Bersih's Peaceful assembly for Electoral Reforms.

The constituition provides for peaceful assembly. Then why is the govt so paranoid about the 9th July peaceful demonstration in support of electoral reforms?The answer can be found in the last Bersih's assembly clamouring for electoral reforms. After nearly two years the Election Commission has done little or nothing to the demands of Bersih for electoral reforms.The last Bersih's assmbly attracted about 50,000 demonstrators and they were repulsed by water canons by the police.The net effect of the brutal reaction by the police translated in votes for the opposition.And in the march 2008 election, B.N lost 5 states to the opposition and two thirds majority in parliament.

Fast forward, 2011, Bersih has again decided to take their cause to the street amidst the Home Minister declaring the proposed assembly as illegal.Using draconian laws which is contrary to the provisions of the constituition will not deter civic minded people from seeking peaceful recourse for changes which will ensure a democratic election of a govt that is voted by the people.Leaders who seek to hold on to power using public instituition to deny the people of their rights will find that history is not on their side.Recent upheavels in the countries of Tunesia, Bahrain, Libya,Egypt and Yemen will bear testimony to the fate of those despotic rulers.Some may continue to cling on to their seats of power by employing ruthless and draconian measures to suppress and deny the people their unalienable rights to a govt that is elected by the people .

The govt of Malaysia should take heed to what has transpired in the middle eastern countries and should listen to the cries of the people to implement transparent reforms in the various flaws perpetuated by the Election commission. Preventing ordinary rakyats from attending an assembly to express their dissatisfaction in the manner in which the Election Commission has performed its role is certainly not the receipe for reforms in the electoral process.