Rumah Naib Pengerusi HRP dibakar semalam keluarga sempat keluar hanya dengan pakaian. Bantuan segera ke akaun isteri Tamil Selvam Sumadi a/p Raghavan Maybank No. 162012712528.

Rumah Naib Pengerusi HRP dibakar semalam keluarga sempat keluar hanya dengan pakaian. Bantuan segera ke akaun isteri Tamil Selvam Sumadi a/p Raghavan Maybank No. 162012712528.

‘We will not fall for Umno’s bait’

By S Jayathas

The single biggest strength Umno sees in Hindraf Makkal Sakti and the Human Rights Party today is their almost zero internal problem and that they are able to focus on the real culprit, the racist Umno.

It is the shrewd Umno top politicians and the Bukit Aman special branch agenda powered by multi-million ringgit, if not unlimited funding, to create the make belief situation of the non- existent or so-called “divided five Hindraf leaders.” This is to demoralise the Indian poor with the belief that when even these five Hindraf leaders are not united, how are they going to unite the 2.5 million Malaysian Indians.

From the very beginning, there has never been “five Hindraf leaders”. Why should this be so for Hindraf when all other NGOs, political parties and organisations have only one leader? Logic dictates that there should only be one captain to a ship. Why is Umno trying to impose five leaders on Hindraf? Isn’t is plain and obvious?

P Waytha Moorthy is the one and only Hindraf leader (chairman). His brother Uthayakumar has repeatedly denied, and so has M Manoharan, being a Hindraf leader. But Uthayakumar has publicly agreed to being one of the five Hindraf lawyers together with his long standing friend Manoharan even to this date. The other two newcomer Hindraf lawyers’ involvement with Hindraf was only for about three months prior to the Nov 25, 2007 rally. (See Uthayakumar’s book “25th November 2007” in www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com for the full chronology of their participation).

The fact remains that there have been five Hindraf lawyers, never five Hindraf leaders. The five Hindraf leaders propaganda is the top Umno and police special branch ploy and agenda to include one police plant, non-lawyer ASP Vasantha Kumar and also to project him as one of the top five (non-existent) Hindraf leaders for the “destroy Hindraf from within plan”, dubbed Ops Padam Hindraf.

This ASP was appointed a “Hindraf leader” by no less than the then inspector-general of police Musa Hassan on Dec 13, 2007 by merely being detained as one of the five “ISA detainees cum five Hindraf leaders”.

A Google search before this ASP’s supposed ISA detention reveals zero postings or involvement in any NGO, let alone any political party. Was he clutched from thin air?

The other three of the supposed “five Hindraf leaders” suffered a great deal during their ISA detention as they were caught off guard and never expected to be detained as they were never part of the day-to-day operations of Hindraf but merely invited as speakers by Uthayakumar and Waytha Moorthy at the various nationwide Hindraf public forums in the prelude to the rally.

Also they have never been involved in the policy making and decision making process in Hindraf. And after their release, they are back happily with their families and concentrating on their careers, never wanting to risk getting arrested again for the Hindraf cause. We respect their wish.

For people in the know, Uthayakumar, unlike all the other five Hindraf lawyers, including Waytha Moorthy, has been a human rights activist for about 20 years and his ISA arrest was his tenth arrest.

Waytha Moorthy has given up legal practice and is working full time on Hindraf from London. So has Uthayakumar who has also given up legal practice although he has a practicing certificate.

One of these non-existent five Hindraf leaders told us that he earns up to RM30,000 per month and that his law library alone is worth RM800,000 and has applied to migrate to Australia. Another has become the director of the lucrative Selangor sand mining company Semesta and another a state assemblyman. This accounts for the rest of the three non-existent “five Hindraf leaders”. We don’t blame them. In fact, it is their right not to want to risk another arrest.

If indeed there was this “five Hindraf leaders” as Umno and their Pakatan Rakyat Indian mandores keep repeating from time to time (especially in the Tamil media to confuse and divert the Indian poor) with the latest being now, immediately after the Feb 27 Hindraf rally when Hindraf’s ratings went up:-

1. Why has the “director” as one of the “Hindraf leaders” refused to return the RM50,000 bail money from the Hindraf public donations to our Chartered Accountants Pathmarajah & Co Maybank account No. 514075010438 especially so now that 53 Hindraf supporters have been prosecuted in court and are in dire need of bail money and money to pay their lawyers and fines? Wouldn’t it be something that comes naturally for a genuine Hindraf leader?

