Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

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singaporean hunger strike to support Hindraf 5

December 31st, 2007
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Singaporean on 5-day hunger strike to support Hindraf 5
Dec 31, 07 12:24pm
A Singaporean artist said today he had begun a hunger strike to seek the release of Malaysian Hindu rights activists detained under a tough security law.
"At 9am, I began (the hunger strike)," 23-year-old Seelan Palay said from near the front gate of the Malaysian High Commission.
Palay said he would drink water but not eat during the hunger strike, which will last five days – one day for each detained member from Malaysia's Hindu Rights Action Force Hindraf.
The five are being held under Malaysia's Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
"I'll sleep on the ground on a straw mat," Palay said, adding he was wearing a sign around his neck that read: "Give them fair trial."
The activists were detained after they enraged the government in November by mounting a mass rally alleging discrimination against Indians in Malaysia, where the majority are ethnic Malay Muslims.
Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the street protest by at least 30,000 people. Palay said he attended that rally.

Free them or charge them in court

In a statement released before the hunger strike, Palay called for global pressure on the Malaysian government to free the five and to prove allegations against them in open court.

"In line with the greater focus on human rights in Asean today … we surely cannot turn a blind eye to this matter," his statement said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations last month signed a charter calling for the establishment of a regional human rights body.
Singapore currently chairs the 10-member Asean.

 

 

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Pandithan to rally support for BN

December 31st, 2007
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Pandithan to rally support for Barisan in the general election
By : Jennifer Gomez

 

KUALA LUMPUR:

Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president Tan Sri M.G Pandithan will go from state to state to rally support for the Barisan Nasional in preparation for the general election.

He announced this at the party’s central working committee meeting yesterday attended by more than 50 members.

Looking frail and speaking slowly, Pandithan said he was confident of reaching out to the grassroots and exposing the bad intentions of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

“Most of our over 380,000 members belong to the grassroots and are in the lower income group. And from the feedback I get from our leaders, none of our members are aligned with Hindraf. We want to tell them not to fall for the opposition's tactics and to give BN their 100 per cent backing,” he added.

Pandithan said he would concentrate on certain constituencies where some youths had been taken up by Hindraf’s propoganda.
“What we saw at the recent rally was a handful of young people. Let’s not forget the silent majority that do not condone such acts,” he said.

He urged Indians to detest Hindraf for injecting religion into its cause just as Pas was disliked for its extremist ways.

“Religion should not be used for political or commercial gain. Hindraf will cease to exist after the elections,” he added.

Asked if he felt that all the problems plaguing the Indian community has been addressed, Pandithan said, “Problems will always be there, but let me ask you, has the problems of the Malays and the Chinese in this country been solved?

We must be practical, these things take time to be sorted out. But if every community wants to be a fanatical force, then the country would go to the dogs.”

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Tamil in KLIA?

December 31st, 2007
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Now is the time to squeeze the govt? Looks like another advantage to MIC following the outcome of HINDRAF rally.
 

KLIA urged to use Tamil as well

source

SRI Sruthi Mandram president Datin Seri Indrani Samy Vellu hoped that any announcements at the KL International Airport would also be made in Tamil, according to Tamil Nesan. 

She said an information centre in Tamil should be opened to cater for the increasing number of passengers arriving from India, especially Chennai. 

Indrani said it would help Indian passengers if flight announcements and other matters were made in Tamil. Information centres, she said, must be manned by officers well versed in Tamil and they must be able to give advice to those stranded at the airport and job seekers. 

Indrani said the officers could also assist Indian passengers on matters relating to immigration procedures.

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Prayer for Hindraf detainees in Klang

December 31st, 2007
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Hindus pray for peace and unity
 

KLANG: A large crowd gathered at a Hindu temple here to pray for peace, unity and for those detained following the Nov 25 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally. 

The special two-hour prayer also gave devotees a chance to voice their grievances via prayers.  

The prayers were organised by a coalition of 30 non-governmental organisations and the Indian community here.  

Six pigeons were also released yesterday as part of the prayers – five were for the five Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees and one for the 25 Hindraf supporters charged for participating in an illegal assembly. Similar prayer sessions were also being held in various temples nationwide. 

The coalition called for the unconditional release of the five detainees – M. Manoharan, V. Ganabatirau, K. Vasantha Kumar, P. Uthayakumar and R. Kengadharan – and said they should be given a fair trial.  

Coalition spokesman L. Segaran said they would be sending a statement to the Prime Minister on their prayers and the release of the five. 

Guest speaker K. Arumugam expressed hope that the Government would look into the community's plight. 

Meanwhile, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said in Chennai, India, he would meet Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to explain the real situation concerning the Indian community in Malaysia. 

He is leading a 70-member delegation to the Pravasi Barathiya Divas conference in New Delhi starting on Jan 7. 

Samy Vellu said he would undertake a similar effort with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S. Karunanidhi. – Bernama  

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Scrap dealers concerned over permit renewals

December 29th, 2007
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Perhaps due to the "HINDRAF effect", these businessmen will have a chance for renewal.

By : Jennifer Gomez

source

KUALA LUMPUR: Over 1,000 scrap metal dealers in the country have not been successful in renewing their licences with the police this year.

Malaysian Indian Metal Traders and Recyclers' Association (Mimta) president Datuk P. Krishnamurthi is concerned that this problem will be repeated when licences are up for renewal again next year.

"We are appealing to the government and the inspector-general of police to look into this matter.

"The scrap metal industry is very important to the country's recycling efforts," he said yesterday.

"Every month, in the Klang Valley alone, we collect some 50,000 tonnes of rubbish to be sorted and recycled.

"As long as they abide by the rules, keep their books in order and not deal with stolen goods, their licences should be renewed."

Mimta secretary general R.A. Param called for the freeze on licences imposed in March last year to be lifted.

He said most dealers had already complied with the conditions attached to the freeze by relocating their business to industrial areas.

"It is unfair that those who take the trouble to venture into the business are given the runaround where licences are concerned," he added.

Param called on all new dealers operating from industrial areas, who have yet to get their licences, to contact Mimta.

"We want to compile a list of these traders and this is not only confined to our members.

"It is extended to all scrap metal dealers, whether they are Indian, Malay or Chinese," he said.

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