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Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

Veera Muneswarar Temple demolition in Ampang

June 29th, 2009

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Hindraf’s Jayathas issued statement that the temple – Veera Muneswarar temple – in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng was demolished by gangsters associated with MIC. MIC Youth denied this and claimed that they were in the process of finding a solution to the temple issue. The temple is 20 years old, so most likely its on private land that belongs to someone else.

There are few things that I like to note:

1. Vel Paari is right in the sense that just complaining is pointless. HINDRAF is limited to doing just that – protest because they don’t have locus standi to do anything else, save initiate legal proceedings. No one will accept their memorandum or ideas or solutions. They are considered “outlawed” organisation which is not even registered.

2. If I’m not mistaken, Deputy FT Minister Saravanan did pledge that no more temples will be demolished without proper alternative or solution. Looks like another broken promise for MIC?

3. Where/what is Hindu Sangam’s role in this? No statement yet from them.

4. What is DBKL’s role in this? Where is their committee on temple issues?

5. At least the developer removed the deities before demolishment, unlike the gangsters in local councils and their henchmen.

MIC Youth is unhappy with being blamed for playing a role in the demolition of a 20-year-old Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The temple – Veera Muneswarar Alayam in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng – was demolished by some unidentified people and had prompted both Hindraf and MIC to converge at the scene to help the temple committee save the place of worship.

Hindraf, which for long has been in the forefront when it comes to protesting temple demolitions, issued a press statement immediately after the demolition, putting the blame on MIC, among others, for the demolition.

Hindraf’s S Jayathas bluntly blamed “MIC gangsters who worked with the developer” in demolishing the temple.

He also claimed that the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had failed to protect the temple and its devotees while allowing others to demolish the temple.

“It is disappointing that the police did not do anything despite the temple committee launching police reports previously against any attempts to demolish the temple,” he said.

But the main plank of his complain was against the MIC.

“Around 35 Indian guys that we suspect were MIC gangsters demolished the 20-year- old temple,” he said in a statement.

MIC Youth was naturally unimpressed with Jayathas’ sweeping accusations.

“This is what he does best – making such clumsy statements and then going away until another temple is demolished,” said MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari.

MIC Youth in talks with developer

Vell Paari added that MIC was not involved in the demolition of the Jalan Yap Kwan Seng temple. On the contrary, he said, the movement was deeply involved in getting the problem solved.

“We have been following up with this temple case from the beginning. We have spoken to the temple committee about three weeks ago and they told us that they wanted to deal directly with the developers.

“And when the demolition took place yesterday, we immediately sent our people over to see what was happening. We contacted DBKL who confirmed that they were not demolishing the temple,” he added.

He said that the demolition was done by the developer who had paid some people to remove the deities from the temple before tearing it down.

“Even then, it was MIC Youth members who helped the temple committee in sorting out the issues. We were there when they lodged a police report after one of them was hurt in the demolition process,” he said.

Vell Paari said that MIC Youth was now working with DBKL and the developer so that some form of arrangement can be made to save or relocate the temple.

“They want to remain in the same place. That will be tough but we are trying to find a best alternative spot for them as well as with adequate compensation from the developer,” he said.

Start finding solutions

He also challenged Jayathas to come up with a proper solution for the Jalan Yap Kwan Seng temple.

“He should not just talk and make wild accusations. Can he sort out the mess for the temple committee? No point in making any noise but without being able to find solutions,” he said.

Temple demolitions have been a thorny issue for the past few years. In 2007, at the height of temple demolitions throughout the country, Hindraf capitalised on the issue by evoking raw emotions among the members of the Indian community.

The anger of the community towards the Barisan Nasional government was apparent when the ruling coalition, including MIC, was roundly routed in the 2008 general election.

Since then MIC had been playing a more proactive role in solving the issues concerning the Indian community.

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Posted in Indian, Religion

Tags: Hindraf KL MIC temples

Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party coming soon

May 17th, 2009

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Thanenthiran is launching Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party, indicating that some of the HINDRAF people are going into politics. What amuses me is that the rumour that ROS have approved the name, and the party will be launched next month. That’s fast – meaning some sort of setup somewhere?

A breakaway group from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has formed a political party to spearhead what they claimed to be “a political struggle for the betterment of the Malaysian Indian community”.

