Peaceful Public Gathering

A number of non-governmental organisations, civil society groups and political parties are organising a peaceful public gathering to be held on 10 November 2007 at 3pm. They will gather at the Dataran Merdeka, the place where Malaysia's first independence shout was heard in 1957.

All this organisations/parties (as below) have endorsed an organisation called Bersih (Clean in english language) in calling for a clean and fair election of which it could be held any time now.

Non-governmental organisations:-
1. Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC)
2. SOS Penang
3. Tamil Foundation
4. Aliran
5. Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
6. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
7. Community Action Network (CAN)
8. Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)
9. Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)
10. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
11. Labour Resource Centre (LRC)
12. Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS)
13. Civil Rights Committee, KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC)
14. Persatuan Ulama Malaysia (PUM)
15. Women’s Development Collective (WDC)
16. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
17. Unit Pemikiran Politik, Institut Kajian Dasar (UPP-IKD)
18. Malaysian Voters Union (MALVU)
19. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
20. Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Semenanjung (GAMIS)
21. Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
22. Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)
23. National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
24. ERA Consumers (ERACON)
25. Citizens’ Health Initiative (CHI)
26. Pusat Janadaya (EMPOWER)

Political parties:-
1. Parti Islam Se Malaysia (PAS)
2. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)
3. Democratic Action Party (DAP)
4. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
5. Sarawak National Party (SNAP)

The police has said that they will not approve of such public gathering as the organiser has not submitted an application for it. Bersih has called for all people who wants to join in in their peaceful gathering to be in yellow attire for that day. I would say if you support their cause and can't be there, wear something in yellow just for that day. The organiser and others will walk to various parts of the city and end up at the King's palace where all this organisations/parties will hand over a memorandum.

The organiser together with the endorsees are trying to get 100,000 people to participate in their peaceful walk to the King's palace. What about the police permit? Is it necessary? Will this peaceful public gathering materialise? Let's see.
Tags: Bersih, Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Groups, Political Parties