THE FREEDOM TO ASSEMBLE

Dear Editor,

BEFORE heading for Kuala Lumpur on the 9 July 2011 to join the ‘BERSIH’ 2.0 rally, I was promoting on DFM, Martin Luther King's prophetic last speech before he was assassinated on the 4 April 1968, which was reported by CBS News, hosted by Walter Cronkite.

Part of Mr King's speech states: " ... somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly , somewhere I read of the freedom of speech, somewhere I read of the freedom of press, somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for a right ..."

One may wonder what has Mr King's speech got to do with BERSIH 2.0? As mentioned by BERSIH 2.0 president Ms. Ambiga Sreenevasan, "... the right to assemble is guaranteed in the Federal Constitution."

Marina Mahathir and family who clearly understands this constitutional right was present on the 9 July 2011, so was National Laureate A. Samad Said plus approximately more than 60,000 Malaysians. Anyway whats wrong for 60,000 Malaysians to assemble to demand for a fairer elections?

The eight BERSIH 2.0 demands are :

1. Clean the electoral roll.

2. Reform postal ballot.

3. Use of indelible ink.

4. Minimum 21 days campaign period.

5. Free and fair access to media.

6. Strengthen public institutions.

7. Stop corruption.

8. Stop dirty politics.

I dare put it on record, even with all what I perceive as 'intimidation,' off cause the ones in power will call it 'advise' by the the Home Ministry, PDRM, the government controlled media (particularly Utusan Malaysia), PERKASA, UMNO YOUTH and a SILAT organization, supposedly to be the third line of defense, were not able to prevent 60,000 ordinary citizens to exercise their constitutional right, which is guaranteed in the Federal Constitution - the right to assemble and demand for free and fair elections.

Best Regard,

DOMINIC GERARD JOSEPH