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6th December, Skudai This morning, the SUARAM office near the vicinity of Skudai turned into an emergency zone when the police mobilized their entire unit; from Light Strike Forces, FRU to traffic police, they erected road blocks which caused a massive traffic jam and massive public nuisance. This is to prevent around 40 young and energetic youths from cycling.
The police force, under the leadership of Skudai OCPD ACP Ruslan, called for the arrests of those who wanted to negotiate with him and said that he is arresting them for illegal assembly. Around 12 people were arrested including PSM Secretary General S.Arutchelvan, Treasurer A.Sivarajan, Jerit Coordinator K.Simon, Semparuthi's Mohan, Salleh Alim and 13 year old son and many others. This was followed by the arrests of another four JERIT and SUARAM Johor coordinators including Ngo Jian Yee, Nyam Yee Han in which the police said that they were arrested for preventing the SUARAM office to be opened. While 16 people were held in the Skudai police station, the police put the others on "house arrest" at the SUARAM office where they were prevented from leaving the office. They also started to collect intelligence reports in an intimidating way. Before that the police threatened to break down the SUARAM office doors. After negotiations held between the OCPD and S.Arutchelvan, the police allowed everyone to leave with the condition that there will not be any cycling in Skudai. He said that he will arrest any person found cycling even when he was assured that the cyclists will go in single file. The only assurance the OCPD gave was the cyclists and their lorry will be allowed to leave his district without any problems. What was further frustrating was when the police intimidated one of the lorries which was carrying the bicycles to Simpang Renggam when the team was heading to Kulai. Meanwhile, plain-clothes policemen intimidated and harassed the cyclists by snapping photographs etc. With less bicycles and after sheer bullying by the police, the JERIT southern team decided to cycle one by one and even decided that they will cycle even if it means arrest. The police initially did not want to allow the cyclists to cycle at all. Then, our team was met by Samad, the OCPD for Kulai. He allowed the cyclists to cycle but warned that he will arrest anyone who committed any traffic offences. Braving the intimidation, our team cycled on but less then 2 km later, the police once again diverted all the cyclists to the police station and this time said that they were stopped because they don't have reflectors. This outrageous attitude further delayed the journey. The lorry carrying the remaining cyclists was harassed and even summoned. With this, since the day was getting dark, the organizers decided to move to their next destination - Simpang Renggam. On arrival, the police again harassed the cyclists and the team. The team was met by some supporters from PKR who let them stay in their office. It was a day later when the three districts in Johor had nothing to do except monitor a cycling team. It was a day where there was as if no other issues mattered in Johor. A small ceramah was held at Simpang Renggam. For the cyclists, it was a frustrating day but yet their spirits were high. By midnight, the young cyclists were putting the reflectors on and getting ready to pedal on the next day. Signing off at Simpang Renggam 12 midnight Surind Raj
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