Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

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Hindraf 5 ISA detainees hunger strike

January 10th, 2008
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Hindraf 5 to go on hunger strike
http://malaysiakini.com/news/76905
Soon Li Tsin | Jan 10, 08 2:09pm

The five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) will go on a hunger strike beginning Jan 20. 

P Uthayakumar, R Kenghadharan, M Manoharan, V Ganabathirau and T Vasanthakumar are currently being held at the Kamunting detention centre in Perak.

Their lawyer M Kulasegaran said today the hunger strike is to protest against their unlawful detention without trial.

The strike, which will last for five days, will commence at 7.30am on Jan 20 and end at 7.00pm on Jan 25.

According to Kulasegaran, the five are also urging Malaysians to join them in the protest fast.

“They strongly urged Malaysians especially the Indian community to join them in the fast to protest the unlawful detention without just cause and fair trial which is a serious violation of fundamental human liberties.

“The five leaders informed me that they totally reject the reasons given to detain them as simplistic, frivolous and vexatious,” he said.

‘Not too bad’

On their condition, Kulasegaran said the five are doing ‘not too bad’ but Kenghadharan – who is a vegetarian – is having trouble with the food being provided.

This is not the first hunger strike held over their arbitrary arrest. Late last year, Singaporean artist Seelan Palay, 23, consumed only water for five days – one day for each detained member – outside the Malaysian High Commission.

The Hindraf leaders gained fame when they organised a protest that saw 30,000 people hit the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.

This was followed by the movement’s leaders and supporters being charged for a slew of offences including sedition, causing mischief and attending an illegal assembly.

On Dec 13 last year, the five leaders were arrested under the ISA – a move anticipated by many after the government linked the movement to overseas terrorist groups.

Meanwhile, the alleged terrorism charges against the five will be heard by the ISA advisory board on Jan 14 at the detention centre.

“The advisory board will conduct a hearing on the allegation (of terrorism activities) against them. It’s a closed door hearing but the five will be represented by their lawyers,” Kulasegaran added.

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hindraf donors questioned

January 9th, 2008
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I suppose since crime rates are sky high in 2007, due to inclusion of “new categories”, the police are busy solving these kind of “dangerous” life-threatening crimes.

I’m confused with the account name. Since HINDRAf is established as unregistered with ROS and the account is under a company, HINDRAF ENTERPRISE, it would be very hard to tie the donors to the funding of so called “terrorist” activities, which is without proof anyway, if going by Samy Vellu’s statement. Most donor can simply said that someone asked for donation to bail out detainees or it was business transaction or whatever reason. However, since it is being investigated by CCD, then the issue is solicitation of funds without approval. Thus, the donors can claim ignorance about approval and all. I mean, most Malaysians are generous and guilable enough to part with their money, so any flimsy reason will do. Which leads back to the owner’s of the account and company. They should be the ultimate target. Perhaps there’s another round of arrest in order.

Any donor would like to share their experience of being called by the police? Just drop me an email.

Cops go after Hindraf donors
http://malaysiakini.com/news/76880
Soon Li Tsin | Jan 9, 08 5:23pm
If you have made a donation to the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement, the police may be knocking on your door soon.

The Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) has sent letters to individuals summoning them to give statements at the Bukit Aman police headquarters over a possible offence of funding a terrorist organisation.

The letter stated that the police are investigating this offence under Section 130N of the Penal Code – the funding of terrorist activities.

If found guilty, the person can be punished with death (if the terrorist act results in death), imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but not exceeding 30 years and a fine.

“The police believe that you can provide a statement about funds given to Hindraf Enterprise,” read the letter signed by investigating officer ASP Rozeni Ismail.

A donor who received the letter and was quizzed by the police recently said references were made to a RHB bank account registered under the name ‘Hindraf Enterprise’.

The donor, who requested anonymity, said the police recorded statement in relation to some other offence – non-terrorism related – committed by the company.

