Witness: Bersih participant's ear almost 'sliced off'

A volunteer with the Red Crescent Society (RCS) during the Ap;ril 28 Bersih 3.0 rally saw a man with his ear almost "sliced off" and he insisted that it was caused by "deterrent" equipment used by the police.

Khairul Anuar Pawanchik, 60, testified today that he saw a man rush past him along Leboh Ampang, holding his left ear, which was "dangling" from the upper cartilage.

The retired army officer, in all certainty, said the injury was caused by the "razor barbed concertina wire", most often used by the military in war zones to slow the approaching enemy.

According to Khairul, razor-encrusted barbed wires, unlike the regular ones, are used to scare off the enemy on the battlefield and are also installed on prison walls as a warning to prisoners plotting to escape.

"The police shouldn't have used the razored barbed wire. It is not to be used in public places," he told today's session of the public inquiry into the electoral reform rally conducted by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

[More to follow]