Explain, Bersih 2.0 tells ‘bad boy’ Tian
Tian Chua finds himself in the hot seat following a Bersih 2.0 video of him charging at the FRU.
(Free Malaysia Today) – PKR vice-president Tian Chua has been asked to explain a video clip that clearly showed him leading a charge at the FRU during the Bersih rally on July 9.
The clip (below) showed the crowd facing off with the police at the KL Sentral tunnel moments before multiple rounds of tear gas were fired at them.
Tian Chua was seen standing in the front while the Bersih 2.0 leaders were seen urging the crowd to move back.
Then Tian Chua counted down from three to one and led a charge straight at the FRU who fired at them.
The clip was uploaded by Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Haris Ibrahim on his blog earlier today. The blog post entitled, “Confirmed: Tian Chua was a bad, bad boy!” demanded an explanation from the Batu MP.
“Tian Chua, you have some serious explaining to do,” Haris wrote.
“You showed disrespect to the Bersih 2.0 leadership that was present there, especially (Bersih 2.0 chairperson) Ambiga (Sreenevasan) and you were leading the rally.
“More importantly you took it upon yourself to alter a peaceful rally to one of aggression, and in doing so, put many out there at risk to life and limb,” he said.
Tian Chua declines to comment
When contacted, Tian Chua declined to comment on the video and repeated his earlier statement that he would only respond to an official police charge against him.
“I don’t think it it appropriate for me to comment on this video clip,” he said. “If the police have evidence then they should charge me and I will defend myself in court.”
The clip however was included in the police version of the Bersih rally.
That version was screened to the media last week during which the police pointed out that Tian Chua had provoked them into firing the tear gas.
“I’m very troubled by the video,” Haris told FMT.
“When I saw the line of FRU on that day I suggested to Ambiga that we ask the crowd to sit and that the Bersih 2.0 leaders peacefully approach the FRU.
“I didn’t hear the countdown nor the call to charge. All I heard was the sound of shooting. Two days later eye-witnesses told me about Tian Chua’s actions, I read FMT’s report of the police screening and I recently received this video clip,” he said.
Bersih 2.0 leaders condemned the police for the unprovoked firing but an upset Haris pointed out that Tian Chua’s actions now exonerated the FRU and validated police claims of crowd aggression.
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