Candle and special Prayers in Taiping GH yesterday (27th Jan 08)

Hi all,
Vanakam,
There were almost 1000 ppl visited Hindraf heroes, Mr . Uthaya and Mr Mano M whom were admitted in Taiping GH yesterday.
The turn out was high as it was Sunday and many from all over the country from came to see the glimpse of their heroes and to show their well wish to them.
I spoke to few of them whom gathered at 4C ward lobby, all of them greet to each other by saying Vanakam, Vaalge Makkal Sakthi regardless of gender and age.
This new phenomena and its a prove of unity awareness among the Msian Indian after the 25/11 Hindraf awakening.
They even brought in their family including children as far as from JB to visit their heroes.
A man by the name of Siva from JB says he is with his family as he looks this a family struggle and it is for the betterment of his kids. He wants them to know who is Uthaya and why he is in the hospital.
The unity spirit was high and I believe it was the big step winning for HINDRAF cause.
Ppl were streaming waiting for their turn to go and see him from the outside of glass door. There are almost 4 Kamunting detention staffs at each room.
The visitors are allow to see him from outside and wave hand with smile which Uthaya repeatly waving one and with the support of another hand as he is still on drips.

We came with an idea and I rush to nearest shop to some manila card and marker, later I communicate to him thru these manila card writing.
We wrote some supporting word and thank him for the entire guide he had lead. Wish him fast recovery and many more.
He was really impressed and happy that he able to get the message across.
His smiles are signs of his courage.

Later abt 7.30 pm were did the candle vigil which been held daily since last Friday nite.
Yesterday there were abt 80 children and they lead the vigil with more than 200 others for more than 1 hours at the car park beside the ward.
Both Uthaya and Mano could see the vigil from their room and slowly waving hand to support the vigil down there.
A police patrol car did came half way of the vigil and was just watching us from far. Nothing done.

The crowds disperse peacefully and with a small prayer for their heroes.
Today is the last day of the hunger strike and we hope all will be ok for all of them.
For those whom are nearby pls do come to the Hospital today evening to show our support.
Vaalge Hindraf.
Vaalge Makkal Sakthi,

Kannan Ramasamy

A Letter From Well Wisher

My husband, kids and I were at the Subramaniam Temple, Port Kelang for Thaipusam (23.01.2008). As in previous years, we would have gone to Batu Caves, except this time around we decided to support the protest against The Batu Caves Temple Management by not patronizing their organization. The celebrations that was the grandest to date at Port Kelang deserves a whole piece of its’ own. What was really an incredible experience for my family and I, was something else that was happening at the temple grounds. To the right of the temple proper was a podium with banners of pictures of the HINDRAF leaders who were in ISA detention. The banners proclaimed in English “HINDRAF Peaceful Assembly Struggle” and “Release Our Leaders”. Having seen quite a number of youths and elderly people with an orange T-Shirt and scarf emblazoned with ‘Makkal Shakti (People’s Power) on them at the celebrations. I assumed the podium was a place about the ongoing protests of the Indian community in the country. Some were sleeping and others seated. Those seated were quite. They were neatly dressed but looked drained. But what was going on was something more significant, emotionally powerful and almost groundbreaking in Malaysian history. Some In front of the group were a few young men in the orange “Makkal Shakti’ T-shirts selling car stickers and being spokespeople for what was going on. I could see everywhere the youths with Makkal Sakthi T-Shirts are serving foods, provide drinks, cleaning temple compound, controlling traffics and etc… Looking at these people I felt a sudden sense of wanting to do something but not knowing exactly what. As we stood there near the podium we could hear people offering donations. These were politely refused by the young men. They said that they were protesting and praying and not for money. Wow! What a wonderful team with marvelous co-ordination and dedication. It was from these men that we found out that the people on the podium were on a hunger strike. From the 20th of January 2008 which was 3 days ago. They would fast until the 25th. Some of them it seams had to take some water occasionally. Two of them had been admitted to hospital. We were informed that there was a doctor on standby to monitor the situation. We (my husband and I) froze completely when we were told that the fast was a peaceful protest against the detention of the HINDRAF leaders under ISA. I started crying first. I told my husband that suddenly I felt so helpless. It didn’t take my husband’s eyes long to fill up with tears. My mind was filled with questions of who were these people who decided to leave their families and sacrifice their health to stage this fast. They looked like people that I see everyday. But they were special. These were people who had made a physical, mental and emotional commitment to a cause that me and my circle of friends just talk about. My colleagues and friends, we talk a great deal. We talk and discuss about the nuances and undercurrents of Malaysian politics and about the motivations of HINDRAF. My husband and I realized that we would be going back to our home after a couple of hours. We would be going home to a good hot meal and shower and probably catch a nap before the evening was up. But the people at the podium would still be there: hungry and thirsty and worn out. For a cause. As we introduced our son and daughter to one of the protesters, he hugged them and simply said “Hey, it’s for you and your future we are doing this for.” As we left, we thanked the protesters for what they were doing with a “Makkal Sakthi Spirit“.