MCPX

In what is the first major split in the Hindu rights movement, the group led by suspended Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran is said to have submitted an application to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to register a party named as Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP).

The ROS, it is learnt had approved the registration last week for the proposed Indian-based MMSP, paving way for its official launching within the next one month.

Sources said Thanenthiran and company has decided to go ahead to set up the political party after the Bukit Selambau by-election in March.

Although sources said that initially the new political party would remain outside both the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat groups, a source close to Thanenthiran said that the party could join either coalition depending on which one could fulfill their wishes and demands.

Among the group’s major wish is Hindraf’s 18-point demand to upgrade the standard of living of Indians, ranging from housing, education, welfare, political, economic and employment rights.

‘They don’t trust Pakatan leaders anymore’

Thanenthiran’s group currently appeared to be happier and comfortable working with Prime Minister and BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak rather than Pakatan leaders such as Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, P Ramasamy and Abdul Hadi Awang.

“They don’t trust Pakatan leaders anymore. They believe Pakatan was only using Hindraf for their own selfish political gain,” said a source.

The breakaway group’s major grouse is that Pakatan-controlled states of Penang, Kedah, Selangor and Kelantan, and previously also Perak, have let down the Indian community and failed to implement any comprehensive policies to upgrade the standard of living of the community.

“They are upset that Pakatan governments have used Hindraf to capture Indian votes, but neglected them after achieving unprecedented electoral gains in the last general election,” said the source.

The breakaway former Hindraf leaders were obviously unhappy with the Pakatan decision to turn down their demand to nominate Thanenthiran as PKR candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election in Kedah in March.

Thanenthiran claims to have many supporters

When contacted, Butterworth-based Thanenthiran confirmed the setting up of a political party under his leadership and claimed he has the support of many former Hindraf members across the country.

Thanenthiran and company decided to go their own way when Hindraf supremo, London-based P Waythamoorthy, expressed reluctance to establish a political party that would sever all links with Pakatan.

For Waythamoorthy – the founder member of Hindraf – and his brother Uthayakumar, Umno and Barisan Nasional were worse off than Pakatan.

The rift reared its ugly head when the Hindraf leader decided to back PKR in Bukit Selambau after Thanenthiran and company have openly called on Hindraf supporters to boycott Pakatan candidate S Manikumar.

Thanenthiran and his Hindraf colleagues were unhappy that Waythamoorthy had decided to back Pakatan without consulting them.

Waythamoorthy had then justified his decision, made after a long telephone conversation with PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, was to get rid of Hindraf and Pakatan’s common political foes – Umno and BN.

Waythamoorthy also told his close friends that he was not worried with Thanenthiran’s intention to form a party but preferred to distance Hindraf from it.

Whether Thanenthiran’s new party will be able to gain support from Indian Malaysians, and to improve the living conditions and standard of this minority community remains to be seen.

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Posted in Indian

Tags: Hindraf MMSP

uthaya has a plan…

May 12th, 2009

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I’m not too fond of words of hype like landmark, great, spectacular, grand, awesome (popular in MLM), etc because it usually turns out disappointing. In his interview with AP, Uthaya hinted that there’s something up his sleeve. Is it a new party? He won’t join another party. Is it a think thank or NGO? Its worth 50 pages, so keep ya fingers crossed.

Most importantly, he says there won’t be street protest like the mammoth one on 25/11.

Hindraf leader P. Uthayakumar, who spent 17 months in ISA detention for leading a massive anti-government protest, promised Tuesday his group won’t go back to the streets to fight for Indian minority rights in Malaysia.

“Armed struggle is out of the question,” Uthayakumar told The Associated Press in his first interview after being freed from jail on Saturday.

But he vowed to carry on his struggle through a “landmark plan” he had crafted in prison, which he said would force the government to address the grievances of Indians, including lack of jobs, poor living conditions, decrepit schools and greater religious freedom.

He refused to elaborate on the plan, except to say it was a strategic 50-page proposal that involved “social” solutions. He said he would reveal it in four to six weeks.

It would make “not only the government (but) also the opposition” work for the Indian community, he said.

“With this plan we will become a force to be reckoned with. It does not involve street demonstrations, definitely not.”

