Police break up student protest

Police break up student protest

MALAYSIA: Some 250 Malaysian students participated in a rare protest march on Friday in support of seven university students charged over their involvement in an illegal gathering two years ago.

Badaruddin Ismail, an activist with human rights group, the Voice of the Malaysian People said that police broke up the march and arrested Shahrir Mahmood, who was leading the peaceful march to the court building, after Friday (Muslim) prayers.

Badaruddin said Shahrir was handcuffed and taken to the nearby Dang Wangi district police station. Shahrir is the secretary of the University Students Anti-ISA Movement.

The seven students were arrested in June 2001 for participating in a peaceful protest against the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial. --AFP