2. Why have these “five Hindraf leaders” refused to represent the 53 Hindraf supporters prosecuted in court? (except for Manoharan and Uthayakumar)

3. Why didn’t these “five Hindraf leaders” independently organise another Hindraf rally at KLCC in two weeks’ time (or ever do so) to protest against Umno’s atrocities and the non-fulfillment of Hindraf’s 18-point demand? This will be the most accurate litmus test as to whether one is a true Hindraf leader.

4. And organise nationwide forums on Umno’s non-fulfillment of the Hindraf-18 point demand.

5. Why have they abandoned the Hindraf 18-point demand?

6. Note that these “five Hindraf leaders” have refused to speak up against the very serious Umno racism and religious supremacy vis-a-vis the Hindraf 18-point demand.

But instead Umno and their top police special branch very desperately want the “five Hindraf leaders” up in one platform with the primary ulterior objective being that these five will end up quarrelling. They also use the Tamil media to yet again divert the people’s attention away from the real problems of the Indians.

As had been the case of S Samy Vellu and S Subramaniam fight in the last 30 years and many other Indian mandore fights such as those involving PPP’s M Kayveas and T Murugiah, Makkal Sakti’s R Thanenthiran versus Ipoh Vethamurthi, the real culprit, Umno, gets away scott-free.

While we acknowledge the media coverage in the three Tamil dailies on the Indian poor, we regret however that creating this Indian versus Indian fight under Umno’s instructions is the single biggest disfavour they are doing to the Indian poor. (See Malaysia Nanban 6/3/2011, page 3).

To us, we will not bite this Umno bait.

S Jayathas is the information chief for Hindraf Makkal Sakti and the Human Rights Party.

New Flash 9:30pm : Police Outside Hindraf & HRP National Advisor , Mr N Ganesan in Penang

Mr Ganasan was not in his house. A 111 PCP notice was served on his wife. On his return from Ipoh, the noticed required him to be present at local police station on 18-3-11 with regards to the Makkal Shakti forum at Farlim which was never allowed, the police who cordon off all the road to the hall and the hall itself.
Racist UMNO Police are still at Hindraf and HRP throat.

Injuction granted, demolition thwarted

High school students among arrested

Injuction granted, demolition thwarted

The Bukit Jalil estate residents obtained an interim injunction for 21 days from the court, thwarting DBKL's plan of evicting them.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Jalil estate residents scored a minor victory this morning when the court granted an injunction against the demolition of their houses.

When lawyers N Surendran and Fadiah Nadwa Fikri told the residents about the court order, the news was greeted with a resounding applause.

Also present were Human Rights Party (HRP) pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan, Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Shaani Abdullah, MIC Youth members and scores of other activists.

There were no Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers at the scene.

DBKL is looking to evict some 41 families, some of whom have been living on the estate for generations.

In 1980, the government acquired the land for redevelopment and the land is said to be owned by Bukit Jalil Development Sdn Bhd.

The government offered RM23,000 each to residents who have worked on the estate for more than 15 years while the rest were offered RM11,000 each.

However, DBKL refused to grant four acres of land requested by the residents to build low cost houses.

On March 1, DBKL issued new eviction notices to the residents and the deadline expired yesterday.

Arutchelvan, however, reminded the residents that their problem was merely postponed for the time being.

“This is a political struggle. It’s now up to the Barisan Nasional government whether they want grant the four acre land or get a court order to quash the injunction,” said the PSM leader.

He added that there was no law in Malaysia that provided a safety net for the poor and was sceptical that the court would give residents a fair trial.

“We will take it up in the courts but it is up to the latter whether they want to uphold justice or serve to please its political masters,” he added.

Shaani called upon the government not to neglect its social responsibility when dealing with the poor.

“This is not only about former estate workers but the democratic process itself.

“As a responsible government, they should respect democracy and not resort to using emergency laws to evict people as it is against human rights,” he said, refering to the previous eviction orders issued under the Emergency Ordinance.

Among the non-governmental organisations present were Oppressed People’s Network (Jerit), Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Malaysia (Gamis) and Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Residents Association (Permas).

Malaysia broke human rights pledges, says watchdog report

The Malaysian Insider
by Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 — Malaysia failed to live up to the human rights standards it had committed to in 2006 in its pre-election pledge to the United Nations Human Rights Council (Council), a Commonwealth human rights watchdog said yesterday.

A report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) that corresponds to the first two years after the March 2008 election said that Malaysia made little progress to advance human rights domestically, allegedly using “draconian legislation” to stifle dissent instead.

“While Malaysia claimed in its pledge that it had succeeded in achieving a balance between human rights and security requirements, the continued use of draconian colonial-era security legislation suggests otherwise,” said the CHRI.

“Malaysia made specific commitments to advance the rights of vulnerable groups, including refugees and asylum seekers. The findings of the report indicate, however, that little substantive progress was made on this pledge.

