Violence in any form and from any quarter must be deplored. There should be an independent commission of inquiry to pinpoint the cause and source of the violence.
Those who perpetrated violence, whether demonstrators or the police, should be dealt with firmly by the law - and the public must be satisfied that there is even-handed application of the law against those who incite or provoke violence.
The DAP upholds the democratic right of the people to assemble peacefully to express their legitimate concerns and aspirations, which is a right entrenched in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for which the world - except for the Malaysian Government - is celebrating its 50th anniversary, but this does not extend to the right to any violent assemblies.
The time has come for the Malaysian government to provide greater democratic space to allow for peaceful assemblies for the people to express their democratic concerns and aspirations and for the Police to develop a new code for allowing for such peaceful assemblies - as distinct from violent assemblies.
The Police should initiate discussions with political parties and NGOs to discuss new guidelines whereby such peaceful assemblies could be held without any bureaucratic hassle and without being a threat to law, order and security.
(16/11/98)