Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

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MIC wooing Hindraf

July 29th, 2008
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Well, the word “woo” reminds me of marriage. And surely we remember Samy Vellu’s statement on MIC and Indian community are like husband and wife, which he made before elections. After that, the divorce happened.

Now, MIC wants to get married again 🙂 To Hindraf, no less.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the party had been holding discussions with Hindraf youth leaders in Kedah, Perak and Selangor, which he said went well. He said the meetings went well as the Hindraf leaders realised that the MIC was also fighting to upgrade the living standards of the Indian community.

“Whatever happened in the past, especially in the March polls, is history. We must work together for the betterment of the community,” he said, claiming that some of the Hindraf leaders also regretted their decision to support the opposition.

However, the overtures were rejected outright by the intended bride.

Hindraf national event co-ordinator Kannan Ramasamy, when contacted, said he was baffled by Samy Velu’s claims as none of the movement’s 10 coordinators had met any MIC leaders.

“Hindraf does not have a membership roll. It is led by P. Waythamoorthy who is assisted by 10 coordinators and as far as I know, none of us had met anyone from the MIC,” added Kannan.

Both Thanenthiran and Kannan advised Samy Vellu to back off and concentrate on rebuilding the MIC.

Rebutting Samy’s claims that some Hindraf leaders also regretted their decision to support the opposition, Kannan said Hindraf has never regretted convincing the Indians to vote for the opposition in the 12th general election as the move had brought much improvement for the community in some parts of the country. “We have noted that a lot of improvement has taken place for Indians in the five states led by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition since the election,” he said.

Hindraf national coordinator R.S Thanenthiran concurred and added the best thing that happened from supporting the opposition was the awareness created that Indians mattered in the country. “For the first time ever, it has been made known to the minority Indians that they had the power to bring changes through the ballot box,” he added.

So, will the wedding take place?

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Deepavali the Festival of Lights to be dimmer?

July 29th, 2008
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HINDRAF has called upon its supporters to celebrate Deepavali in a quite form – more to meditation and prayers, instead of joyous party mode. This is to show sign of respect and kinship with the 5 detained HINDRAF leaders.

I guess that means no open houses and spending money on food for neighbors, friends, colleagues etc. Well, usually no problem for me since my Deepavali is always a quiet affair, but this time planning for open house cum house warming function. Will see how it goes. I doubt all those Indian businesses in little Indias will be happy to hear about this 🙂

Would the community follow this suggestion, or go about their daily business during Deepavali?

Malaysiakini also picked up this news. Below is the press statement from Waytha (received via email):

26 TH JULY 2008
HINDRAF is calling upon all its supporters to celebrate Deepavali this year in quiet penance, meditation and prayers with their family and friends without the usual festive celebration in a symbolic silent protest in favour of our 5 HINDRAF brothers who are unjustly detained for championing equal rights, equal opportunity and freedom of speech and religion.

Deepavali, itself although has many versions, it is primarily celebrated when the good triumphs over the evil. The most popular version is when Narakasura, the evil and unjust ruler of Pradyoshapuram was killed by Krishna’s wife – Satyabhama.
The death of Narakasura was rejoiced by the celebration of Deepavali that signifies advent of joy, happiness and spiritual enhancement. It is celebrated as festival of lights as light depict good over darkness depicted as evil.

For the Malaysian Indian society, the darkness still prevails as basic human rights such as equal rights, equal opportunity and freedom of speech and religion is still lacking for them. HINDRAF had brought forward many issues on these aspects but it has always been side tracked and ignored for political issues and self serving agenda. HINDRAF believes that the Malaysian Indians are still in darkness in a country that we call our own although all efforts have been made to make this Government understand.

In Malaysia, the celebration of Deepavali by the Malaysian Indian does not signify the actual significance of its occasion as Malaysian Indians are still in darkness as far as their freedom and rights are forever compromised.
HINDRAF urges it’s supporters to seek the inner light, a self-luminous light of “self” that resides in their heart and soul in observing Deepavali in quite penance, meditation and prayers that will eventually shed the light of “Freedom” for our society and make this Government realise how their draconian ISA laws is opposed by the entire community.

HINDRAF has always been apolitical and will always be so as our intention is solely to defend and protect the well being of Malaysian Indians who are continuously being subjected to systematic marginalization and discrimination in a country that they call it their own. We have never asked for more than what is rightfully deserved as a Malaysian citizen respecting human rights and its truthness.

Waytha Moorthy
Hindraf- Chairman
Currently in London

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Uthaya rejects rehabilitation

July 22nd, 2008
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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)?

