HAF-Sponsored Traveling Series Featuring Waytha Moorthy, Malaysian Human Rights Activist: The Plight Of The Indian & Hindu Minority In Malaysia

HAF is sponsoring a traveling speaker series in the U.S. featuring Waytha Moorthy, Malaysian Human Rights activist, lawyer, and founder of Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF). In November 2007, HINDRAF organised a mammoth rally of 50,000 Hindus and ethnic Indians in peaceful protest against the Malaysian government for its mistreatment and marginalization of Indians. The Malaysian security forces responded brutally, and Waytha Moorthy was jailed, along with hundreds of other protesters. He has been living in exile in London since the Malaysian government revoked his passport. Though HINDRAF was banned, it continues to raise various human rights issues including calling for the end to demolitions of Hindu temples, advocating for the rights of Hindu mothers and fathers to raise their children as Hindus when one of the parents converts to Islam, advocating for educational rights, jobs and economic opportunities for Malaysian Hindus because Malaysia's “bhumiputara” policies favor the Muslim Malay majority, and an end to police brutality against Hindus.

These special events are free and open to all. Don't miss out!

Friday, April 1 - Atlanta, GA

Time: 7:00 - 9:00pm (includes dinner)
Location: Ashiyanna Hall, Global Mall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071
Local Organizers: India Awareness Foundation
Local Contact: Dhiru Shah (siaram at aol.com or 678-612-1661)

Saturday, April 2 - Bay Area, CA

Time: 2:30 - 4:30pm
Location: Shreemaya Krishnadham Cultural and Community Center (SKD) at the Bay Area Vaishnava Parivar Mandir (http://bayvp.org), 25 Corning Ave, Milpitas, CA 95035
Panelists:
Samir Kalra, former HAF Human Rights Coordinator & Bay Area Working Group member
Jeevan Zutshi, Founder, Indo-American Community Federation (IACF-USA)
Local Contacts: Dr. Hema Patel (hp_dds at yahoo.com or 510-299-3404); Malini Kumar (kumarmalini at gmail.com or 951-491-4722)

Sunday, April 3 - Houston, TX

Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm
Location: India House, 8888 West Bellfort St, Houston, TX 77031
Local Organizers: Hindus of Greater Houston
Local Contacts: Vijay Pallod (vkpallod at gmail.com or 713-562-1920); Rishi Bhutada (rishi at hafsite.org or 832-797-5147); Jay Kansara (jay at hafsite.org or 512-909-7250)

Friday, April 8 - Tampa, FL

Time: 7:00 - 9:00pm (includes dinner)
Location: India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL 33624 (ICC Phone: 813-264-4638)
Local Contact: Nikhil Joshi (nikhil at hafsite.org or 813-205-8069); Mekhala Sastry (sastrmek at gmail.com or 813-495-7868); Nainan Desai (uc9n9n at gmail.com or 813-245-8417)

Saturday, April 9 - Boston, MA

Time: 4:00 - 6:00pm
Location: MIT, Room 4-149, Cambridge, MA 02139
Local Contact: Abhaya Asthana (abhayaji at gmail.com or 508-875-0432)

Sunday, April 10 - New York/New Jersey

Time: 4:00 - 6:00pm
Location: Rutgers University, Center Hall, Busch Campus Student Center, 604 Bartholomew Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Local Contact: Brahm Om Sharma (bhramomsharma at gmail.com or 646-246-8950)

Hardcore Indian poor forced to eat plain rice and porridge with salt as side dish. UMNO Welfare Department rejects aid. UMNO social engineering.

Saraswathy (25) and her husband of Ayer Molek say they have it hard all their lives and yet are unable to come out of their cycle of poverty. And made worse by her paralysed daughter Meena (7) who was hospitalized and Saraswathy was forced to stop work. Her husband only earns a mere RM 400 per month out of which RM 200 alone goes to their rentals, which will not be the case for almost all Malay, Orang asli, kadazan, Iban, who all have their village safety net. Like 99% of the Indian poor Saraswathy has no traditional village to fall back on as her social safety net.

Saraswathy and 99% of the Indian poor are denied the Felda like 10 acre land ownership schemes granted to over half a million Malay muslims.

Saraswathy and 90% of the Indian poor are denied the UMNO Welfare help despite having a disabled daughter. And 100% of the Indian poor will be denied the RM 500 granted by Baitumal charity which is granted only to the Malay muslims. And the hundreds of ringgit from the scores of other Lembaga Urus Zakat, Yayasan etc but exclusively for Malay muslims. This is only the tip of the iceberg.

UMNO not racist and religious supremacist?

UMNO not the world’s most racist and religious supremacist country?
(see BH 29/3/2011 at page 9)
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice
www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

Teluk Intan MP, activist arrested at protest

(Malaysiakini) Teluk Intan Member of Parliament M Manogaran was arrested along with MS Arjunan from the Malaysian Tamil Students Progressive Associations (MATSAP) while demonstrating against the Interlok novel.

Manogaran (second from right), who is from the DAP, and Arjunan (far right) had arrived with a small crowd of activitists earlier this morning at the Subraminiyar temple at Batu Caves in Gombak, Selangor, to protest against the decision of the education ministry to make Interlok compulsory reading for Form Five students taking Malay literature in the SPM exams.

Police moved in and arrested Manogaran and Arjunan around noon.

[More to follow]