“It is odd that the matter is being dealt by the Commercial Crimes Department because during questioning, they made no reference to the terrorist offences. They said the company could be charged for impropriety in soliciting donations and funds.

“It is also very alarming that the banks can give information about their clients and their transactions to the police without the need for a court order.”

Under the Section 16A of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958, banks are permitted to convey any information in relation to any offences to the police or affected financial institutions.

Many being summoned

However, the donor pointed out that the recording of the statement took only 30 minutes and the police were pleasant throughout the period.

“I don’t think I am the only one. When I asked if there were others, the officer said there were many other people being summoned,” the donor added.

Hindraf gained fame when it organised a protest that saw 30,000 people hit the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.

This was followed by the movement’s leaders and supporters being charged for a slew of offences including sedition, causing mischief and attending an illegal assembly.

On Dec 8, 2007, the Companies Commission of Malaysia revoked the registration of Hindraf Enterprise for using the company for unlawful purposes and purposes prejudicial to national security and public order.

The company at that time had set up a bank account for the public to donate money to the cause and for those incarcerated in need of bail money.

At the height of enforcement action, enigmatic Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar with R Kenghadharan, M Manoharan, V Ganabathirau and T Vasanthakumar were arrested under the Internal Security Act on Dec 13 last year.

They have been detained for two years without trial.

CCID director ACP Mohd Kamarudin Md Din was unavailable to comment on this investigation when contacted.

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Waythamoorthy message on rose presentation 8/1/08

January 9th, 2008
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: waytha moorthy <waytha@>
Date: Jan 9, 2008 9:24 AM
Subject: RE: HINDRAF'S STRUGGLE CONTINUES WITH ROSES
To: 

Dear HINDRAF Supporters,

You may all have heard about the "War of Roses" declared by HINDRAF
yesterday. Now the Government would understand that I have not accepted
defeat and HINDRAF'S struggle would continue.

We would continue to peacefully fight for the release our 5 Leaders and
demand that the Government meet our 18 demands submitted to the Prime
Minister in July 2007.

I promise you that 16th Feb 2007 would be an eye opener to the Government
that Indians will never give up their struggle. We have remained silent for
far too long. The Government finds it difficult to digest the fact that
Indians have found strength to voice out their grievances.

So please send the message to all your friends by whatever means possible.
We do not have the support of the media so we have to be independent and
find our own way to spread the news. SMS are powerful tool at this time and
age.

If you have friends overseas I suggest you ask them to organize one at their
respective embassies and consulate offices as well. Never mind if it falls
on Saturday. They can write to the embassy/consulate office to accept on a
Saturday. They will oblige. After all the Roses are meant for the PM  How
can they disrespect the PM?

Kindly also take note that as policewatchmalaysia website is not available
currently you could log on to
*www.hindraf.co.uk*<http://www.hindraf.co.uk/>to find out latest news
on Malaysia.

Thank you.

Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

HINDRAF

*waytha@* 

8.1.08

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samy says indian workers banned then say no

January 8th, 2008
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Something funny went on now. News started to trickle in that all visa for foreigner workers from India and Bangladesh (including professionals) were suspended since end of last year, Dec 2007. Read below articles from Reuters ( 6.20pm) and BBC. However, a newer article on Reuters at 7.05pm says that no such thing happened. Looks like Samy Vellu made a big blunder. Telling the indians that their workers are not wanted, in their own country!

Earlier, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) issued a statement expressing shock that permit for temple priests, sculptors, and musicians will not be removed by the govt. Read about it at:

http://poobalan.com/blog/religion/2008/01/08/no-more-work-permit-renewal-for-religious-workers/

Malaysia denies ban on India, Bangladesh workers

Tue Jan 8, 2008 7:05pm IST
source
 

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A Malaysian minister denied on Tuesday that his governmenthad suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh.

"I just spoke to my prime minister … There is no truth in the statement released by Reuters … It's not true means everything is status quo," Works Minister S. Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian member of the cabinet, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi.

