200 nabbed at rose protest

Source : M'Kini

Police fired teargas and chemical-laced water cannons in a bid to disperse some 300 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters who gathered for a peaceful event in Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur, early this morning.

According to Hindraf coordinator S Thanenthiran, about 200 people have been arrested. Also nabbed was Hindraf’s rose campaign organiser S Manickavasagam.

There were heavy police presence in Jalan Raja Laut. Four water cannon trucks were stationed along the route leading to Parliament.

The Hindraf event was initially planned to be held at the Parliament gates where 200 children were tol gather to hand over roses as a peaceful gesture requesting that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi heed the group’s 18-point demands.

News that roads leading to Parliament were closed to prevent them from going to Parliament then led them to change the gathering venue to Jalan Raja Laut.

After being chased away by some 40 plainclothes policemen, the supporters ran and were scattered around the Masjid India area.