The following is a press statement from the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a SEAPA partner based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

The Centre for Independent Journalism condemns the arrest tonight of demonstrators at the anniversary of the free and fair elections rally as well as a videographer from Malaysiakini.tv. We call for their immediate and unconditional release and to respect their fundamental right to gather and express themselves.

According to reports from news portals Malaysiakini.com and thestar.com.my, on November 9, riot police moved in on a crowd of 300 people in Petaling Jaya where they had gathered to commemorate the one year anniversary of the BERSIH rally. Police were reported to have arrested about 24 people, including a Member of Parliament Tony Pua, state assemblyman Lau Weng San, a local councillor Tiew Way Keng and Malaysiakini.com video journalist Shukri Mohamad, who was covering the event.

Reports from citizen contributors to blogs said a simultaneous event held in Ipoh, three hours north of Kuala Lumpur, went on smoothly drawing a crowd of 350 people. The event also marked the release of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin on Friday by the courts,
which found his arrest under the Internal Security Act, unconstitutional.

Except for one, all were released by 7am the next day. CIJ calls on the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to explain the use of the riot police in controlling the crowd, which had planned for a peaceful gathering and the failure to respect journalist on duty. The continuous use of force against people expressing their views on issues such as the need for free and fair elections and abolishing the ISA is a demonstration of the intolerance for public criticism of the status quo.