Uthayakumar Photo at Taiping Hospital

"PHOTO OF UTHAYAKUMAR IN HOSPITAL BEING HANDCUFFED TO BED AND SUPPORTERS OF HINDRAF HOLDING VIGIL OUTSIDE OF HOSPITAL AND PRAYING IN NEARBY TEMPLE"

Picture of Candle Light Vigil By Hindraf Supporters at Penang Thaipoosam 2008

Dear Sir,

My Family members and me keeping the spirit high by listening to our Hon.P.Uthayakumar speech by viewing the CD of 18th Nov Speech at Butterworth. We are preparing to go for the Campaign of Red Yellow Flower to present the Flowers to Malaysian Prime Minister. We will continue our Struggle.I have include the Picture of Candle Light Vigil by Supporters at Thaipoosam. The crowd estimate about 1000 to 1500 people who carried candle light. Happy with the Support when i saw it live. VAALGE HINDRAF
Take Care your Health Sir. I really Missed all our 5 Heros who currently held under ISA.

From
Vemal
Kepala Batas.

Public holiday won't solve Indian woes

Indians must not be hood-winked by gimmicks

It must have been a great scene – 15,000 Indians from all over the country packing the Cheras badminton stadium in Kuala Lumpur and greeting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with a thunderous standing ovation and bursting into applause at his declaration that Thaipusam a public holiday for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.It must have been indeed a great morale booster for the prime minister and more so for MIC president,Datuk Seri Samy Velu,whose credibility has been seriously undermined since the Hindaf rally last November.

Prime Minister aknowledging to applause(Malaysiakini)
We are told that busloads of people were ferried to the stadium, entertained by singers and provided food and drinks. I wonder how many of them would have really turned out for ‘An evening with the prime minister’ if they were subjected to the same conditions as the Hindraf protesters on Nevember 25 – no police permits, own transport, police intimidation, tear gas, water canons, arrests and imprisonment?

Large crowd in Cheras Badminton Stadium(Malaysiakini)By granting a public holiday the government and Samy Velu hope the problems of the Indian community will be overcome, at least for another five years. Is the Indian community so naïve as to believe this simplistic solution to their problems? If that was so then the Hindraf leaders must be stupid for having resorted to their actions, branded as terrorists and jailed under ISA.

The problems of the Indians are more complex and deep rooted to be solved by declaring Thaipusam a holiday. Their pathetic state of the Indians is due to the accumulated effects of their marginalization in the government and private sectors for over 50 years. They have been systematically denied their dues in the pretext of restructuring society.

In fact the PM says he had to make it a holiday more because of the massive traffic that occurs on Thaipusam day in the Federal capital, rather than giving in to the demands of the Indian community.Furthemore he dare not even declare it a national holiday as requested by the MIC and the Indians community for more than 10 years. Most Malaysians believe it is more of a political gimmick coming at a time of general elections.

What the Indian community needs now is not another public holiday; many young Indians have more than they need, as they are unemployed. What they need is fair opportunities for education, training, jobs and business. They need fair opportunities in the civil service, police and armed forces. Selection for recruitment into these institutions and admissions to public universities must be based strictly on merits. They want freedom to practice their culture and religion without official impediment.

