Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email | Hindraf leaders apply to overturn restriction order http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75485 |
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Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) today filed an application for revision with the High Court to invalidate the restriction order issued on Nov 22 prohibiting them from handing over a memorandum to the British High Commission. Seven days ago, the Magistrate's Court had, upon the application made by Cheras police chief Ahmad Amir Mohd Hashim, issued a seven-day restraining order that prohibits Hindraf leaders from handing over a memorandum to the British High Commission. However, the restraining order did not deter Hindraf members and some 30,000 protesters from gathering at the British High Commission last Sunday to support a US$4 trillion class-action suit against the British government for bringing the Indians as "slaves" to this country. M Manoharan, one of Hindraf's lawyer said the appeal made to the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court was to ask for a hearing and to argue that the restraining order issued was done with ill-intentions and therefore should be invalidated. Asked why Hindraf lawyers were still pursuing the matter as the order expired today, Hindraf legal advisor P Uthayakumar said the appeal was done as a matter of principle, adding that such an order is deemed to be an infringement of human rights. Other arguments to invalidate the restraining order include:
IGP's statement legitimises rally Meanwhile, Hindraf counsel Gobind Singh Deo when met at the court lobby said that a statement made by inspector-general of police Musa Hassan today clearly showed that the restraining order was unnecessary. According to a New Straits Times report, Musa was quoted as saying that the police were ready to negotiate with Hindraf leaders at the Sunday rally and allowed them to proceed with handing over the memorandum but could not do so as no Hindraf leaders were sighted. The statement made by Musa was made in the context of government officials' allegations that the rally was not really intended to express the grievances of the Indian community but merely served as a means to fulfil the ulterior motives of Hindraf leaders. "If Musa said he would negotiate with Hindraf leaders, what does that say? To me, it means that Musa had recognised the rights of the protesters to be there," Gobind reasoned.. Following Sunday's rally, more than 100 people were arrested and charged yesterday for illegal assembly though many have been released on bail. Government leaders had accused the rally as being racially motivated but the organisers had argued that the rally was a reflection of the marginalisation suffered by the Indian community. |
