HIndraf Makkal Shakti

Sunday, September 6, 2009

ARREST OF HINDRAF PEACEFUL PROTESTERS

BRIEF MEDIA STATEMENT ON ARREST OF HINDRAF PEACEFUL PROTESTERS - WAYTHAMOORTHY

5th Sept 2009

HINDRAF is appalled by the arrest of 16 peaceful candle light vigil participants at Dataran Merdeka (Freedom Square). Most of those arrested were walking towards Dataran when they were charged by riot police with batons and arrested in a violent manner. 2 other participants were separately arrested about 30 minutes later- K.Shanti and Waytha Nayagi who were sending text messages to supporters informing the earlier arrests were arrested on grounds not known to them.

This is a deliberate and calculated attempt to target the main leaders of Hindraf so that the planned candle vigil would be foiled. Those vigil participants were going with candles and Roses when they were arrested.

THE ARREST OF UTHAYKUMAR AND 14 OTHER INNOCENTS IN THE DESECRATION OF THE COW EPISODE - A SHAME TO MALAYSIA

Uthayakumar and 14 others including his wife have been arrested tonite at the candlelight vigil against the seditious protests of UMNO in Shah Alam Temple location issue. The UMNO protestors who provoked this whole series of events, the real culprits in this episode are being very gently and slowly investigated by the Attorney general’s office. Nothing very likely will happen to any of them.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

16 arrested at Hindraf candlelight march in KL

Sixteen people, including former Internal Security Act detainee P Uthayakumar, were arrested at a candlelight vigil near Dataran Merdeka tonight.

The vigil, organised by rights group Hindraf, began with a march of a 100-strong crowd from nearby Masjid Jamek.

The participants, who were singing songs and carrying red and white roses and candles, called for Malaysians to respect one another's rights.

However, before they could reach Dataran Merdeka, the crowd was confronted by two dozens police officers.

The cops, who stopped the marchers at the junction of Jalan Parliament and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, ordered the crowd to disperse.

The cops then began counting from one to 10 (right), and launched the arrests soon after.

Among those arrested were Hindraf leader S Jayathas and Uthayakumar's fiancee, S Indradevi.

Uthaya held on all fours

Uthayakumar, were among the last few individuals to be arrested. He was nabbed together with Indradevi while walking away from Dataran Merdeka.

Several police personnel pounced on Uthayakumar until fell to the ground. Once on the ground, he was held on all fours and rushed to an awaiting police truck.

In the wake of the arrests, participants began leaving the area at about 8pm, barely 15 minutes after the vigil started.

But some 30 minutes later, two more were arrested - Shanti Waytha Moorthy and Waytha Nayagi - some distance away from Dataran Merdeka while sending out alert SMSes.

Though never stated explicitly, it is understood that the vigil tonight was a reaction to the 'cow-head' demonstration last Friday by a group of Shah Alam residents opposing the relocation of a Hindu temple to their neighbourhood.

In contrast to the heavy-handed dispersal of vigil participants tonight, no action was taken against the 'cow-head' protestors.

Police double standards

According to Hindraf leader in exile P Waythamoorthy, the aim of the vigil was to “repair the damage to the centuries-long brotherly Hindu-Muslim relations in the wake of the cow-head protest in Shah Alam”.

In an immediate reaction, he condemned the arrest and accused the police of practising double standards in view of the 'cow-head' demonstration, which has caused public outrage, especially among Hindus.

“It is ridiculous that the Muslim extremist 'cow-head' protesters who were behaving in a violent manner, delivered fiery speeches promoting racial hatred and insulted Hindus were given full police protection.

“Whilst the Hindraf supporters who were armed with unlit candles and roses were violently arrested, bundled and taken into police lock-ups,” said Waythamoorthy in a statement late this evening.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman said that 13 men and three women were detained.

