Friday, May 8, 2009

Gov't to free Hindraf trio and 10 others


May 8, 09 12:38pm


The government will release another 13 Internal Security Act detainees, including three of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.
MCPX
This was announced by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at a press conference in Putrajaya.

In the specially arranged press conference, Hishammuddin said that they would be released in the next "two or three days".

"I will be signing the (release) papers now," he said.

He did not give the reasons for the release of the 13 but added that they "no longer needed to be held".

Of the 13 to be released, six are Malaysians, two Indonesians and the remaining five are Filipinos.

After taking over the reins in April, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ordered the release of 13 ISA detainees, including Hindraf leaders V Ganabatirau and R Kengadharan.

The three Hindraf leaders still in detention are P Uthayakumar, T Vasanthakumar and M Manoharan.

Manoharan is also the state representative for Kota Alam Shah in Selangor. He won the seat from behind bars in the last general election.

The five were detained in December 2007 after mounting a massive street protest which saw tens of thousands of Indian Malaysians taking to the streets.

[More to follow]