Mar 31 2008
GMI condemns Samy
‘Two-faced’ Samy slammed on HIndraf 5
http://malaysiakini.com/news/80655
Mar 31, 08 7:25pm
S Samy Vellu’s call for the release of the Hindraf 5 from Internal Security Act (ISA) detention is a political ploy by the MIC president, alleged the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) today.
“The demand made by the former works minister is dishonest and is apparently politically motivated,” said GMI president, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (right) in a statement. He said the timing of Samy’s call for the release of the five was suspect as the MIC boss had never made such calls prior to the general election on March 8.
In a dramatic move, Samy, at an event at the party’s headquarters yesterday, publicly called for the release of the Hindraf ISA detainees as he said ‘there were no longer reason to detain them’. The veteran politician said he would meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi soon to discuss this matter. He also urged Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy - who is currently in London in self-exile - to return to Malaysia, saying he latter was not a political refugee.
Samy’s call came in as a shock to many as he was among the government and BN leaders who had vociferously criticised the Hindraf movement prior to the arrests of its key leaders on Dec 13.
Meanwhile the wife of ISA detainee and Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M Manoharan today denied she had sought help from Samy Vellu for the release of her husband. “I didn’t go and see Samy Vellu,” S Pushpaneela was reported by Star Online as saying. Samy Vellu had on Sunday claimed that Pushpaneela had met him to discuss the matter.
Release all detainees
Hindraf has been credited for being partly responsible for the worst ever performance by the MIC in a general election following the March 8 polls. Samy Vellu lost at his parliamentary constituency in Sungai Siput while the rest of the party’s top leadership fared no better, losing in all their respective constituencies they had contested.
Syed Ibrahim said Samy’s call for the release of the Hindraf 5 was a move necessary for him to regain the trust of the Indian community which saw Hindraf as a voice for their struggle against increasing marginalisation by the government. “If he is really sincere about justice, why does he not call for the release of all 70 ISA detainees, all of which have been denied their basic right to a fair trial,” questioned Syed Ibrahim.
He said GMI would continue to insist that the government release all the 70 ISA detainees being held and not just the Hindraf 5 as the detention of all the 70 was unjust and a violation of their human rights.
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