Hindu temple & religious co-existence in 99.99% PAS ruled Kelantan -by P.Uthayakumar

HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY (HRP)
NO.6, Jalan Abdullah,
Off Jalan Bangsar,
59000 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5241
Fax: 03-2282 5245

04th September 2009

Media Statement

RE : Hindu temple & religious co-existence in 99.99% PAS ruled
Kelantan -by P.Uthayakumar

Since a two month old baby right up to my Form five, I was brought up
in Tumpat, Kelantan. As teenagers, we prayed and played at the Sri
Maha Mariaman Hindu Temple in Tumpat, Kelantan which was built by the
then colonial days Railway working class Indians. This Hindu temple is
in a 99.99% Malay Muslim dominated population and ruled by PAS. During
my last visit to this temple two years ago I was told that there are
only two Indian families left in Tumpat. But our Hinldu temple stands
right up to this day on the very main road leading into Tumpat town. I
nostalgically showed my wife and children the Hindu temple which I
grew up with. It is still the history and heritage of Kelantan right
up to this date. This our Hindu temple could now be demolished or
asked to be relocated as it is in a 99.99% Malay Muslim area or to be
moved out of the state of Kelantan as it is in a “Serambi Mekah”
State. I believe it would not even have crossed PAS’ Kelantan Menteri
Besar Nik Aziz’s mind. This is religious co-existence in practice in
99% Malay Muslim PAS ruled Kelantan. The biggest sleeping Buddha in
the world is not in Thailand, Cambodia Sri Lanka or India where
Buddhism originated from but it is in Kg. Neting, Tumpat Kelantan.

In multi racial and multi religious Malaysia it should be religious
coexistence as opposed to religious tolerance. Then we wont get the
case of the UMNO majority and dominant area like in Section 19 and 22
of Shah Alam objecting to hindu temple because it is a Malay Muslim
dominated area and the cow head protest by the religious extremist who
were never arrested on sight and who would never be seriously
prosecuted by the Attorney General in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One
Malaysia. And so the racism and religious extremism continues in
Malaysia. In fact they had the support of even UMNO’s Home Minister
Hishamuddin Hussein who had justified their actions. To both the UMNO
controlled Federal government and the PKR controlled Selangor state
government and the other P.R ruled West Coast states you both have
something to learn from PAS ruled Kelantan.

By the stroke of the pen vide a circular by Prime Minister Najib
Razak, the PKR Selangor Menteri Besar the other P.R ruled Menteri
Besars and Chief Minister, all existing Hindu temples could be issued
with land titles and gazetted as Hindu temple reserves as is the case
even in the 99% Malay reserve land State of Kelantan. This would put a
stop and a finality to this new, unprecedented and unnecessary racial
and religious division and tension in Malaysian.

Similarly this should also be done for all Hindu crematoriums Tamil
Schools and Indian settlements like Kg. Buah Pala. This would actually
solve half the Indian working class problems once and for all.

But in both the aforesaid UMNO, PKR in Selangor and the other West
coast P.R ruled states, they are merely playing puppet shadow play
(wayang kulit) politics using their Indian “mandores” via the print
and electronic media by empty (kosong) announcements of the odd land
for Hindu Temples, Tamil Schools and Crematoriums here and there and
amplifying them as in the Malay proverb “Ayam telur sebiji rioh
sekampong”. These State governments who wield almost absolute powers
where it concerns their State land also do not issue a State
government letter on the aforesaid odd land that they announce, issue
land titles or gazette these Hindu temples, Tamil schools and Hindu
crematoriums accordingly. Thus the current predicament of the working
class Indians, the latest being in Kg. Buah Pala and Section 19 and
22, Shah Alam which is merely the tip of the iceberg of the Malaysian
Indian working class critical problems.

Only in Malaysia and especially in the name of development, the first
targets are Hindu temples, Hindu crematoriums Tamil schools and the
poor Indian land settlers. We have recorded thousands of such cases.
These problems hardly happens in the Malay, Chinese, Orang Asli, Iban
or Kadazan communities in Malaysia. It happens almost only to the
working class Indians. Why? But BN, PKR, DAP, PAS, NGOs’ and the
Malaysian civil society all proclaim to be “multi-racial and
multi-religious”.

All because the working class Indians have neither the political power
or the economic clout and what follows is there are no takers for
these critical Indian problems by almost all UMNO, PKR, DAP and PAS
(except in Kelantan) NGOs’ and the Malaysian civil society.

Thank you.

Your faithfully,

________________________

P.Uthayakumar

Secretary General (pro-tem)

Human Rights Party (HRP)

What Position Should the Indian Voters of Bagan Pinang Take?

A thought provoking article by Subramaniam Bharathy:

What Position Should the Indian Voters of Bagan Pinang Take?

Indians have not got what they wanted with their votes after the last GE. This is the Post 12th GE theme.

