Terengganu: Live bullet fired at ceramah crowd

September 10, 2007

UPDATED VERSION. In these days of real-time Internet, it seems information flow from oil-rich Terenganu is still very much constipated.
More than 48 hours have gone past but not many details had been reported in the Press about claims by PAS and PKR leaders that the police used unprecedented violence - including firing live bullets - to disperse a ceramah in Pantai Batu Buruk, Terengganu, late Friday night.

According to Malaysiakini, quoting party sources from the two opposition parties, two individuals have been seriously injured -- one in his shoulder and another in his neck -- as a result of being shot.

The live bullet was fired during a stand-off between the police and the crowd of 500 people that started after the authorities wanted to ban a ceramah organised by polls watchdog, Bersih. The police said that the organisers had no permit to conduct the ceramah.

Bersih is a coalition of opposition political parties and NGOs which campaigns for free and fair elections. It is organising a series of public forums nationwide to raise awareness on the subject.

Among those who were to address the crowd were PKR treasurer Khalid Ibrahim and PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu.

Police confirmed live bullet fired
On the other hand, Terengganu police chief Ayub Yaakob, told a specially arranged press conference Saturday afternoon, confirming that one live bullet was fired by one of his officers from the Federal Reserve Unit.

Malaysiakini reported that the police also fired tear gas and used water canons to disperse the crowd.

So far, we read from the Press that, of the 23 people arrested Friday night, 19 of them were freed on police bail by the Kuala Terengganu Sessions Court the following day. Four, however, have been remanded for further investigations.

But my question is: You fire live bullets at ceramah crowd?