(An eye-witness account by one of the participants)

There was a protest action at the M'sian embassy in the Hague between 12.30 to 2.30pm this afternoon.

About 65 to 75 ISS participants and staff members marched from the ISS at Kortenaerkade to join exiled Filipino revolutionaries and reprentatives from Dutch organisations (Xmin Y & Both Ends) at Rustenburgstraat, where the M'sian embassy is located. It was probably the most international setting Rustenburgstraat ever saw: there were ISS participants from Albania and Italy to Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana and the Sudan as well as from Ethiopia to Japan, China, the Phillipines and Indonesia; from Uzbekistan and Palestine to India and Nepal and from the USA to South Africa. The atmosphere was festive, nay electric, as speeches were delivered on M'sian people's right to free speech, association and right to organisation by people who knew Tian. Others called attention to his support for just causes around the world. This is the first big demonstration by the ISS community in over a decade. The last one was in the 1980s, against Apartheid South Africa.

There was constant chanting of "Free Tian Now!" "Free All Political Prisoners Now! "Down with the ISA!" Placards with similar slogans were also displayed prominently. Songs (such as" We Shall Overcome") were also sung.

Ambassador Ganapati refused to come out, but a minor functionary came to the gate to receive a protest letter signed by many ISS students and staff members.

Several camera persons were clicking away from every window of the embassy, hoping to capture a stray cat of a M'sian in film, so that they could be forwarded to the SB in KL. Some embassy staf members also came to the front door to photograph possible M'sians in the crowd so that evidence could be produced for appropriate actions under the ISA.

The police arrived rather late, shortly before the crowd dispersed.