Police clamp down Cheras toll protest

Yup, those a**holes did it this time.

Less than five minutes after the toll protest started, the police swooped in and arrested members of the organising coalition including Dr Hatta Ramli from PAS, KeAdilan's Tian Chua and DAP's Ronnie Liu. No smiles, no bargaining, no shit. Just a lot of grabbing and shoving. In fact, Tian Chua had only just come out from his car.

Bullying has become a national sport. It's not just over bloggers you know.

The pattern was clear from the week before at Gombak; the police were more aggro at each subsequent event. This time the folks weren't going to be allowed to say their piece. Happy, Abdullah? Think you solved the problem?

The gathering took place at a stone's throw from the Batu 11 toll at Cheras-Kajang Highway, the third in a series so far. At the point when the arrests were made, fewer than 100 protestors had assembled. Nobody came armed. But there were more than 100 policemen and FRUs with their vans, buses, command post and patrol cars. Most bore arms.

Like the spirit of toll contracts themselves, it was typical overkill to stick one up on the Malaysian rakyat. Oh, but we've been in a state of emergency since 1964, I forget.

Malaysiakini's report mentions that its photographer's camera has been confiscated pending a decision by Kajang's police chief. Yet I also saw an NTV7 crew shooting away. There were many other mainstream media types moving around. I don't think they had any problems with cameras being confiscated.

Bullies may have their time and their glory. But ultimately, bullies fall. History proves that.

Happy, Abdullah? Think you REALLY solved the problem?