Here's my story:

Although I received reminders over and over again to come early, but I decided to leave home after Zuhur. The reasons are:
1) I know the police will start arresting even before march started. Call me a coward, but I don't want to risk getting caught before the 'fun' started.
2) This time I want to take as many pictures as possible, and from many angles. So I don't want to be in the main crowd from the beginning (which will limit the perspective which I can capture with my camera)
3) There are main crowds and small crowds. If the main crowds are planets, the small scattering crowds can be considered the satellites. I've never been in this small crowds, so I'd like to see how it is like to be in one

The Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya LRT stations are closed due to 'technical' problem, so I took the train to Plaza Rakyat instead. I arrived at 2.25pm. Since I'm already 15 minutes late for Masjid Jamek's crowd, I decided to take some detour first. I checked up Mydin, Kota Raya and Petaling Street. Life was as usual in the places, as if nobody noticed there are something big is happening in a very close proximity. Then I went to Central Market to see what it is like for the 'white' street demonstration. To my surprise, except several uniformed policemen, the area was full of shoppers! There's nothing that indicated that this place is holding a large 'illegal' gathering. And the cops were as laid back as they can be in a peaceful time.

Losing interest, I made my move to, finally, Masjid Jamek. When I arrived there, the main crowd already left the premise. There were still some people gathering here and chit-chatting about the event.

I saw the uniformed cops and FRUs blocking the road at one end. This is one of the questions I always find myself asking. How did the small crowds managed to merged with the main crowds despite this kind of blocking? It is not easy, especially when the cops are shooing everyone away from the area. I went to take a look first.

Seeing that the main crowd from Masjid Jamek was not heading towards the direction os Istana Negara (They were at Jalan Tun Perak), I deduced that they were going to SOGO, where the PR leaders are. So I took another way to SOGO avoiding the police blockade. I arrived at Jalan TAR where many people were gathering. There's faint smell of tear gas lingering. Seemed like the battle was already on. Far behind me, the FRU tanks and trucks were stationed. Cops were trying to arrest some of the protesters, to be jeered and cursed by the shouting crowd. Then came the dreaded siren. A water cannon truck sped up the street and started showering the protesters with the chemicals. Everybody ran into alleys and backstreets for cover.

I continued moving towards SOGO. Police arrests can be seen along the way. And some of the protesters were taking a breather, especially the elderlies.

At SOGO, as in Masjid Jamek, it seemed like the main crowd already left, or leaving. I can see them from afar. As much as I want to join them, there was a blockade between me and that crowd. The foot policemen were retreating, which means one thing: making way for tear gas and water cannon. I took the opportunity to slip past them, heading towards the main crowd. Not even halfway, the tear gas canistered were fired, falling several yards in front of me. I ran and took a detour circling the SOGO complex with my eyes burning. Lucky I had my pinch of salt and two small bottles of mineral water with me.

I arrived in front of MARA, where the frontline of the crowd, especially the Unit Amal, were calling for people to regroup. More canisters of gas were shot. Having one of them fell just in front of me, I quickly grab my camera and tried to take a video. Unfortunately, another one of the canisters came and got me by surprise. Though as much I tried to record the event, the resulting video were as crappy as it can get. Amidst the confusion, I didn't realise that the water cannon were speeding from my back. Only when I took a glance back I saw the truck was less than 50 meters behind me. There was no cover around me so I pushed the record button on my camera, hoping something decent will come out (unfortunately, it didn't), and made a dash to the nearest cover around 20 meters ahead. Before I managed to get into a shelter, the chemicals from the water cannon hit me on my face, from the left side. Adrenaline helped me a lot to continue running. Once I reached safety, my eyes were itchy. And worse than that, they were blurry. That's when I realised I lost my glasses along the run. The crowd had retreat further, and the FRU had slowly taken over the place. Going to look for my glasses means I have to search amidst the FRU. I had no choice, I need my glasses. Several good fellows helped me during the rush. Once my glasses are found (it was right at where my face was hit by the water cannon), I went around the building for another breather.

