So right now, there’s a rally in Dataran Merdeka, sponsored by BERSIH in support of a fair and free election–hopefully you’re there! Some background:
According to suarakeadilan.com, around 40,000 people turned up, which is wonderful. What is not so wonderful, however, is that (according to their very helpful hour by hour updates, and Al-Jazeera ), so far today, police have
a) fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters gathering outside Masjid Jamek to get to Dataran Merdeka
b) arrested KeADILan leaders in Penang
c) arrested 80 protesters at Dataran Merdeka
among probably definitely numerous other misdemeanors. Me? I’m too far away to really do anything. But I will say that as extremely upsetting as this is, I am so so soooo impressed by and proud of the thousands (even tens of thousands) of Malaysians who turned up to SHOW the government that their tactics regarding elections are UNFAIR and CORRUPT and WE KNOW IT. I had just been talking to GS today about how difficult it is to raise awareness and to change minds, and to mobilize people in Malaysia…without realizing that we were being proven wrong as we spoke. There is hope for Malaysia yet! I hope that the Rakyat realizes the immense power that lies in the hands of people who care enough to try to make a difference, and who aren’t afraid to make a stand in the face of the govt’s scare tactics–their hands.
This is an important time for Malaysia…extreme circumstances and a burgeoning awareness of how f***ed up the government is are slowly chipping away at the general apathy of the nation. We can change this country, and we can do it in this generation. I’m so inspired by you, Malaysia…give me a loving, creamy center to come home to.
omg you said the f word!!
video doesn’t work anymore btw