Police break up S4S event, organisers cry foul
Police cordon off community park in Serian where a autonomy advocacy group wanted to hold its Sarawak Independence Day celebrations.
Some 1,000 members of the public had gathered at Taman Komuniti in Serian, a town located 60km from Kuching for the event.
Serian District Police Chief Deputy Superintendent Chung Aik Peng, who led a 100-strong police team to the area, did not cite any reason for breaking up the event.
A dozen of the police officers were garbed in riot gear. However, no clashes were reported.
S4S had been adamant on holding the celebratory event in Serian, which ran simultaneously with other events in Kuching, Sibu and Miri.
The group continued its criticisms of the Serian municipal council’s decision not to approve today’s event.
They had originally applied to use the Serian stadium in late June, but were denied its use on July 11. They met local authorities on July 16 but failed to convince them to allow the gathering.
Peter John Jaban, a S4S leader, told the media that the group had intended to use the main stage at Taman Komuniti, but the Serian municipal council held another Sarawak Independence Day concert there.
He added that three S4S members were detained by the police prior to the event.
However, Chung denied any arrests were made in connection with S4S.
Group spokesperson Karen Sheperd described the police response as excessive.
“They’ve been spreading stories that we’re outsiders and that we’re coming to disturb the peace.
“They have taken down flags, barred people from coming in, blocked roads and cordoned off the area with riot police. Their action is frankly out of proportion to the planned gathering.
“None of us are criminals. None of us are terrorists. I think the people can judge for themselves what the police response has been like.”
Last year, S4S was forced to move the Bersih 4 rally which it organised in Kuching after being refused use of a stadium.
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An estimated 10,000 people took part, with two MPs, Chong Chien Jen and Julian Tan, both from DAP, being charged with contravening the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.