The marginalization continues apace in the 4 states of PR. Umno continues with its racial antics. The many faceted grievances of the Indians in the country see no light of day. In Penang we have got this lying DAP Chief Minister and a bunch of Indian Mandores in DAP and a string of broken promises by DAP. DAP washed its hands off a key Indian issue at Kampung Buah Pala. In PKR we have a bunch of wimps for MPs and Aduns. They are nowhere to be seen on Indian issues. In Perak and Selangor there has been significant land allocations to the Chinese by the Pakatan Rakyat Government but none whatsoever for the Indians. Temple demolitions go on in all the PR States. UMNO’s Hishamuddin the Home Minister says it is alright to slight the Indians in the country by desecrating their religious symbol. The Federal Government has done nothing on the Indian issues using the PR Government in the 4 States as their cover to continue to marginalize the Indians with their unchanging racist policies.

Why does all of this continue. PKR, DAP, MIC, UMNO, just want our votes – that’s all. They only return crumbs, like some minor funding for the schools or some land for the schools or some such token after the elections because they have to be seen to be doing something. They all reckon we are not significant enough to matter for more than that. That’s it they reckon we are not significant enough to matter for more than that.

We need a holistic approach to the Indian issues in the country. This is our demand. Then maybe we can consider other things, but bread and butter issues first. Look at the crime rates, the suicide rates, the alcoholism , the drug abuse situation, the unemployment rate, the limited opportunities for Indian businessmen and the drying up of educational and training opportunities in government institutes and public universities for Indians. The BN government and the PR governments are not taking us seriously enough to approach the problem in this holistic way. The 18 point memorandum of Hindraf clearly lays out what the Indians seek. They are not doing anything about the issues as we have raised them.

The only option we have now is to hit them where it will hurt. We must use our votes wisely to get them to reckon that we are significant enough in their political calculations.

As a test of this hypothesis we need to use our votes to make a difference for us in Bagan Pinang. Whatever the outcome in Bagan Pinang, it is not going to change anything significant. One more or less seat in the Negri DUN does not change anything for PR or BN. But it can help us make a point to whoever is interested in our vote that our votes come with a price.

There are 14192 voters. Let us assume an 80% turnout. That will make it 11,345 voters on voting day. Of this 66% are Malay voters –about 7500, 19.9% Indian voters –about 2270 voters, 10.5% Chinese voters – about 1135 voters. In the last election UMNO candidate got 6430 votes and won with a majority of 2,333 votes. In that election the PAS candidate won 39% of the votes or 4097 votes.This was at the height of the anti BN mood among the Indians and Chinese. That already stacks the cards against PR for this by-elections.

We must get all the Indian voters to abstain from voting this time in Bagan Pinang. Both BN and PR is no good for us up to now. Let PR suffer as a result of this. We will make a difference with our votes. If PR continues to ignore the significance of this point let them pay a price. If PR thinks it is important that they need the Indian votes, then show it in action and policy don’t just talk and make empty promises. We prefer you to UMNO, but only if you act and reflect it in your government policies. We can make you the difference – both ways.

We must make this point. This is our only way to make our point. This is our opportunity.

Subramaniam Bharathy

Friday, September 4, 2009

kgbuahpala detainedordeal

High Chaparral: Umno and DAP get a whacking

The Human Rights Party (HRP) today condemned both Umno and DAP of violating the land law in carrying out the demolition of three vacant houses and part of an occupied fourth house in Kampung Buah Pala in George Town today.

Saying that that the proposed developer was an Umno-linked company, HRP secretary general P Uthayakumar (left) accused the BN party of violating Section 116(1) (d) of the National Land Code which states that 'where in any alienated land..... no such building shall be demolished, altered or extended without the prior consent in writing of the appropriate authority.'

Similarly he said the DAP Penang government had also refused to issue an official letter prohibiting the demolition of Kampung Buah Pala by virtue of Section 116(1) (d) of NLC.

"DAP is obviously aiding and abetting Umno in the commission of this crime of demolishing Kampung Buah Pala," he said.

Kampung Buah Pala, also commonly known as Tamil High Chaparral, faces eviction to pave way for a lucrative project - the Oasis - undertaken by Umno-linked Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd.

The Penang DAP government transferred the land ownership from the state to a government civil seevants society - Koperasi Pegawai Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Pulau Pinang - on March 27.