In short they want to be treated with respect and dignity as equal citizens in the country they helped to develop.Is this too much to ask from the government they helped to elect and stood by for 50 years?

Dr.Chris Anthony

Thousands at MIC's 'evening with PM'

RK Anand Malaysiakini Jan 20, 08 9:59pm

Thousands of Indian Malaysians packed the Cheras badminton stadium in Kuala Lumpur in a show of support for Barisan Nasional (BN) and MIC this evening.Since afternoon, busloads of people were ferried to the stadium amidst heavy police presence for the event themed ‘An evening with the prime minister’.

The crowd, which numbered around 15,000, were kept entertained by singers belting out inspirational Tamil songs from the yesteryears.Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation when he appeared, announced in his speech later that a public holiday will be declared for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya for the Thaipusam festival.

“If there is no public holiday, the whole of Kuala Lumpur will be jammed up. So might as well give a public holiday,” said the premier, whose announcement was met with a roar of approval.

At present Thaipusam is a public holiday in Negri Sembilan, Perak, Penang, Johor and Selangor.Abdullah, who was accompanied by his wife Jeanne, said this was the biggest MIC gathering he has attended.“I am overwhelmed by the Indian community’s support for BN,” said the premier, who also praised MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu.“I want to tell you the truth, Samy Vellu has been fighting for you in the cabinet,” he said.

Describing MIC as an “old friend”, Abdullah said BN will help the party if it is plagued by problems.Apart from this, the prime minister also announced that he will set up a “high-powered committee” to tackle hardcore poverty among all races.
Abdullah said the government aims to eradicate hardcore poverty by 2010 and vowed that no race will be left behind.“We will fight for all races. That’s my promise to you. I don’t want our children to lose out on education because of poverty,” he stressed to another round of thunderous applause.‘Stay united’

In his speech earlier, Samy Vellu said the Indian community has always been a strong supporter of BN. “Only MIC can, only BN can represent the Indians in this country. Nobody else can,” said the veteran politician.The MIC president also cautioned the Indian community not to fall prey to certain quarters who wanted to sow seeds of disunity.

“These quarters claim that the government has not done anything for the Indians over the past 50 years. They aim to break the community’s trust and support for BN.“But I am convinced that the community will not be easily swayed,” said Samy Vellu, who also enthralled the crowd by belting out a Tamil song on the importance of unity.

Admitting that there are problems in relation to the community, especially in the public delivery system, Samy Vellu said MIC has asked the premier to form a special mechanism, not only to monitor, but also ensure that the Indian community benefits from the opportunities provided by the government.

“MIC is confident that our prime minister will ensure that in the next 30 months before the Ninth Malaysia Plan ends, the government machinery will resolve the problems faced by the community,” he added.
Samy Vellu also praised Abdullah as a leader who feels for all races and creeds. “His ears are always open to hear and solve the people’s woes. He is our leader, he is the leader of all Malaysians.”For the critics and detractors, the MIC president had this to say: “We only attack from the front, we do not attack from the back. We only speak the truth.”

He also stressed that the party’s election machinery is prepared to face the general election which is expected to be called soon.MIC has pushed itself into overdrive by organising numerous events following the mass street rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) on Nov 25.
Since then, the party has come under intense criticism for allegedly failing to uplift the Indian community and protecting its rights.Hindraf has also accused the government of marginalising Indians in the country and subjecting them to persecution, charges which have been vehemently denied.

Five Hindraf leaders have since been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for allegedly being a threat to national security.Also present at today’s event were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil and Federal Territories Minister Zulhasnan Rafique.

MEGA PONGGAL FEAST

Pictures of Prayers Held in Kulim

PRAYERS NATIONWIDE

Kg Pandan Sri Ganesar Temple prayer‏.








Poojai was held in Kepong Mariamman Temple On The 14 Jan 2008, 7pm. Around 300 plp attended the poojai.