“Malaysia further pledged to work towards making the council a strong body. Despite this pledge, the report’s findings show that Malaysia mostly voted to shield countries with human rights situations of serious concern from international scrutiny,” the international NGO said.

In 2006, Malaysia was one of 18 Asian candidates that contested the 13 seats reserved for Asia in the council. Malaysia was elected fifth in the Asian Group, with 158 votes.

Malaysia decided not to seek re-election to the council when its three-year term ended in May 2009.

The report titled “Easier Said Than Done” said that Malaysia allegedly continued to used “draconian legislation” such as sedition and press laws to stifle dissent.

It noted that “the highly controversial Internal Security Act” which allows for detention without trial remained in effect at the end of the reporting period, which was from mid-2008 to mid-2010.

“Journalists in Malaysia were reportedly harassed and opposition members were intimidated. Much needed police reforms did not occur, while police abuse, custodial deaths and extrajudicial killings were frequently reported.

“Additionally, the death penalty and corporal punishment continued to be practised. Malaysia’s National Human Rights Commission remained weak, while discrimination based on religion and ethnicity continued to be a major concern,” it added.

The CHRI also said that despite Malaysia’s pledge to actively support international action to advance the rights of vulnerable groups including children, refugees, asylum seekers and legal and illegal migrants still suffered and child marriages continued to take place.

Malaysia also discouraged the efforts of United Nations Special Rapporteur investigators on torture to consider whether the death penalty constituted a form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, said the report.

“It also reacted strongly against an attempt by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression to comment on the defamation of religions,” the CHRI wrote.

The CHRI also reported that Malaysia discouraged scrutiny of Myanmar and Sri Lanka, looked at Cambodia positively, supported weaker resolutions on Congo and Sudan and abstained from voting North Korea and a resolution on discrimination based on religion or belief.

According to the CHRI website, it is an independent, non-partisan, international non-governmental organisation, mandated to ensure the practical realisation of human rights in the countries of the Commonwealth.

Tamil schools have to even beg for traffic lights for pupils to cross roads and concrete slabs to cover drain to also act as pick up and drop off point.

(see NST 12/3/2011 at page S4)

30% drop in serious crimes police trick: arrest and prosecute mere suspects, force them to plead guilty and send them to jail.

 
When they have no money to raise even RM 1,700 bail what more to pay the lawyers legal fees and cannot take leave to attend the many court hearing days the racially profiled Indian poor mere suspects are forced to plead guilty whether they are guilty or not.
While scores of thousands of these Indian poor are jailed it is win win win for UMNO, their racist police force, racist Attorney General Gani Patail and their mindless  DPPs’, UMNO Courts and a big lose, lose, lose for the defenceless Indian poor.
(see NST 10/3/2011 at page 6)
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

PROHAM are you serious?

We laud the setting up of “Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia” (Proham).(Report in the Star 13th March 2011) As much as we are appreciative of the formation of yet another Human Rights organization in the country, we are equally apprehensive that this may be just another toothless Human Rights organization or worse still yet another organization to legitimize current UMNO regime’s racist practices.

What makes us apprehensive at the outset that this organization may amount to very little more, if at all, is the fact that it totally lacks new credible Human Rights Defenders’ in the list of its officers. All the leading office holders except two are ex-Suhakam Commissioners. One does not need to be reminded of Suhakam’s record of defending Human Rights in the country – it is shameful, to say the least. And most of the office holders in this new organization are part of that same Suhakam team to whom that shameful record may be attributed. Can we be faulted for our apprehensions premised on this very very sad and continuing experience.

For starters Proham wants to begin its career on March 21st 2011 with a roundtable discussion on “ the United Nations Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination”, in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrim-ination.

Noble as that sounds, it appears that it will be just more vague talk as with all the toothless talk they have engaged in, in the past while in Suhakam. If the Proham Officers are serious and mean real Human Rights business and want to make a difference to the nation, and not just to use Proham to further burnish their individuals biodata, then they should conduct a more relevant and specific discussion on the current controversy surrounding the novel “Interlok”. They should invite people from across the spectrum for a panel discussion on 21st of March 2011 instead, to evaluate the truth of the allegations that the book is racially divisive and a tool to perpetuate racism by UMNO.

We would like this to be an open and meaningful discussion. It is our clear opinion that the UMNO government promotes its racist ideology through covert means by making this book a part of the compulsory education curriculum for the young of our country. Containing many serious negative racial stereotypes, this book damagingly perpetuates the Ketuanan Melayu racist ideology subtly into the future. It is this kind of racist tendencies within society that organizations like the Human Rights Party or Proham or Suhakam are supposed to check. Does Proham have it in its DNA to rise to the challenge.