At today's demolition exercise, police were seen by many assaulting and detaining villagers and their supporters, who formed a human barricade to stop the destruction of the village.

'Umno and DAP the villains'

Uthayakumar, also the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal advisor, alleged that both Umno and DAP have taken full advantage of the vulnerable, poor, marginalised, defenceless, voiceless and politically powerless working class Indians in Malaysia.

He also chided the police for siding the politically powerful Umno at the federal level and DAP at state level.

He pointed out that the arrest of working class Indians in Kampung Buah Pala proved that the police were biased against those detained today who were not real criminals, who violated the law.

"We were told that the police, who were supposed to be neutral, used rough and aggressive tactics, assault and detained the villagers and their supporters, causing a lady to faint," he said in a press statement today.

He also slammed the police for arresting the villagers' lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira, who was merely discharging his duties further to Section 42 of the Legal Professional Act 1976.

He was detained, manhandled and dragged away forcefully while carrying out his official legal duties.

Real culprits off the hook?

"Of course, the attorney general would not bother prosecuting the real criminals but may instead prosecute these arrested poor, defenseless and homeless people.

"HRP condemns these injustices and especially the arrest of lawyer Darshan Singh," he said, taking a swipe at both Umno and DAP governments' popular themes.

The HRP leader asked how could such open violations of law and order take place in the country under the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's One Malaysia concept?

He also asked how could such human rights infringement takes place when Penang is being governed by the DAP, which espouses the Malaysian Malaysia concept.

Moreover, he said the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had always been bragging about his CAT government based on competency, accountability and transparency.

"But all these wrongdoings took place today under the One Malaysia, Malaysian Malaysia and CAT governments.

"Such serious violation of human rights can only happen in Malaysia, nowhere else in the world," said the former ISA detainee.

Kampong Buah Pala

source: Bernama news (Tamil)

Kampong Buah Pala

source: NTV 7 news

source: Bernama news (Tamil)

Amid arrests, houses demolished in Buah P

Kg Buah Pala - Derogatory remark claim

Kg Buah Pala: UMNO & DAP violates the law

(HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY)
No.6, Jalan Abdullah,
Off Jalan Bangsar,
59000 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel : 03-2282 5241
Fax : 03-2282 5245

Re: Demolishment of Kampung Buah Pala on 03/09/2009

Media Statement

UMNO violates the law in Section 116(1) (d) of the National Land Code which provides that ‘where any alienated land…..’. ‘That no such building shall be demolished, altered or extended without the prior consent in writing of the appropriate authority

Similarly the DAP led Penang State government has refused to issue an official letter prohibiting the demolition of Kampung Buah Pala by virtue of Section 116(1) (d) of the same. DAP is obviously aiding and abetting UMNO in the commission of this crime of demolishing Kampung Buah Pala.

Both UMNO/B.N and DAP/P.R are taking full advantage of the poor, marginalized, defenseless, voiceless and politically powerless working class Indians in Malaysia.

The police are siding the politically powerful UMNO/B.N and DAP/P.R by arresting at least 19 of the working class Indians of Kampung Buah Pala today and not the real criminals who violated the aforesaid law. From our supporters on the ground we have today been informed that the police who are supposed to be neutral used aggressive tactics and even causing one lady to faint. Even their lawyer Mr. Darshan Singh Khaira who was merely discharging his duties further to Section 42 of the Legal Professional Act 1976 was arrested and dragged away forcefully. The Attorney General would not bother prosecuting the real criminals but may instead prosecute these arrested poor, defenseless and homeless people. We condemn these injustices and especially the arrest of their lawyer Mr. Darshan Singh Khaira. All this can only happen in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malaysia and DAPs’ Malaysian Malaysia and no where else in the world.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

(P. Uthayakumar )

Secretary General (pro tem)

Kampung Buah Pala: Demolition starts; 18 arrested

Himanshu Bhatt and Bernard Cheah, The Sun Daily

Demolition work started on four houses in Kampung Buah Pala today -- three days past the deadline to move out -- amid a violent skirmish between police and village supporters that ended with 18 arrests.

One of the Kampung Buah Pala residents tearing the
DAP flag in anger when contractors move in today to
demolish the houses in the village.

Among those arrested were lawyer Darshan Singh, former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) councillor A Thiruvenggadam, and several MIC youth members.

Only five – three women and two men – were villagers.