HIndraf Prayers

Dear my dear indians,

All this month makkal sakti agenda at North. plz update if i miss any other makkal sakti activites.

12-1-08 Saturday 6.30pm Sri Sakti Durga Amman Temple, Gurney Plaza, Kelawai Road, Penang Island.

18-1-08 Firday 5.00pm Pathal kaal - Makkal sakti Thaneer pathal beside WD (Komaq) Waterfall Penang.

20-1-08 Sunday 4.00pm ( time to be confirmed again) Taman bandar baru, sungai Lalang Sg. Petani Temple . - Mega Ponggal Vila Kedah. Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. (nationwide together same time)

23-1-08 Wednesday the all day event Makkal Sakti Thaneer Pathal 8.00pm - Candle light walk ~ ISA.

Plz attend all this events and show united. we need more voluteer to help this all acitivites. Plz sms others and forwards.

Valga Tamilan. Valga Makkal sakti.

Arise, awake & not stop till the goal is reached! ,Vasantha Krishnan

India should impose economic sanctions on Malaysia: Ramagopalan

Chennai: Hindu Munnani Founder Ramagopalan has demanded that India should impose economic sanctions on the Malaysian Government which is devastating the rights of Malaysian Indians.

The statement released by him on this demand:

Attacks are ongoing on ethnic Hindus in Malaysia. False charges are being foisted by the Government of Malaysia to subdue the resolve of Malaysian Indians to defend their human rights.

The Hindu students are not allowed to pursue their studies in schools and colleges. They are being driven out of their jobs. Hindu houses and temples are being demolished.

Every human community has inherent rights to protest, in a democratic manner, for defending their human rights. Malaysian Government is disregarding this fundamental human right. Condemning this violation, Commonwealth should decide to debar the membership of Malaysia in the Commonwealth.

Until justice is rendered to Malaysian Hindus, Indian Government should ban imports of palm oil and other commodities from Malaysia. Malaysian Government should be compelled by India to protect the Hindus by slapping economic sanctions.

International Red & Yellow Roses Campaign"

Los Angeles California, Roses Rally (Red & Yellow Roses)

Date : February 16, 2008 (Saturday)

Time : 10 am - 2 pm

Venue : In Front of Consulate General of Malaysia Los Angeles (address: 550 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071)

Red Roses would signify HINDRAF's Love and Peaceful Struggle whilst yellow roses would signify the Demand for Justice for the 5 HINDRAF leaders held under the draconian laws and for the rights of the minority Indian community who have been neglected

War of Roses

Dear HINDRAF Supporters,

You may all have heard about the “War of Roses” declared by HINDRAF yesterday. Now the Government would understand that I have not accepted defeat and HINDRAF’S struggle would continue.

We would continue to peacefully fight for the release our 5 Leaders and demand that the Government meet our 18 demands submitted to the Prime Minister in July 2007.

I promise you that 16^th Feb 2007 would be an eye opener to the Government that Indians will never give up their struggle. We have remained silent for far too long. The Government finds it difficult to digest the fact that Indians have found strength to voice out their grievances.

So please send the message to all your friends by whatever means possible. We do not have the support of the media so we have to be independent and find our own way to spread the news. SMS are powerful tool at this time and age.

If you have friends overseas I suggest you ask them to organize one at their respective embassies and consulate offices as well. Never mind if it falls on Saturday. They can write to the embassy/consulate office to accept on a Saturday. They will oblige. After all the Roses are meant for the PM How can they disrespect the PM?

Kindly also take note that as policewatchmalaysia website is not available currently you could log on to www.hindraf.co.uk to find out latest news on Malaysia.

Thank you.

Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

HINDRAF

waytha@hotmail.com

8.1.08

PRAYERS FOR HINDRAF 5 IN SUNWAY AND TANGKAK

HINDRAF TO CONTINUE STRUGGLE WITH ROSES

HINDRAF

135-3 Jalan Toman 7

Kemayan Square 70200

Seremban N.Sembilan

7^th January 2008.

