TIME Magazine has just named The Protestor its Person of the Year for 2011. Malaysians would count among protestors that made headlines this year, if not internationally than nationally. But what is the point of continuing to protest when something – like the Peaceful Assembly Law – is a foregone conclusion? Political scientist Wong Chin Huat explains the value of civil disobedience and how it can work.
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Bersih 2.0: “Illegal”, chaos-causing “communists”?
By Gan Pei LingWaging war against the king. In cahoots with foreign conspirators. Possible communists. Planning to overthrow the government. Illegal T-shirts. Bersih 2.0 seems to embody many evils to the authorities, who have arrested more than 100 in attempts to stop Bersih’s 9 July 2011 march. But have the authorities gone overboard in demonising the rally? What about Malaysians’ constitutional right to freedom of expression and right to peaceable assembly?
Bersih: It’s not about black or white
By Koh Lay ChinTO go yellow or not to go yellow? This seems to be the question among Malaysians these days. In cyberspace, Malaysians of all backgrounds are writing, forwarding and sharing comments and articles about the planned 9 July Bersih 2.0 march. But what exactly are people saying about the ideas and principles behind the march itself? […]
Anti-govt protestors march in Bangkok
BANGKOK, 24 Feb 2009: Thousands of anti-government supporters, clad in red shirts, began their march in the capital today to demand the ouster of the foreign minister and the dissolution of parliament as Thailand prepares to host the delayed 14th Asean Summit in Hua Hin this week. The Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) supporters, linked […]