It is learnt they had started a hunger strike while at the George Town district police headquarters in Pattani Road here.

All 18 were released on police bail about 8.30pm tonight.

Things came to a head at about 12.30pm today when police made a V-shape formation to penetrate the crowd of mainly Hindraf and MIC members, who were shouting slogans, in order to break one of the houses.

“All those arrested but who were not villagers were there in a spirit of solidarity with the residents, which is alright,” George Town OCPD Azam Abd Hamid said later.

“But what they did in obstructing (the court bailiff and police) was against the law.”

Police arresting the villagers at
Kampung Buah Pala.

Azam said most were arrested for obstructing police in discharging their duty while some would be charged for causing a riot.

He said they would be released on bail after their statements were recorded.

Two policemen were injured in the skirmish. Four police reports were lodged by various individuals, including one by developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd on an alleged attack on its director Gary Ho.

Azam said five households had agreed to vacate and let Nusmetro demolish their houses. The remaining families asked for more time, and were given a week.

The day began on an ominous note at about 7.30am when several police trucks, including a Black Maria, were seen parked outside the village.

Residents were supported by a crowd of Hindraf and MIC youth members, lead by the party’s youth chief T Mohan.

The physical confrontation between the police and the supporters came as a surprise as the residents’ committee members were seen having negotiations with Nusmetro’s Ho and executive director Thomas Chan.

It is understood that Nusmetro wanted to demolish three vacant houses.

After lengthy discussions in the mobile police beat base, five members of the demolition team were allowed to enter the village, to break down the first house under the watch of the police, a court bailiff and the residents committee, at about 10am.

There were several tense situations between reporters and supporters who tried to block them, and between MIC members and youngsters in the demolition team.

After breaking three houses, Ho reached a compromise with residents’ association secretary J. Steven to break the store room of his house.

The crisis has its roots in the state government approving the village land for sale to the Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang for a private commercial development project in 2004.

The residents, descendants of indentured labourers brought in during the British colonial period, have argued that the land transaction was fraudulent, and that their forefathers were beneficiaries of a housing trust under the Brown Estate, but have lost repeatedly in the courts.

A distraught association chairman M. Sugumaran: “We have no avenue already. The state government is not with us. The courts are not with us. How are we going to fight?” he said.

High Chaparral: Four Kampung Buah Pala Houses Demolished In Third Attempt

PENANG, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- After two failed attempts to demolish 23 houses in Kampung Buah Pala, developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd today succeeded in demolishing four houses.

Kampung Buah Pala villagers who were directed to vacate their houses on Sept 1 finally agreed to comply with the court order.

Nusmetro director Gary Ho said a ruckus caused by the villagers had prevented it from demolishing 12 houses as planned.

"Twelve house owners had agreed to our (Nusmetro) offer but the opposite thing happened Thursday.

"Villagers and several outside parties had formed a human barricade to stop the developer from demolishing the houses," he told reporters here today.

Ho who suffered bruises all over the body said due to the ruckus, the police had to be deployed to control the situation.

"I will seek medical treatment and then lodge a police report on the incident," he said.

Over 100 officers and men from the General Operations Force (PGA) and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) gathered at the village as early as 7am.

A mobile police station was also placed at the village.

Ho was seen discussing with court bailiffs, the villagers' representatives and the police at 9.30am.

The situation became tense at 10.30am when several bulldozers and excavators moved in to demolish the houses.

However, attempts by demolition workers to enter the village at 10.30am and noon were prevented by villagers who formed a barricade across the road leading to the village.

The rain did not seemed to bother them who shouted 'hidup Kampung Buah Pala' and 'selamatkan kampung kami'.

The villagers also shouted the names of elected representatives from the Opposition who had promised to save their village.

Meanwhile, Kampung Buah Pala residents association chairman M Sugumaran said the villagers had accepted the court order.

"We are forced to agree as the state government is of no help. We are disappointed by the situation and are forced to accept the developer's offer," he said.

Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government was not involved in the demolition work and the villagers' eviction from the land.

"It has nothing to do with the state government. It is a matter for the developer, cooperative and involved a court order," he told a press conference here.

Kampung Buah Pala, dubbed the 'High Chapparal of Penang' sits on a 2.6 hectare land in George Town.

It is the only Indian traditional village in the city.

--BERNAMA

Video: Bernama, NTV 7, RTM 2