Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email As reported in Malaysiakini, Uthayakumar had refused to attend a rehabilitation programme organised by the police special branch on July 10. According to Waytha, Uthaya refused under the provisos of Article 95 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners which states that prisoners without charge are not subject to rehabilitation.
Uthayakumar’s detention is in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 of which Malaysia is a signatory.
(It) specifically provides that there shall be no detention without trial, provides the right to personal liberty and fair trial and that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
According to Hindraf’s lawyer, N Surendran:
Any attempt to compel him (Uthayakumar) would be illegal, unlawful and in breach of all international laws.
If they dare to force him, we will be forced to take the matter to court.
Asked if Uthayakumar’s refusal would impede the efforts to secure his release, Surendran said the former, who is a lawyer himself, was
willing to face the repercussions.
Our conditions are that he must be released unconditionally which means that he must not be obligated to attend any rehabilitation or anything of the sort.
Obviously, this means a longer stay in ISA. But I wonder why news that the other four rejected such rehabilitation did not appear. Were they not subjected to these programmes or did they agree to attend it (bearing in mind that Uthaya is the only one without a wife and kids)?
got a fwd mail , not sure of the origin but a nice and ‘punch’ one ……
Pasting just part of it …..
FW:Hindraf 5, I Am Very Sorry…
To P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabathirau, T. Vasanthakumar and your families,
I am sorry that I am part of a majority of Malaysian Indians who have shown our ingratitude to your sacrifices. I am sorry that you have lost almost everything in your struggles for our nandri-katta community. You have lost your freedom. Some of you have lost your health. Your children have lost their beloved fathers. Your wives have lost their husbands. Your parents have lost their sons. Your families have lost their income. Some of you have even lost your homes.
For what I ask you?
You stood up against the atrocities committed against Malaysian Indians – discriminations against our temples and religion, our youths murdered in police custody, our dead who are snatched from families, the eviction of our people from greedy estates…You brought 30 000 of the community together on November 25 2007 in a massive show of unity and dignity. We gained some respect that day. For many of us, like myself, it was the first day we felt proud to call ourselves Malaysian Indians.
Yet, I have noticed how the fire has dwindled into a blurry flame since your unlawful detention under ISA. All because the government had used threats, intimidation and lies to label you as terrorists, and your supporters as extremists. Hindraf is nothing but a shadow of what it used to be under your leaderships and your strength of characters. The fierce shouts of “Makkal Sakthi” is nothing but a slogan nowadays.
Yesterday, M. Saravanan of MIC walked out of an annual dinner, because he was not given a seat at the table of his soon-to-be-forgotten president. His supporters staged a walk out. Shish!! This is what we are left with…so called Indian advocates who care more for power and hierarchy then the issues facing the community. Meanwhile, Badawi has suddenly announced some “good news” for Tamil Schools; and MIC is taking the credit, as if it was their very own struggles that turned the deaf Badawi around…as if the 30000 people brought together by you onto the streets of Kuala Lumpur had no impact on the sudden show of “interest” by the government for the Indians.
Many have used your sacrifices to gain some benefits for themselves. MIC is using your initiatives to gain some leverage with the government. The Pakatan Rakyat party has used the awareness your brought to the Indian community to gain the votes of the community, thus propelling many of their candidates into Parliament. Indian bloggers have used your struggles to bring to light issues which were hidden beforehand, and some of us have gained some popularity. Meanwhile, many Indians on the streets of Malaysia have used your name, Hindraf, to stick their chest out, and lift their heads proudly, for the first time.