Press Statement

Re: HINDRAF LAUNCHES VALENTINE ROSES CAMPAIGN TO FREE ISA DETAINEES AND ASSERT RIGHTS OF MINORITY MALAYSIAN INDIANS WHO HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED SUPPRESSED MARGINALISED AND REMAINED PERMANENTLY COLONIZED COMMUNIY.

HINDRAF REQUESTS PRIME MINISTER TO MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO ACCEPT ROSES FROM AND ON BEHALF OF 70% POOR AND UNDERCLASS INDIANS.

On the 16^th February 2008 (Saturday) a minimum of 10,000 Malaysian Indians representing 70% of the poor oppressed suppressed and marginalized community would make themselves available to hand over red and yellow roses to the Honourable Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in conjunction with Valentine’s Day.

Red Roses would signify HINDRAF’s Love and Peaceful Struggle whilst yellow roses would signify the Demand for Justice for the 5 HINDRAF leaders held under the draconian laws and for the rights of the minority Indian community who have been neglected for the last 50 years since Independence by the Government.

The minimum of 10,000 Minority Indians would make themselves available as follows:

Date : 16^th February 2008 (Saturday)

Time : 11.00 am

Venue : Parliament House Kuala Lumpur

HINDRAF wishes to assert that this is purely a peaceful gathering with the view to present our beloved Prime Minister with Roses to enlighten him on the predicament and Cry for Justice of the Minority Indian community. The heart of the Indian community bleeds on the incarceration of their leaders under the ISA. It is hoped by accepting the roses the Prime Minister would be compassionate and understand to the needs of the Indian community.

HINDRAF requests the Prime Minister to attend personally to accept the roses or alternatively make his personal representative available to accept the same. We are amenable to change the venue if it is inconvenient with the Honourable Prime Minister.

We trust the Government would perfectly understand the peaceful gesture of Malaysian Indians and allow these poor oppressed and underclass to express their feelings through presentation of the Roses.

HINDRAF wishes the Honourable Prime Minister (an advance) “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.”

P.Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

Currently in London

waytha@hotmail.com

"MESSAGE FROM HINDRAF SUPPORTERS"

Good day mr. Waytha,

Hope god is always keeping you in good condition.

First of all i'll like to convey my personnel thanks to you and all our brothers in because of you guys our community begin to coming out from the dark; begin to think wisely .Happy to see the tremendous changes in our people's mentality and attitude. No more fights among our peoples.wow!!!! this all happened simply because of you guys. I'm here to inform you that we are the whole community standing behind you. we are conducting prayers almost everyday nationwide for our five brothers!! please lead us to keep going with our struggles!!! now for the time being you are the only person to guide us. go ahead with your struggles!!

"passion will die without constant injection of new inspiration".

"nobody on the face of these earth can make us feel inferior without our permission"

RAJ M.

Protect Hindus in Malaysia, BJP tells Govt

About 10,000 Hindu temples have been demolished in Malaysia since its independence from the UK 50 years ago, P Waytha Moorthy, Chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) in Malaysia told Leaders of Opposition L K Advani and Jaswant Singh in New Delhi on Thurday.

Apprising them of the plight of the “persecuted” Hindu community in his country, he said most of these temples existed from the British colonial days and were as old as 150 years. “Hindus are stripped of their dignity and self-respect by this act” by the vindictive manner in which their temples have been razed to the ground.

There has been a steady attempt to “Islamise” Malaysia ’s multi-faith population (in which Muslims constitute 55%). The Shariah Court ’s rulings are being made binding on non-Muslims, especially in matters of inter-faith marriages and the religious identity of children, he said.

Later, the BJP parliamentary party issued a statement condemning the Malaysian government’s policy of subjecting the country’s Hindu community in particular, and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) in general, to discrimination, injustice and persecution.

The issue also figured when Singapore ’s elder statesman and former Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew called on Advani. Lee not only fully shared his concern but also said, “discrimination on religious grounds in Malaysia affects not merely the Hindus. All the non-Muslim communities in Malaysia – Buddhists, Taoists and Christians – are getting worried.”