"Indian workers are already there. When it is needed, they are welcome."

Earlier, a Malaysian Home Ministry official told Reuters that the cabinet had decided about two weeks ago to freeze the intake of workers from India and Bangladesh. Other ministry officials had then confirmed the ban but gave no reason.

About an hour before his denial, Vellu had said the country had enough foreign workers.

"The government decided it is enough and we don't want to recruit any more because we have enough workers," he told Reuters at the conference. "Is it wrong?"

The minister's press secretary later said those comments should be "disregarded", saying they were made before the minister had adequate information.

Relations between India and Malaysia have been hurt by recent allegations of discrimination against the ethnic Indian community in this Southeast Asian country.

Ethnic Indians staged a mass anti-government protest in November, alleging that the authorities had sidelined the community under an affirmative action policy that favours the majority ethnic Malays.

From Reuters: Malaysia bans intake of India, Bangladesh workers

Tue Jan 8, 2008 6:20pm IST
 

Source

By Jalil Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh, the government said on Tuesday, in a move one official said could be linked to a recent uproar about Malaysia's treatment of its ethnic Indians.

The ban, which took effect on Dec. 31, 2007, could further strain India-Malaysian relations after some Indian politicians sympathised with ethnic Indians who complained they had been marginalised by the Malay-majority government.

"The cabinet decided about two weeks ago to freeze the intake of workers from India and Bangladesh," a Home Ministry official told Reuters.

"Those already in the country will not have their work permits renewed," he said. "The ruling applies to all workers, including expatriates."

The news came as Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony ended a three-day visit aimed at boosting defence ties.

Other ministry officials confirmed the ban but gave no reason. The government had said in October it was trying to determine exactly how many foreign workers the country needed.

"Frankly speaking, we have got enough workers," Works Minister S. Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian minister in the cabinet, said on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi.

"The government decided it is enough and we don't want to recruit any more because we have enough workers. Is it wrong?

Malaysia also decided on Tuesday to ban foreign workers at all major airports in the country, state news agency Bernama reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib said the ban must be complied with as soon as possible, although the government realised that companies carrying out various works at the airports had to make some adjustments.

"We will issue rulings to Malaysia Airports Bhd to ensure that the workers are Malaysian citizens," he said.

Latest figures up to last Sept. 30 show Malaysia was home to about 2.2 million legal foreign workers, with 35 percent employed in factories and 17 percent in plantations.

Indonesians made up the highest number at around 60 percent, followed by Nepalese (11 percent), Bangladeshis (9 percent) and Indians (7 percent), government data showed.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was due to visit Malaysia on Friday, seeking to smooth relations between the two neighbours following disputes over cultural theft and ill-treatment of migrant workers.

"DRASTIC STEP"

Indians are mainly employed in restaurants and in the construction, information technology and financial services industries.

The Indian government said it had no immediate comment but some Indian professionals said they were upset.

"They (the Malaysian government) should not take such drastic steps. They should recognise the contribution made by Indian workers and professionals in the economic growth of the country," said one Indian professional who declined to be named.

A Malaysian inter-faith group criticised the ban, which it said would hit the intake of foreign priests and temple workers.

"This sudden decision without any dialogue or consultation with us is unprecedented," said A. Vaithilingam, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

Relations between India and Malaysia have been hurt by recent allegations of discrimination against the ethnic Indian community in this Southeast Asian country.

Ethnic Indians held a mass anti-government protest in November, alleging that the authorities had sidelined the community under an affirmative action policy that favours the majority ethnic Malays.

Some Indian politicians, including Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, voiced concern for the ethnic Indians.

Around 7 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people are ethnic Indians, whose forefathers were brought over as labourers by British colonial rulers.

From BBC:

Malaysia bans Indian recruitment


Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India amid rising domestic tensions.
source

A government official said the decision might be linked to the actions of a group that led protests complaining of discrimination against ethnic Indians.