“It is a legal, constitutional, democratic and peaceful plan,” he said. He also refused to say if he plans to start a political party, but rejected joining any party.

…”Nov 25 was a shocker to me. The balloon burst, the banks burst, the seams burst. They (the Indians) said enough is enough,” Uthayakumar said.

… Sporting a ragged beard and unkempt, tangled hair, Uthayakumar, 48, said he had no regrets about spending time in prison, which he said had provided him the opportunity to reflect, read and write.

A lawyer by training and profession, Uthayakumar said that before going to prison he could not have imagined a life without cable TV, air conditioning, hot water showers, cell-phones and holidays.

But prison made him realise that “you don’t need the luxuries. You can live without it,” he said, adding his possessions were a one-inch foam mattress, a pillow, a blanket and a toothbrush.

He shared a dormitory at the Kamunting detention centre with two other Hindraf detainees.

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Posted in Indian

Tags: Hindraf Uthaya

Waytha plans to return home

May 11th, 2009

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Regarding his warrant of arrest/detention, Home Minister Hishamuddin said he will check with the police.

PRESS STATEMENT 11.05.2009

RE: Waytha Moorthy to return to Malaysia with or without any Government assurance or condition

I have decided to return to Malaysia now since the HINDRAF lawyers have been released.

When the tsunami of November 25, 2007 took place, HINDRAF was still in its infancy in addressing the plight of the Malaysian Indians. The arrest of the HINDRAF leaders was meant to curtail its legitimate concerns for the Malaysian Indians and allow it to be a lost cause for them.

As the chairman of HINDRAF, at that juncture, I decided that somehow, HINDRAF concerns needs to be brought in light in the international arena since the local government had used oppression towards the public and the operation of the ISA to stifle and vilify the voice of HINDRAF.

As such I had left to UK to continue its struggle and keep the movement alive and bearing the international support that HINDRAF was getting from various international bodies and governments, the Malaysian government subsequently revoked my passport and forced me to seek asylum which the British government granted bearing the fear of persecution faced by me from the authorities in Malaysia for upholding truth and just cause for the Malaysian Indians.

Now that my comrades have been released, I have decided that I shall return to Malaysia to continue and forge ahead with the objectives and goals of HINDRAF in seeking what it had originally set out to even at the risk of me being arrested under ISA or any other repressive Laws.

I shall return knowing the risks involved, as I honestly believe that HINDRAF cause was just and fair. I had sought the advise of many grass root supporters and they are in the opinion that I should not return as I would be arrested and incarcerated.

This does not fear me anymore as the objective to obtain the release of the HINDRAF lawyers had been achieved and now it is the time to press forward with the objectives for the community that has been systematically discriminated, marginalized and sidelined for 52 years.

HINDRAF is now a strong mass movement and can never be suppressed any further. If the government arrests me or detains me, there will be many others within the community with conscience who will spearhead the struggle for the betterment of the society and the nation. The spirit of HINDRAF invoked within the Malaysian community is inerasable, and I can only hope for the betterment of the nation and a fast evolving universe in its struggle for equality, fairness and justice will prevail over selfishness and ignorance.

I rest my faith in DESTINY and its people, as HINDRAF is an organization that dared to be different, dared to go right to the core problem to tackle the issues rather than appeasing institutions for piecemeal offers for the betterment of the nation.

P.WAYTHA MOORTHY

CHAIRMAN

HINDRAF

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Posted in Indian

Tags: Hindraf Home Ministry Politicians Waytha

Uthaya and gang released

May 10th, 2009

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This guy got guts. We have to admit that. I never heard of any ISA detainee being released on their own terms. But this fella is a real thorn in the backside for them. Even in the last day, he really embarassed the police and Home Minister by REFUSING to sign the conditional release papers. The announcement to release was already made by Hishamuddin, so what to do? They could have kept him detained, citing some “paper work” problem. Yet he was released. Why ah?

Anyway, it is a great news for the Indian community, especially on the auspicious day of Chittirai Pournami to have a braveheart to be released. The Indians who are not-so-Indians will have different opinions, but each to his own.

There was a convoy or car who were meeting up with him at Tanjung Malim. Heard that more than 100 cars accompanied him to his house in Seremban.

