Kris Khaira

I just got back from the candlelight vigil and then a discussion. Photos will come later. For now, here’s a quick recap.

We started out negotiating with the police while displaying the banners and candles close to 9pm. Our statement was then interrupted halfway by the police and our negotiation team tried their best to continue but couldn’t. By then the police seemed like they outnumbered the vigil participants and had their cars parked by the roadsides, making their claims that we were obstructing traffic ridiculous.

Despite that, we managed to get the police to compromise and let us sing, followed by a one minute silence for the victims of the recent arrests of the BERSIH, Hindraf and Human Rights march participants. The Campbell Street – Penang Road corner was crowded so we acted as best as we could.

The Penang branch of the Burmese National League for Democracy – Liberated Area (NLD-LA), Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, also made an appearance right before we dispersed to show their solidarity with our cause.

SUARAM Penang then gave a statement to attentive reporters, mostly from the Chinese newspapers. The other papers were probably busy covering celebrity gossip.

Concerned citizens, including a group from KL who took the initiative to travel to Penang for the vigil, showed their solidarity and voiced out tonight for the freedom of expression and the freedom to peacefully assemble. We have shown that unjust arrests, exaggerated charges and lies thrown against peaceful protesters will invoke yet more protest from the people.

A few problems as mentioned above cut our programme short, but nevertheless, we have more experience now and we have a good idea of the number of Penangites willing to stand up in trying times.

It was the lack of recent mass dissent in Penang that encouraged us to organise a candlelight vigil in the first place to stir the masses awake gracefully at a time when the mainstream media along with the FRU’s tear gas and chemical water has put fear into the hearts of the people.

No amount of tear gas, chemical water and propaganda can silence the awakened citizens of Malaysia, and a time will come one day when our influence outweighs the disgusting weapons used by abusive authorities and corrupted politicians.

At the next vigil, rally, street performance and other display of dissent in Penang, the people here will gather in larger numbers than usual; and we will be more organised, experienced and less compromising.

The song we sang was We Shall Overcome.

Indeed, kita akan berbangkit.