So, Proham, if you are serious – do not begin in vagueness, begin with your end clear in mind.

N.Ganesan

National Advisor

Hindraf Makkal Sakthi and the Human Rights Party

2,100 (Malay muslim only) students in Japan studying under full government scholarships. But Indian poor excluded.

(see Sunday Star 13/3/2011 at page N 3)

Hindraf Rally 300 over arrested, 53 prosecuted (3 years jail) but Malay muslim protest with standing on coffin but zero arrest or prosecution by UMNO police and A.G. Gani Patail

(see Sunday Star 13/3/2011 at page N4)

Uthaya: What Hindraf 5 reunion?

The most well-known face of the Hindraf five claims to be in the dark about the so-called plans for a reunion.

PETALING JAYA: P Uthayakumar is in the dark about the so-called “Hindraf 5 reunion” being planned by the Malaysian Indian Voice (MI-Voice).
The Human Rights Party (HRP) pro-tem secretary-general also stressed that he does not recognise the Hindraf 5.
“I am not aware of any Hindraf 5 reunion. I am not aware who the Hindraf 5 are. I am just the legal adviser to Hindraf,” he said.
Uthayakumar was responding to a FMT report on March 7 which quoted former Hindraf leader V Ganabatirao’s brother and MI-Voice chairman Raidu as stating that a reunion was on the cards.
He had said that they were persuading Uthayakumar to attend the reunion, scheduled to be held in Klang in May.
Following their mammoth street protest in 2007, five Hindraf leaders were jailed for nearly two years under the Internal Security Act.
Apart from Uthayakumar and Ganabatirao, the others were M Manoharan, K Vasanthakumar and R Kenghadharan.
However, there was a split in the ranks, leading Uthayakumar and his brother Waythamoorthy to rename Hindraf as Hindraf-Makkal Sakti.
Uthayakumar’s three conditions
Meanwhile, Ganabatirao told FMT that MI-Voice had roped in Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar’s aide, T Balakrishnan to negotiate with Uthayakumar to participate in the reunion dinner.
According to him, Uthayakumar had listed three conditions to confirm his attendance.
They are:

1. The RM50,000 bail money posted by Raidu for Uthayakumar must be returned to Uthayakumar.
2. A total of 15 parliamentary and 38 state seats that have been identified must be allocated for HRP in the next general election.
3. Only Waythamoorthy, who is currently in London, must be acknowledged as Hindraf’s leader.

Ganabatirao said Mi-Voice rejected the conditions and explained why.
“The RM50,000 is still deposited in the court because Uthayakumar’s case has not ended,” he said, adding that the movement wanted to use the money for the development of Tamil schools.
He said it was impossible to agree to the second condition because there were already Indian politicians being elected reps in the identified seats.
As for the third condition, Ganabatirao stressed on the importance of equal status as opposed to Waythamoorthy being crowned leader.
MI- Voice said that the reunion dinner would be attended by Pakatan Rakyat heavyweights such as Anwar Ibrahim, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Lim Guan Eng.

HRP: Legal strategy in place to free 53

(Malaysiakini) The Human Rights Party today said that it has formulated a legal strategy to force the government to drop the charges against 53 of its national and grassroots leaders.

"We are preparing a legal strategy to file in the KL High Court. I don't want to reveal too much about it but we are asking the court to declare the 53 charges of taking part in an activity organised by an illegal organisation as ultra vires Article 10 of the constitution," said HRP secretary-general P Uthayakumar at a press conference at the party headquarters in Bangsar.

Article 10 of the federal constitution provides for the freedom of association.

Uthayakumar also questioned the arrest under section 43(5) of the Societies Act for participating in an illegal society, contending that Hindraf has already submitted an application with the Registrar of Societies.

"We submitted our application. It is they who denied it. If at all Hindraf is illegal, then so is Umno because Umno was declared illegal in the 1987 crisis. It is only Umno Baru that is not illegal."

However, he points out, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak calls himself the president of Umno, not Umno Baru.

He argued that under Article 8 of the constitution, all citizens are guaranteed equal treatment and protection under the law.

"If they arrest us, they should also arrest the PM and Umno ministers," contended Uthayakumar who maintains that Umno is an illegal organisation.

Uthayakumar was referring to 53 HRP leaders who are being charged with participating in an activity organised by an illegal organisation.

The 53 were charged during the course of the last two weeks.

He said that the total bail required by the court thus far is RM111,000. While HRP has collected RM18,870 in donations from the public, the party appeals for more help to alleviate the costs, said Uthayakumar.

HRP: Legal strategy in place to free 53