Below is statements by Uthaya from Malaysiakini:

P Uthayakumar, the last of the five Hindraf leaders to be released today, claimed that he was thrown out of the Kamunting Detention Camp after he refused to give in to pressures from the prison authorities to sign the conditional release papers in exchange for his freedom.

MCPX

Recollecting the events that transpired inside the Kamunting prison before he was freed this afternoon, Uthayakumar said the prison officials had dragged him out of the camp and thrown him into the prison van following his repeated refusal to sign the conditional papers.

“I stressed that there must be no conditional release. Otherwise, I would continue to stay here,” he told journalists and about 100 Hindraf supporters at the gate of the Kamunting Detention Camp, Perak, where he was held for 18 months under ISA detention.

According to him, his ordeal started at 8am when prison officials came to his cell and told him to get ready for his release in the afternoon.

He told the prison officers that he was ready to leave only if there were no preset conditions to his release.

Subsequently, Uthayakumar refused to listen to the various requests by the prison authorities to agree to his conditional freedom.

Uthayakumar also claimed that he was tricked into seeing the prison director who said the he could sign a release order instead of the conditional papers.

“However, when I got into his office, the director gave me the conditional release papers (to sign). Again, I refused.”

The Hindraf leader said when an officer read out the clauses of his conditional release papers, he closed both his ears with his hands.

“After that, a guy forcibly took me out of the office and threw me into a prison van,” said Uthayakumar.

In the melee, Uthayakumar said he hurt his right leg, near his damaged toe for which he had earlier sought treatment while in detention.

It is learnt that the release of the other Hindraf leaders today are subject to a number of conditions, including being barred from speaking at public functions.

‘I’m wearing the same blue pants’

Uthayakumar said he feared that he could be forced to sign the conditional release papers before he even reaches home today.

“I was told that Special Branch (officers) are waiting for me to take me to Brickfields police station to sign the papers. But I will not bow to this,” he said.

“If they force me, I will not do it as I prefer going back to Kamunting prison,” he vowed.

Uthayakumar also said he was grateful for the support given by his family members, supporters and friends who had campaigned relentlessly for his release from the camp.

However, he refused to express gratitude to the government for freeing him after “514 days behind bars”.

“I won’t thank the government because I should have been brought to court in the first place and given a fair trial. But this procedure was not followed,” said Uthayakumar, who appeared haggard.

Uthayakumar and his family later went to Sri Maha Mariamal temple near Kamunting for prayers where he gave another speech to about 100 people who had gathered there.

The lawyer, who has not combed his hair nor shaved his beard since the day of his arrest on Dec 13, 2007, conceded that he may “look like a mad man”.

“Since Day One, I have grown this beard and hair, and I vowed never to shave it off (until his release).

“And these are the same blue pants that I have been wearing ever since,” he added, showing his shabby prison trousers.

Nevertheless, he said the detention had made him wiser and gave him inner strength to meet new challenges ahead and he has a few ideas on improving the livelihood of the Indian community.

At about 4.30pm, Uthayakumar along with his family left Kamunting for his mother’s house in Seremban.

Along his journey south, he made a number of pit stops where he gave impromtu speeches. He reached Rawang in Selangor at 7.40pm, followed by a convoy of about 30 cars.

At 8.50pm, a crowd of 100 Hindraf supporters, equipped with drums, were at the Labu toll in Seremban waiting for Uthayakumar’s arrival.

He arrived at his hometown to a hero’s welcome at 9.15pm. He was greeted with fireworks and an escort of about 100 cars. The Hindraf leader gave a short speech amid shouts of Makkal Sakthi.

Meanwhile, ADUN for Kota Alam Shah, YB Manoharan relates his story:

For some, 13 is considered an unlucky number but for former Internal Security Act detainee M Manoharan, it is the sacred number 13 that have given him the good, the bad, and the ugly highlights of his life.

MCPX

Today, the Kota Alam Shah state representative is finally back in the arms of his family after serving 513 days in Kamunting prison since Dec 13, 2007.

Now that those long detention days have passed, the lawyer who was born on Sept 13, 1961 and is the 13th Selangor DAP assemblyperson is set to continue with his life and job.

