SUHAKAM Report of Public Inquiry into the Incidents During and After the Public Assembly of 28 April 2012 Chapter 4 REPORT ON THE SITE VISITS BY THE PANEL OF INQUIRY 4.1 The Panel of Inquiry conducted two site visits, one to Dataran Merdeka and the surrounding areas where the assembly took place and the other to the Kompleks Pasukan Simpanan Persekutuan Polis DiRaja Malaysia, Cheras. On both visits, the Panel was accompanied by the Secretariat of the Inquiry, observers from PDRM, BERSIH 2.0 and the Bar Council as well as representatives from the media. Site Visit to Dataran Merdeka and Its Vicinity 4.2 On 21 September 2012, the Panel visited Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Tun Perak, the Royal Selangor Club, Jalan Raja Laut, Masjid Jamek LRT Station, the areas around Masjid India, Citin Hotel and the DBKL Building. The purpose of the visit was to obtain a better picture of the main areas where the crowd had assembled during the rally and where the alleged acts of infringement of human rights had occurred such as Dataran Merdeka, Citin Hotel, DBKL Building and the Masjid Jamek LRT Station; and to determine the availability of pathways, corridors or exit routes for participants to disperse. The three-hour visit also allowed the Panel to have better understanding of the events that day by seeking clarifications and further explanation from the police officers and witnesses who were present. 4.3 The police officers described to the Panel the various locations where the participants assembled, the position of the barricades, where the police were stationed, and the holding area in front of the Royal Selangor Club. One of the journalist witnesses related to the Panel the chronology of the incidents that happened to him. The visit ended around 12 noon. Site Visit at Kompleks Pasukan Simpanan Persekutuan Polis Diraja Malaysia Cheras 4.4 On 16 October 2012, the Panel of Inquiry visited Kompleks Pasukan Simpanan Persekutuan Polis DiRaja Malaysia, Cheras from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. The purpose of the visit was to watch a demonstration of the firing of tear gas including the position or angle at which the tear gas is usually fired; to find out more about the procedures and chain of commands during a public assembly; and to conduct an inspection of the barbed wires, boot prints, firearms and shell used during the 41