B e n s t a k e s

The main stream media (MSM) have been feeding us with lies after lies. And whenever they do not tell lies, they do not tell the truth either. We have seen how they spin stories in favour of UMNO and the BN.

Netizens of Cyberspace have had enough. They, especially The Peoples Parliament, decided to take some action and launched a "Tuesdays" boycott of the newspapers. It started with Tuesday 29 January 2008. I have joined in the boycott.

Was it efffective? I didn't know.

Then on Friday 1st February 2008, as it was holiday for Kuala Lumpur, my wife, Maria, went marketing at the open market in Taman Midah. And as usuall, she bought newspapers, the New Straits Times (we had given up on TheStar which we felt was more pro UMNO then the UMNO owned NST). As I was getting ready to go and witness the action (pix on right) termed "Biadab" by Abdullah Badawi, I picked up the papers and was reading the front page news.

Hey, wait a minute, it looks like I have read this news before. I then asked Maria "Did you get today's papers?".
"And what are you reading now?" she answered, giving me a piercing look. I then checked the date on the papers. Guess what? It was stated as Tuesday 29 January 2008. The papers they could not sell that 1st Tuesday of the boycottt was sold on the following Friday. 3 weeks later, Maria was given newspapers without charge and no questions asked when she told the vendor about that Friday. Was the boycott effective?

There has been minimal change, if any, on the part of the MSM. So now it is BOYCOTT for a whole week effective Monday 24/03/2008. Lets see how the MSM will react.


Peace

Attended the launch of the The People's Declaration (original pdf version here at Malaysia-today) at Blog House In Bukit Damansara on Saturday 23/02/2008.


Wee Choo Keong of the MDP, Ronnie Liu of DAP, Badrul Hisham of PKR and Dr. Siti Mariah of PAS (pic copied from The Peoples Parliament) were on hand to endorse this declaration. Pasok could not make it, nevertheless they phoned in thier endorsment.

There were loud cheers when Dr Siti pointed out that there was no mention of "Negara Islam" (Islamic Country) in the PAS manifesto.

But the 100 odd Malaysians who turned up in yellow t-shirts nearly brought the roof down with their 'Woopies', clappings and cheerings when Ronnie Liu of DAP annouced that there will no three-cornered fights this around. The first aspiration of the PEOPLE has been achieved.

It is generally acknowledged that Haris Ibrahim was the initiator and mover of this declaration which he said was an old document of the Opposition which never saw the light of day some two elections ago.

Check what Haris said at the DAP ceramah in SS2. It's about 13 mins long.

If the video below does not play or is slow in bufferin, then view it here: Haris Ibrahim at DAP ceramah





Peace

Read updates in Malaysia-Today - the police have set up road blocks on all major roads leading to the city center. We were asked NOT to wear yellow while getting into city center.

Not knowing what to expect and with a yellow t-shirt stuffed inside a sling bag, hopped on the LRT and reached Masjid Jamek at 2pm. The sight from the station was overwhelming. The Masjid grounds was blanketed yellow. There was another huge crowd in yellow across the road. And there on the road were the ones in black with red helmets, the so called Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), in full riot gear complete with shields and gas masks. And not forgetting, the monstrous red trucks. It started to rain.

Suddenly, there were shouts and people started moving towards the LRT station, the water cannons were in action. They sprayed on the people across the road on the opposite side of the mosque. Though the water did not reach the LRT station next to the mosque, but all in here could feel the chemical in the air, stinging our eyes and skin. The rain helped.

10 mins later, a siren was heard, again the people moved and the cannons sprayed. Some 15 mins later, shots were heard and soon the tear gas fumes filled the air. Tried recording the scene with my cell phone, but could last only a few seconds before I had to turn, and then buckled over coughing, eyes burning. Felt sad for the 70 plus years old couple whose teary eyes looked blood shot. Someone then got them out to wash their faces with rain water. Tear gas fired again some 15 mins later, but I moved off, not wanting a 2nd experience.

3.00pm, meeting place was Dataran Merdeka, but the place was sealed off. There was no way of getting there. I was alone among the thousands. Good friend Siew Too then called, he and Sharon were walking over from KL Sentral, some 3 km away, as the trains were not moving. When they arrived, we had quick drink. But what now, where to go? The crowd was moving towards the Cultural Market, so we followed right up to the Palace area.

4.20pm a slight commotion in front of the Palace and the FRU started advancing. The men in maroon uniform quickly went into action and moved the people back. The crowd then retreated with shouts of "Daulat Tuanku" and "Hidup Rakyat". The WALK had ended. It was peaceful, it was clean, it was exhilarating.

The PEOPLE walked and the PEOPLE showed.


The cellphone pics and the two video clips on YouTube captured for posterity.

The FRU having 'taken over' Jalan Tun Perak


The FRU then 'conquered' the area surrounding Masjid Jamek


The People milling near the Palace


ST Liu and Sharon made the Walk


Road in front of the Palace sealed off (4.17pm)


The People making their way back from the Palace


The Unit Amal in maroon uniform who did a commendable job of crowd control


Dataran Merdeka still sealed off at 4.50pm


The Aggression at Masjid Jamek


The People leaving the Palace area



This picture (below) of Amri from Shah Alam speaks the thousand words of true grit and determination. (Picture stolen from The Peoples Parliament where Haris Ibrahim has written his thoughts).