The father of three also couldn’t be happier and sees his return as a gift to his mother and his wife for tomorrow’s Mother’s Day celebration.

Manoharan, who arrived at his place in Bukit Kinrara, Puchong at around 7pm with an escort car was greeted by his three children who were beaming with smiles and shouting “Papa! Papa!” on top of their lungs.

However, he was not accompanied by his wife S Pushpaneela who had been waiting anxiously for his return at the Klang police station.

Little did he know he would be brought back by the police through the station’s backdoor and the wife was waiting for him out at the front gate.

However, both husband and wife were later reunited at their home about half an hour later.

Speaking at a press conference later, the practising lawyer said that her mother’s prayer “has been answered”.

“She also told me that I should not come out alone and asked me to come back (with other Hindraf leaders) together. I am thankful that we all were released together today,” he said to her mother N Letchumy, 70, who was sitting next to him.

He was also flanked by his three children, 12-year-old twins Hariharan and Shivaranjini, and 10-year-old Ganendra.

Manoharan is among two other Hindraf leaders who were released today at Kamunting including P Uthayakumar and T Vasanthakumar.

Staying on as Kota Alam Shah representative

Describing as the past 18 months in detention as “miserable”, Manoharan however promised that he will not give up his struggle as the “Malaysian Indians urgently need help”.

Soft-spoken and quiet since he was a little boy, Manoharan said there would be no way he could be seen as a terrorist as he would “never lift a stick to hit anybody”.

“I am not a terrorist. So please show respect to the Indians. But most important of all, there will be no need for me to resign as the Kota Alam Shah representative,” he said.

Now that he has been released, he would immediately get to work and give his best to serve his constituents.

“I will make sure Kota Alam Shah residents have the best from me because they have lost 14 months of my service and my presence and voice in the Selangor state assembly,” he said.

Manoharan further noted that his intended resignation last Saturday could have “expedited” today’s release and did not rule out the possibility that the government would want to avoid another by-election.

Besides, he said, if a by-election were held following his resignation, “it would be the first seat that BN would lose its deposit” judging from the previous strong majority he had garnered in the last general election.

“And it would be pitiful for the BN. But unfortunately or fortunately, that will not happen because I am not resigning and I’m released and I will get down to work. I am not given the opportunity to serve the public which I have always wanted to do,” he said.

Manoharan, who was composed and high spirited throughout the press conference also praised his father MS Malayalan, 70, for shaping him to be a good leader – but only different political views set them apart.

“My father has served the public throughout his year as a politician … but he’s an MIC man and still a branch leader and recently elected as a delegate … but I was born to be an opposition member from the beginning,” said Manoharan, flashing a smile to his father.

Will comply with conditions

Despite the conditional release imposed upon the 48-year-old politician, Manoharan however remained positive and vowed to comply with all the six conditions given by the Home Ministry.

According to him, he was “happy and enlightened” with all the six conditions as they fit his category as a state representative.

“I am very happy with the conditions set by the home minister who seems to know that I live to serve my constituents and I will comply with these conditions,” he said.

The conditions, according to him are:

(1) Have to live in a Klang area – which is in the area of IPK Klang.

(2) Not allowed to move to other places without written permission of state police chief.

(3) Not allowed to leave Klang without written permission of state police chief.

(4) Have to constantly inform the police of his whereabouts.

(5) Have to report to the police every Monday until Dec 13, 2009.

(6) Maintain peace and stability in the country.

However, Manoharan said that the hardest task he needs to take up would be rebuilding his life all over again as a lawyer now that he had lost his practice firm in Kuala Lumpur as he and the family needed to move to Klang in two weeks time.

“My detention has been miserable … I had a very good law practice and the practice is gone. I have to start all over again and start afresh. My family got into serious financial difficulties but I would like to thank all who donated towards my family.

“Without their donations, I couldn’t imagine how they would survive. It was not easy without me as the sole breadwinner. I have lost 15kg, I have suffered enough. I missed my children. No father should go through this form of suffering in the future,” he said.

There are no statements from Vasanthakumar so far.

MIC, Murugiah of PPP, MHS, MHC, etc offered thanks to the PM for the release of the detainees.

The dust has not even settled, and the rumour mill has started – Uthaya may start a political party. Here we go again! 🙂