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fight during forum on PHEB sign of problem

July 22nd, 2008
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The following appeared in Malaysiakini:

A public forum to discuss the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) on Saturday night was marred by not one but two separate incidents.A speaker at the forum was allegedly punched by an irate ex-MIC politician after the event in Butterworth had ended. Last night, a police report was lodged in Jalan Patani police state alleging R Arunasalam of assaulting retired civil servant, K Balakrishnan, 62. The incident allegedly happened at the Sri Mariamman Hall when Balakrishnan was talking with a few friends after the forum.

The former MIC politician, who did not attend the forum, had stormed into the hall at about 11pm and hit Balakrishnan twice at the back of his neck, and accused the forum speaker of criticising him in his speech.

According to witnesses, Balakrishnan, a diabetic patient and currently undergoing dialysis treatment for kidney failure, nearly fainted from the assault. The furious MIC politician, who had to be escorted out from the hall, allegedly hurled verbal abuses against Balakrishnan before leaving.

It is learnt that the politician, a staunch supporter of former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam, has been short-listed for appointment as a chairperson in one of the five Hindu temples under the jurisdiction of PHEB, a statutory board of trustees.

Earlier, Balakrishnan had raised his reservations over the purported appointment, and criticised the DAP-dominated PHEB for attempting to appoint the politician on grounds that “he had on numerous previous occasions called for the government to abolish the board”.

Police told Malaysiakini that the case would be investigated immediately for it involved a ‘VIP’.

The United Hindu Religious Council and Penang Makkal Sakti Welfare Association (Pemaswa) jointly organise the forum, which was officiated by Padang Serai member of parliament N Gobalakrishnan.

Earlier, during the forum’s question-and-answer session, a youth criticised the forum as irrelevant and lambasted Pemaswa leadership of “misusing and abusing” the spirit of Makkal Sakti (people’s power), a popular tagline for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Identifying himself only as Satish from Hindraf, the youth in his early 20s, hurled abuses at the organisers and abruptly demanded a ‘vote of no-confidence’ on the forum’s organisers. He also called on about 200 people at the forum to stage a walkout, but no one heeded him as he left the hall.

When contacted, Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran denied that the youth was a Hindraf supporter and said the movement would never allow its supporters to behave in such a manner at a public forum. “Hindraf condemned such unruly behaviour,” he told Malaysiakini.

Organisers later told Malaysiakini the youth was ‘an agent’ deliberately sent to cause disruptions to the forum, and criticised the tactic as a “shameful cowardice act ala MIC.”

Several PHEB commissioners and DAP assemblypersons are said to have used unethical methods to halt the forum since Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, a Bagan MP, have declined the invitation to officiate it. Even though Lim has earlier indicated his desire to attend the forum, he spurned the offer citing an overload of work. Similarly Bagan Jermal state assemblyperson Lim Hock Seng also declined when he was invited instead. Both politicians are said to be influenced by certain quarters not to go to the forum.

This has apparently infuriated many Bagan’s Indian constituents, who have backed the DAP in the recent general election.

The forum organisers, an influential group among the Indian community in Penang mainland, warned that this controversy would be a major problem for the DAP-led state government if left unresolved.

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HINDRAF wants to meet PM

July 17th, 2008
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This is the second attempt by HINDRAF, the first attempt made after the November 25 rally. It goes without saying that their attempt failed. I doubt it will succeed this time as well. What more with Waytha facing ISA if he returns and Uthaya already in ISA detention.The call was made by Waythamoorthy via an press statement. According to him, Badawi should have a dialogue with leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) if he is sincere in his efforts to improve the lives of the Indian community in the country. The dialogue should be a closed-door affair and on a one-to-one basis between Abdullah and,
either himself or detained Hindraf legal adviser, P Uthayakumar. He told Malaysiakini via telephone that:

If the prime minister and his government are sincere and honest in wanting to resolve all outstanding issues on the political and socio-economic status of Malaysian Indians, I am prepared to return for the dialogue session. I am prepared to return to Malaysia to have a dialogue with the prime minister. But only the prime minister and not any other political leader.

However, Waythamoorthy is convinced that Abdullah would detain him under the Internal Security Act if he returned to attend the dialogue. (that goes without saying!)

Waythamoorthy called for the dialogue with Abdullah because the prime minister’s office was the “rightful authority” in the country to resolve the problems facing the Indians.

He also said that HINDRAF will focus on its 18 point memorandum during the discussion.

Since the cabinet committee has been created, I doubt the government will even consider HINDRAF’s proposal. And nothing will happen without MIC being involved as its the BN spirit not to sideline its coalition members.

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