KUALA LUMPUR – Young adults participating in the ‘Aksi Solidariti: Kepung Demi Palestin’ protest near the United States embassy here – against its support for Israel – are hoping that constant pressure will help bring about a ceasefire.
And if not, it is still important to send a message, participant and psychology student Kamal Arif said today.
He added that the pavements outside the embassy should be “defended” so that the protest can continue running as scheduled until the end of the month.
“It is important for us to keep on occupying the space, because if all of us left, then the entire programme would not succeed,” he told Scoop.
“It can last if people are committed to keeping the space alive. I hope people who are watching and want to do something to support Palestine would come. Our strength comes in numbers.”
Although a protest may not be enough to bring about a ceasefire, Kamal said it is still meaningful.
“For a protest to work, the enemy needs a conscience – and the US has no conscience. But, as ordinary citizens, we are doing what we can to pressure the US that their actions are not going unnoticed.
“The support for the ongoing genocide is resisted by people globally, that is the message we want to send,” he said.
The protest ‘camp’ outside the embassy began on Tuesday night and is planned to last until the last day of the year.
Campers are protesting the US’ support of Israel in its ongoing bombardment and military offensive into Gaza, which has killed more than 20,000 people and wounded over 54,000 in the besieged enclave since October 7.
Israel is retaliating against Hamas for killing 1,200 Israelis and taking over 200 as hostages during the initial attack.
More than 100 countries voted for a United Nations resolution for a ceasefire, while the US has repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council resolutions on the same issue.
A check on the encampment near the embassy this morning found a much smaller crowd, with most participants having gone to work.
A protester who wanted to be known as Sayeed told Scoop that most of them had left early in the morning for other commitments, but believed they would return after the work day is over.
He said those who camped overnight in tents on the pavement included families who participated in events such as poetry recitals and banner painting.
Arts practitioner Rosheen Fatima said she hoped the protest was making a difference.
“We’ve seen the embassy cars come by and (speed up). They’re not so happy,” she said, adding that participants often wave their placards when the vehicles pass by.
“They have to face how the people feel about (the US’) participation, complicity, and funding of genocide. There is a lot of pressure, and we are adding (to it).”
Rosheen said Malaysians should be allowed to protest in front of the embassy, as other nations – including the US itself – had permitted such activities.
“I think we, shamefully, do not have a proper culture of protesting, as we are too caught up on what is proper, respectful, or ‘adab’ (courteous). We cannot stop the killing by being polite.”
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid said that while the police force sympathises with the Palestinian cause, they have a duty to maintain harmony in the area.
He also called on the protesters to cooperate, so that police can facilitate the picket with the best measures, but said they would monitor the site on a daily basis.
Yesterday at about 3.45am, tents at the rally were taken down by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) under Section 46(1)(a) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, which deems it an obstruction to erect any wall, fence, rail, post or other obstacle in a public place.
However, police and DBKL allowed the tents after protest organisers spoke with them. – December 28, 2023