why would they let us out? But I was wrong...
People were still on the streets. The police are still unrelenting. We walked up the street, wanting to get to the McD near Pudu Sentral (meeting point with monkey JF), and was then alarmed by shots of gas again, behind us. The truck was advancing. We were quite far away from the scene but they were advancing fast.
What next?!
courtesy of Jimmy Yek
We quickly gathered and ran (nearly got separated because of the initial panic).
"This is just not right anymore," I thought.
"We did our part, we should go." I told the rest.
Relentless
courtesy of Jimmy Yek
When we finally met JF, it was nearly 4.45pm. The police are still firing gas. We were at Pudu now. The pungent and sting of the gas failed to seize. We ran to the opposite side of the road and took shelter again at the dropping zone of Ancasa Hotel.
JF then went off alone to have a look see around (you can't blame him, having just arrived). As we waited for him to come back, the wind blew the gas over to our direction. I think it brought the police too. As they chased people and kept on firing those drasted (I made this word) tear gas, into Pudu Sentral we went to hide. And there, we cured our thirst, exhaustion and nerves...
Rest!
courtesy of Jimmy Yek
The Return of JF and the Return to Home
Prior to his return, Milo had received text messages and news about how police are now arresting people and about the accident. We were worried for him and so asked him to quickly meet up with us.
We changed our shirts (those wearing yellow and the Stop Lynas shirt) as Milo adviced us to do so. We went out of Pudu Sentral and lo and behold, God sent a bus to Asia Jaya (rare in Pudu, I think) right in front of us. JF arrived in time and we quickly boarded the bus. Some comfort at last.
Arrival at Asia Jaya. Still bubbly.
courtesy of Jimmy Yek
The Common Tears: The Aftermath and Thoughts
After taking about a day for updates, clarifications and reflection, I don't know if the rally was a success... There are numerous factors leading up to this thought. Firstly, the presence of the hooligans who provoked some of the incidents. Secondly, the violence that involved both sides. Thirdly, the unfair coverage of the whole event.
However, looking at the first half alone, I believe it had the same impact as Bersih 2.0. The unity, solidarity, and spirit cannot be faulted. The Malaysian spirit didn't cease. People, irregardless of colour, creed, beliefs and principles, came and stood up for something we all believe in: a cleaner and brighter future.
Due to the violence, the intended provocation at the police and everything that's transpired so far, I still believe we have somewhat lost our voice a bit. After reading stories and watching the videos, I cannot help but to shed tears a bit, even if a lot was shed yesterday.
Despite what happened (that was caused by some stupid, irresponsible individuals), we cannot take away what tens of thousands came to do yesterday...
"We came for a common goal,
For cleaner and fairer elections,
To clean up this nation,
For the brighter tomorrow of our children.
We toiled, we were shot at,
We ran, we cried,
Treated as criminals,
By our very own nation's defense.
We sweat that common sweat,
We pray that common prayer,
We fight that common fight,
And today and as long as change is naught,
We shed that common tear...
For this nation we call our home."
Empat Dua Lapan... adalah hari KUNING.
