January 17, 2005
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I read this bit of news on Malaysiakini with disbelief:
About 160 Burmese Chin immigrants, including
several women, were arrested by the police this morning for
demonstrating outside the Burmese embassy off Jalan Ampang, Kuala
Lumpur.The group, protesting against the Burmese
government's alleged persecution of Christians, were hauled up after
failing to adhere to the police's order to disperse.Realising
that arrest was imminent, the protestors began to congregate in prayer.
Soon after, the 30-odd police personnel, headed by Pudu police station
chief Mohd Asri Mohd Yunus, swung into action.What struck me was not so much the action of the
police - they do it all the time - but the fact that the demonstration
was staged here to protest the persecution of
Christians in Myanmar (Burma)! Malaysia, a Muslim country, is not a
beacon of religious freedom, and neither is it the place for any sort
of open demonstrations.Technically, any gathering of three or
more people requires a police permit (ha,ha). The only groups who get
away with public demonstrations are those conducted by members of the
ruling party (check UMNO Youth's record) and the noisy anti-war anti-US
marches and occasional flag burning outside the US Embassy.Of course during former DPM Anwar's incarceration, massive protest
rallies drew thousands unlike any seen in recent history, but that's
another story. By the way, the only report about the incident in the
mainstream press I've seen is in the English language tabloid Malay
Mail.If there is a lesson in the Burmese protest for us, it is this:
People who have nothing to lose have nothing to fear. Which echoes what
Carlos Castaneda said in one of his books, "When one has nothing left to lose one becomes courageous."
Comments (4)
Hi Sweetie,
Very cool, You and I think quite a like
xanga.com/home.asp?user=chicky
Comment on me too, thanks!
Too weird that it wasn't reported. I see it blogged about on several sites, and mentioned in several purely christian publications online, but no major news agencies even bothered.
The quote is too true, it's held for all of known history what happens when people have nothing left to lose. They tend to try overthrowing government or being annhilated. You'd think the powers that be would learn how to placate more people by now.
Oh and a warning about the first comment here, yours is the second blog i've seen with that exact wording, sending you to a site called 'chicky' from a different poster name. It just might be the start of another xanga virus. Be careful!
Thanks for the tip! I thought the 'chicky' post smelled funny and stayed away. Say, any idea how to delete comments like this from sitting on your site?
Comments are closed.