According to Waytha Moorthy, nearly 70% of the PIO population in Malaysia , which has been living in that country for over 200 years, remain manual labourers, living on daily wages. This underclass remains oppressed and suppressed, with the government making no special budgetary provision for their economic and educational advancement.

Waytha Moorthy said the number of Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam schools has dwindled drastically, even though the population has increased manifold. “The government’s neglect of the educational needs of the Indian community is deliberate, since the authorities want to cut off the PIOs’ cultural and spiritual heritage.”

Moorthy, who is a leading lawyer, briefed Advani and Jaswant Singh about the Malaysian government’s repressive crackdown of the peaceful, legitimate and democratic protests by the Hindus. He said the Hindus in Malaysia have always been loyal, law-abiding and peaceful citizens.

“Three lawyers involved in taking up the cases of HINDRAF and its supporters have been charged with sedition for speaking the truth. Thirty-one participants in the recent massive protest rally organized by HINDRAF have been falsely charged with murder under a law that denies them bail. All this is being done to instill fear among the Hindus, so that they will not come out again to protest,” Moorthy said.

The BJP statement said the party believes that India has a moral obligation to take up the case of injustice and persecution of Malaysian Hindus and PIOs with the authorities in Kuala Lumpur.

“The UPA government cannot shirk from this responsibility either out of its commitment to anti-Hindu pseudo-secularism or under the pretext that this is an internal matter of Malaysia."

Hindustan Times

New Delhi, December 06, 2007

Tamil organized group arrange the demonstration near ottawa Malaysian embassy

STAY FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION

THIS POSTING IS CONTRIBUTED BY A SUPPORTER OF HINDRAF. WE WISH TO ADVISE OUR SUPPORTERS NOT TO RESORT TO UNHEALTHY PRACTICES OTHERWISE THE STRUGGLE OF OUR FELLOW BROTHERS WHO ARE INCARCERATED UNDER ISA WOULD BE MEANINGLESS. FOR THEIR SAKE AND OUR COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL STRUGGLE WE URGE OUR SUPPORTERS TO REMAIN CALM AND LET US CONCENTRATE ON OUR ORIGINAL 18 DEMANDS FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIANS.

LET US STAY FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION AND LET US CHANNEL OUR GRIEVANCES DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNMENT.



( MIC Youth Leader, S.A.Vigneswaran)


MIC Youth Leader, S.A.Vigneswaran who went to Paya Besar, Kulim (on 6 Jan 2008) as part of his tour on a so-called meeting the Indians to explain the actual situation's was slap with a biggest protest who gather outside the hall. Around 200o people gathered to show their protest but less then 50 people attended the meeting. PDRM have no option other than calling in, FRU to control the crowd. One youth was detained after he kick and punch, vicky's car. The Indian youth has send a very strong signal of protest and police has to escort Vicky's car out of the area.

Message From Seelan - THE REAL HERO

Thank you all for your support during my fast. Thank you to all the Malaysians and Singaporeans who came down and those who called. Thank you especially, to the tree I was underneath, you sheltered me from the sun and the rain, and you gave me a place to lean when I was tired.
But this is only one small chapter of the struggle, the problems at large have not yet been solved. We must stand together as one, and keep taking action.
“It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” - Mikhail Bakunin
Seelan Palay
Singapore

There are protests everywhere

JAN. 2, SINGAPORE, JERVOIS ROAD—When I met him, Seelan Palay was reading a Tamil newspaper. He had not eaten in two and half days, had not had solid food in ten, and had not consumed more than one meal for seventeen. A third-generation Singaporean Tamil, Palay had whittled down his caloric intake gradually in preparation for a hunger strike. In time-honored South Asian tradition, the scruffy 23-year-old art school graduate was fasting in front of the Malaysian High Commission to protest government actions: in this case, neighboring Malaysia’s violent response to a peaceful rally of thousands of ethnic Indians at the end of November.

