On the eve of the sitting of the Perak State Assembly, we travel back in time to 7^th May 2009 to catch a few glimpses of the previous sitting where the executive had laid siege to the legislature.

Approaching the Perak State Building, one is confronted by barbed wires and FRU trucks equipped with water cannons. These bar access to the monument that should represent democracy in the Silver state, and constitute a bold visual of democracy being taken hostage.

The police seemed to be having a field day, charging at and arresting people from all walks of life.

And the reasons for the arrests are baffling for there is neither logic nor structure to them, and thus they can only be viewed as arbitrary orders given and actions taken.

As business premises were forced to shut down by the men in blue, democracy too was forced into submission and was shut down on that day.

However, the fact that people were there, despite threats of arrests and control measures by the police , only goes to show that there is still hope, however tiny.

And this hope is worth preserving...

This hope cannot be taken away...

This hope is worth fighting for....

Pictures - Nandakumar Haridas