Several minutes later, I continued towards Jalan Raja Laut. Seeing where the crowd was heading, there's only one possible place to go: PAS HQ. At the cost of the time spent looking for my glasses and the breather, I once again fell behind the FRU, and missed some more actions.

More tear gas can be seen shot at the crowd heading to Jalan Raja Laut. The FRU trucks were regrouping. Again, there's a blockade between me and the crowd. I looked around for a way to get past the blockade, and my luck was with me. Several press members were there, and the cops were letting them loose. So I walked beside a guy with 'PRESS' tag hanging from his neck, while pretending to be busy checking my camera. I casually walked pass the blockade, stopping sometimes to take some pictures. Once ahead of the blockade, I made my way towards the crowd. Looking back at the place where I was several minutes before, I saw a lot of people had been stopped by the police from continuing to Jalan Raja Laut. Smiling, I knew I was lucky to get through them.

Crossing the busy traffic light, the main crowd were already far ahead. Nevertheless, a lot of people were still gathering here. Some were talking furiously, some were resting. Some were keeping a watch at the FRU 100 meters away. Many were busy with their mobile phones, sending messages and calling their friends and family, maybe. My family didn't know I was here, only some of my friends knew, but I'm not into sending them the updates.

Then the FRU started to march again. Same routine: troops march>tear gas>water cannon. and arrests along the way. I made another run, this time straight to the destination: PAS HQ. In front of PAS HQ, there was speech going on. I couldn't get a good angle to see who was speaking behind the megaphone, but from the voice, I think it was Hj Mat Sabu (anyone can confirm this for me?). The speech was ending, with several shouts of 'Mansuhkan ISA', 'Hidup Rakyat' etc, the crowd were told to disperse peacefully.

So here it is, THE END. Everybody's heading back. Nothing choatic seemed to happen. Unfortunately, the FRU didn't think so. Out of surprise, another batch of tear gas were fired onto the street,and including the backstreets. It was a little havoc at this point. I went up the bridge to get a better picture. An old man and his daughter slumped at one corner. Obviously the tear gas got them. Someone passed them a bottle of water (I finished my ration on the way, unfortunately). I gave them the salt that I was carrying and told then to put some on their tongues. They seemed better, so I left the bridge after several shots of pictures.

Once down, my face started to sting. The tear gas was still lingering so I dashed to the backstreet. Bad decision, since they fired the tear gas into the backstreet as well. Without water and salt, a small towel was my only defense, and the pain was unbearable. I walk in circles, trying to put my mind away from the pain. Thank God, after several minutes it was gone.

I walked back to Jalan Raja Laut. Luckily, 7-Eleven kept operating even during the chaos. The only shop that was operating (they lived up to their 24hour status, kudos to 7-Eleven!!!). I bought a soy milk and two small mineal waters. The crowd had been reduced to very small number. Uniformed policemen were takig charge of the street, arresting more people. I waited across the street from PAS HQ. After a while, the FRU dismissed their formation and went into the trucks. Nevertheless, it didn't seem like they're going back soon. Everybody understood what is happening: They are waiting to arrest the PR leaders.

A long wait, the came several cars screeching and abruptly stopped in front of PAS HQ. several plainclothed men stormed the entrance of PAS HQ, followed by the media and uniformed cops. The plainclothed men were SB, by the way. They tried to get in, but the building were barricaded by PR supporters from the inside. SB went away empty handed.

Another long wait, I sat at the stairs of PAS HQ, looking at the police patrol cars and FRU trucks on standby, readying for the arrest. Nothing was happening. At 5.30pm, I couldn't take it anymore. My face was still burning and I really needed a bath. I made my way towards PWTC station to catch a train home.

It was painful, it was tiring, and it was a hassle. But it was worth it. And I'd do it again.. and again



-L

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Videos:

Video Himpunan Mansuhkan ISA

Pictures:

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

And here's a compilation of rejected videos:
(The part where you can only see rubbish scenes are the ones I'm running and geeting hit with water cannon and tear gas)
I'm reading: Mansuhkan ISA - My story of August 1stTweet this!