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Jerit cyclists reach Parliament

Human rights, Poverty, Workers' rights 11 Responses »

Dec 182008

1212: Some 120 Jerit cyclists are now in Parliament, where they will be having lunch and handing over their memorandums to a rep from the BN and the Opposition. It’s mission accomplished! Congratulations to the Jerit team.

1145: About 30 participants of the Jerit cycling teams are now in Parliament to hand in their memorandum amidst a heavy police presence, including a helicopter clattering overhead.

Earlier they were barred from cycling to Parliament. “The OCPD told us we could head to Parliament, but not on our bicycles,” says Jerit coordinator Rani Rasiah.
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An extraordinary cycling odyssey reaches its climax

Human rights, Marginalised groups, Workers' rights 3 Responses »

Dec 172008

jerit-in-penang-6-dec-2008-001 Tomorrow, the Jerit cyclists are due to submit their memorandums to Abdullah Badawi and Anwar in Parliament

It is the climax of an extraordinary campaign that has been wildly successful in publicising the six Jerit demands.

Ironically, the oppressive police action only served to heighten publicity for the campaign. If the cyclists had just been allowed to quietly pedal their way to Parliament without any obstruction, perhaps fewer people would have sat up and noticed.

Let’s hope there’s no more drama when they hand over their memos in Parliament tomorrow.

This is a piece I wrote for IPS looking at the campaign as a whole:

POLITICS-MALAYSIA: Protestors Pedal to Parliament, Brave Police
By Anil Netto

Vigil outside Rawang police station as cyclists held

Civil society, Marginalised groups, Workers' rights 7 Responses »

Dec 152008

2050: Police are now recording the details of 45 Jerit northern team cyclists in the Rawang police station (phone 03-6091 6222). Outside the station, a candlelight vigil is now being held

At first, the police tried to use Section 32 of the Child Act; they wanted to hold the cyclists until their parents came. Then they tried the usual s112 of the CPC. Now, they are just documenting the particulars of the cyclists – name, IC number, address.

“They seem disappointed that all the cyclists below 18 have consent letters from their parents,” says one of the Jerit coordinators inside the station.