‘TRADERS’ WILL SUE BERSIH

OFFER....Jamal says over 100 lawyers have contacted him to offer their services.

By : SHAZWAN MUSTAFA KAMAL

KUALA LUMPUR : Anti-Bersih traders said today they will sue the organisers of last month’s Bersih 3.0 rally, claiming it caused them “extensive” financial losses.

A group of over 60 traders calling themselves “Bersih 4.0” told reporters today that over 100 lawyers have indicated their willingness to represent the traders in a suit against the electoral reforms group.

“More than a hundred lawyers have called me and stated their willingness to represent traders whose businesses have suffered because of the Bersih rally,” Bersih 4.0 leader Datuk Jamal Md Yunos said.

“These lawyers will represent the traders in demanding compensation for losses.”

Today, a handful of traders and a solitary lawyer were present at the news conference.

“We are currently collecting information of all the traders who have become victims of the Bersih rally,” lawyer Zahrin Ishak told reporters.

“We have been given orders to file a suit against the organisers of Bersih 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and to demand compensation for the losses... we are a group of lawyers giving free legal services to assist traders for what they lost.

“The suit will be similar to the one filed by the federal government against Bersih,” he added.

Earlier in the week, the federal government announced it is suing the steering committee of Bersih 2.0 for damages amounting to RM122,000 that it asserts was the result of the April 28 rally organised by the electoral reform movement.

The 10 Bersih leaders, spearheaded by Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, are the first people to be sued for damages under the Peaceful Assembly Act, less than a month after the new law aimed at allowing public gatherings “in accordance with international norms” was enforced.

“We don’t want to be taken hostage for other people’s agendas,” said Zahrin.

Jamal said the group of lawyers will be meeting with traders affected by the Bersih rally over the weekend.

He also said that they will be visiting Stadium Bukit Jalil on Monday to obtain clearance to set up stalls outside the stadium for the June 23 “Bersih 4.0” gathering.

“Chinese traders have said they will donate five Modenas motorcycles, as part of a lucky draw prize for whoever enters and supports our Facebook page.

“We currently have 500 ‘likes’,” Jamal added.

The April 28 rally that saw tens of thousands gather at six different locations before heading to Dataran Merdeka was peaceful until about 2.30pm when Ambiga asked the crowd to disperse.

But her announcement was not heard by most of the crowd who persisted to linger around the historic square which the court had already barred to the public over the weekend.

Just before 3pm, some protestors breached the barricade surrounding the landmark, leading police to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons.

Police then continued to pursue rally-goers down several streets amid chaotic scenes which saw violence from both sides over the next four hours.

Several dozen demonstrators have claimed that they were assaulted by groups of over 10 policemen at a time and visual evidence appears to back their claim but police also point to violence from rally-goers who also attacked a police car.

The police car then crashed into a building before some protestors flipped it on its side.