Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email An old news, but still worth mentioning:
The now-banned Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraf) and Penan activists of the Ulu Baram area in Sarawak have won Suaram’s 2008 Human Rights Award.
The annual award, presented since 1999, was given to the two rights groups for their unique achievements in highlighting concerns of their communities.
Civil society movement Hindraf was recognised for being able to “captivate, mobilise and empower vast numbers of Malaysians of Indian origin” within a short period of its existence, said Xavier.
She said the judges were “impressed by the way Hindraf contextualised the current situation by bringing in colonial history and demonstrating how, even after 50 years of Merdeka (independence), the Indian community has continued to be marginalised and disenfranchised”.
“The success of Hindraf can perhaps be seen in the fear it has caused the government, to the extent that it detained five of its leaders under the ISA and outlawed the organisation.”
Accepting the award, the movement’s national coordinator RS Thanenthiran (left) said it was an honour for all marginalised communities and noted that the struggle has been recognised for the first time.
“This shows that the banning of Hindraf does not make any sense because the spirit and the struggle are continuing. We the civil society… who are all fighting for human rights have shown that a lot of changes have to be made to the system,” he said.
“You (the government) cannot control the people with ISA… they are now bolder and braver to tell the government that it is violating human rights.”
The award comprises a trophy, a certificate and prize money of RM1,000.
