Wednesday, June 29, 2011

PKR: Lawyers thronging to defend Bersih men

June 29, 2011
Bersih supporters perform during the movement’s launch in Petaling Jaya, June 19, 2011. — Picture by Jack Ooi
PETALING JAYA, June 29 — Up to 450 lawyers have volunteered their legal services to Bersih 2.0 supporters who are arrested by police, PKR has said.

PKR central leadership council member Shuhaimi Shafiei said that 350 to 450 lawyers have told him they are willing to assist anyone detained by authorities, and that he expects the number to rise.

“In Pakatan alone, there are many leaders who are lawyers, who are familiar with the law,” he added.

“In PAS there’s Hanipa Maidin, in PKR there’s R. Sivarasa, Latheefa Koya... YB [M. Kulasegaran] of DAP.”

The Selangor PKR information chief said the state PKR will mobilise some 70,000 supporters to ensure that the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 is carried out smoothly.

Selangor PKR has about 120,000 members.

Shuhaimi said the state’s PKR members, who will head down to Kuala Lumpur two days before the rally, will gather in five locations before heading to the capital.

He said party members from the Klang, Kapar, Sungai Besar, Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor branches will take the KTM Komuter service from Klang and Port Klang, while those from Shah Alam and Kota Raja are advised to board from Seksyen 19 Shah Alam and Padang Jawa.

PKR members from Tanjong Karang, Selayang, Hulu Selangor, Ampang, Pandan and Gombak will take the Komuter from Batu Caves, Rawang and Sungai Buloh as well as Gombak and Ampang LRT stations, while Petaling Jaya Utara, Petaling Jata Selatan, Kelana Jaya, Subang and Puchong members are to use Kelana Jaya LRT and the MidValley and Seri Setia Komuter service.

Lastly, Sepang, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat and Serdang PKR members have been asked to use the ERL service from Salak Tinggi and Putrajaya or take the Komuter from Nilai, Bandar Baru Bangi and UKM stations.

Shuhaimi added that PKR has a contingency plan in place for Bersih 2.0 but declined to provide further details.

He said the authorities would not be able to suppress the spirit of the people even if they arrest, charge and imprison senior Bersih leaders.

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