
FILE – People sell umbrellas to supporters of pro-democracy group “Bersih” (Clean) near Dataran Merdeka in Malaysia’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 30, 2015
BANGKOK — A leading Malaysian campaign for political and electoral reform is pressing ahead with a major rally this month despite pressure from the government and threats and violence against rally supporters.
Maria Chin, chairperson of the Bersih 2.0, a coalition calling for for free and fair elections in Malaysia, says the campaign has included a nationwide convoy launched on October 1 to promote the rally and calls for reform ahead of November 19.
But several violent incidents have marred the Bersih convoy with attacks and scuffles on supporters by so-called pro-Malay “red shirts.”
Violent incidents
Maria Chin along with Ambiga Sreenevasan, president of the National Human Rights Society and Mandeep Singh, a staff member of Bersih, all received death threats in October. Read more