Cops not responsible for Bersih man’s death, says Najib

NEWS/COMMENTARIES

Sunday, 10 July 2011 Combat

 

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — The police are not to blame for the death of Bersih supporter Baharuddin Ahmad, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today. 

The prime minister said that Baharuddin’s death was caused by health issues, as he moved to defend the police’s handling of yesterday’s rally.
“(His death) was not because of the rally, it was health (reasons). There was no actual physical contact with demonstrators whatsoever,” Najib told reporters here.

Live reports and eyewitness account, however, have said that police had engaged in physical contact with Bersih supporters in efforts to quell the rally.

“I am proud of what the police did yesterday … (They acted) with professionalism.

“They took such good care of those who were arrested that they got free food,” added Najib.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Baharuddin, who was marching with the thousands who turned up yesterday in support of Bersih 2.0, died when he fell during a scuffle with police at KLCC yesterday afternoon.

Police have confirmed that 1,401 of the estimated 6,000 protestors were detained during the gathering, which lasted for over four hours.

Scuffles reportedly broke out between protestors and the armed riot police when the march, which was originally intended to be peaceful, descended into chaos.

Tear gas canisters and water cannons were also fired at various points across the city as the police attempted to force protestors to disperse.