But the official did not say why the decision had been made, nor how long the restrictions would last.

The ban will affect thousands of manual labourers as well as professionals, including religious workers.

There are currently about 140,000 legal workers from India in Malaysia.

"The government decided it is enough, and we don't want to recruit any more," Malaysian Works Minister S Samy Vellu told Reuters new agency, while at a conference in Delhi.

The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur told the Associated Press it had contacted the relevant authorities but did not give any further details.

'Unprecedented'

The move to freeze visas for all workers from the two countries was taken three weeks ago, the government said.

But Tuesday's announcement took many people by surprise.

A Vaithilingam, president of a Malaysian inter-faith group, said that the decision came without dialogue and was "unprecedented".


The BBC's correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, said it was a significant diplomatic move by the Malaysia government.

A Home Ministry official told the BBC that the decision "may be linked to Hindraf", the Hindu activists group which organised recent rallies by Malaysian ethnic Indians.

Thousands of ethnic Indians took to the streets late last year in protest against perceived social and economic discrimination by the Malay-Muslim majority.

The announcement came on the final day of a visit to Malaysia by Indian Defence Minister AK Antony.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Mr Antony "did not raise the issue of ethnic Indians in Malaysia," reported the French news agency AFP.

An unnamed Indian professional told Reuters that the Malaysian government should not have taken such a drastic step.

"They should recognise the contribution made by Indian workers and professionals in the economic growth of the country," he said.

Our correspondent said that tensions are high with a general election expected to take place early this year.

Many people fear a repeat of the racial violence which has broken out in the past.

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samy vellu at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas India

January 8th, 2008
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The MIC, he said, had submitted several memoranda to the Government on the issues even before the Hindraf rally. “We don’t go to the streets to demonstrate. They (Hindraf) submitted a one-page memorandum, alleging that the Indians were marginalised, without giving any specifics,” he said.

What memoranda and what is the status? Or is it OSA protected?

Samy Vellu said the Government had set up a committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to look into the problems of the Indians.

What committee is that? Surely it has a name right? Funny enough there was no mention of any committee headed by DPM Najib specially for Indians. Or did I miss anything?

Indian media 'grills' Samy Vellu

source

By A. LETCHUMANAN

NEW DELHI: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was “grilled” by the Indian media over allegations that Malaysian Indians were marginalised. 

While he was speaking to the Malaysian media, the local press as well as foreign media butted in and raised questions on the Nov 25 illegal rally by Hindraf and issues such as discrimination and marginalisation of Indians. Samy Vellu, who is also the Works Minister, patiently replied to the questions for more than 30 minutes. 

Later, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2008, he said there was no demonstration or violence in the country as claimed by certain quarters. 

“It was a gathering by a group calling itself Hindraf. It is not a registered body or a union,” he said. He said the organiser of Hindraf was not in the country while the others were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). 

Samy Vellu reiterated that the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had looked after the interests of the Indian community. 

The MIC, he said, had submitted several memoranda to the Government on the issues even before the Hindraf rally. “We don’t go to the streets to demonstrate. They (Hindraf) submitted a one-page memorandum, alleging that the Indians were marginalised, without giving any specifics,” he said. 

Samy Vellu said the Government had set up a committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to look into the problems of the Indians. “They (the Government) are giving more opportunities for Indians in civil sector employment, more funding for small businesses and other sectors,” he said. 

He also said a demonstration by 10,000 people did not mean the country faced an unrest. “Unrest means the whole community getting together and causing problems. This is not happening there,” he said, adding that the majority of the Indians were peace-loving and supported the Government. 

MIC also distributed copies of a booklet entitled Malaysian Indians — Then & Now, outlining the history and development of the community in the last 140 years to the 1,500 delegates of the conference as well as the Indian media. The colourful 20-page booklet also contains the Indian community’s representation in the government and civil service, education, Tamil schools, tertiary education and religion.

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