The November event, conducted under the umbrella of Malaysia’s Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), has mobilized Palay even in Singapore, where restrictions on freedom of expression are par for the course. The grandson of a South Indian gardener and a gravedigger from northern Sri Lanka, Palay is an old hand at causing a stir. Palay, a painter and video artist, attended the rally in Kuala Lumpur, and says that what he saw there—as Indians peacefully protested the Malaysian government’s treatment of their minority—moved him to action. (Some reports, including one from major Malaysian news source Malaysiakini, put the numbers of that rally as high as 30,000. Other sources say 10,000 attended. Palay was there in part to document the action.) Malaysian police met those rallying with tear gas and water cannons. Palay says he was among those tear-gassed. The government has detained five of the group’s leaders under the Internal Security Act, which gives officials broad powers and has little transparency. Palay says each day of his hunger fast is for one of the detainees. He’s petitioning for them to be released, charged and tried in an open and transparent way. At this point, the Malaysian government has offered no answer.
“Everyone deserves a fair trial,” he says. “It’s very unfair. These people are not even asking for a change of government. They’re asking for a change of policy…. That kind of response was just uncalled for.”

Palay says the Singaporean police have warned him to leave—they also asked him for an entertainment or exhibition license, but he told them his business was neither. He’s already well enough known to them from his other activism that they didn’t even ask for his national ID. When Malaysian High Commission officials started snapping pictures of his visitors, he says, he walked up to their guard booth to give them a better view. He aims to finish the fast and keep agitating for change of all kinds—preferably in protest-averse Singapore. (He’s also involved in animal rights issues and vegetarian groups.)

If I hadn’t known he was on a hunger strike, I would never have guessed it. Spare-framed but with a sturdy, steady look, Palay sounded articulate and energetic. Speaking over the buzz of an Indian laborer trimming the lawn of the spacious bungalow behind him that afternoon, Palay said he had received little support from Singaporean Indians.

What makes him willing to do this when so many other people are not?
“Because I understand that the culture of resistance, the freedom of expression is a universal concept,” he said.

“Sometimes a kind of indoctrination can make a whole generation and the generation to come suppress that kind of expression, but when I read history and when I read current affairs… There are protests everywhere, even in Malaysia. The lawyers march in the streets. That is all proof to me that just because I’m Singaporean and there’s no culture of this here—fine. I won’t wait for the change, I’ll make the change. I will set an example…. The people who are affected come here to show their appreciation. I get calls from Malaysia, and that is all I need to know. I am with them on this issue.”

Palay drinks only water and has four bottles leaning against the trunk of his chosen tree; he’s had diarrhea for the past few days, fights headaches, and says his muscles feel the strain. Sporting a goatee and a short ponytail, he looks—and often sounds—like his American university-age counterparts.
Palay’s protest made the newspapers in Singapore, as did the upheaval in Malaysia. In Singapore, South Asians are treated as well as anyone else—the government does not systematically favor Malays and Muslims, as it does in Malaysia.

There, government jobs and university seats are allotted with preferential treatment for Malays, and have been for decades. More recently, Hindus have complained of suspicious conversions to Islam: one widow was denied her husband’s body and was told after his death that he had converted to Islam. The man was buried; the widow is suing. But such cases are sometimes tossed between sharia (Muslim) courts and civil courts, leaving plaintiffs nowhere. Malaysians are grateful for Palay’s protest, he says—most days, those visiting him are Malaysian. Another friend, local human rights lawyer and anti-death penalty crusader M. Ravi, garlands him nightly. (Ravi’s not his lawyer yet. Seelan says that lawyers in Malaysia have said that if the Malaysian government denies him a visa to travel there, they will take up his cause.)

Palay’s other visitors that night also included an opposition party politician, Chee Siok Chin, who called Palay “rare.” Indeed, other young Singaporeans I spoke to during my visit told me its repressive attitudes towards open debate are part of what prompts them to go elsewhere.
His father, a taxi driver in Singapore, thinks that if Seelan is not afraid, he should do what he wants to do. But what about factory worker Amma?
“She cries a lot,” he conceded. But, “I had a personal experience. This is my personal response.”
He’s got a plan for that first meal Saturday morning already: mango juice, tea—and two vadai. When we left him, he was at T-minus two days.
Aside: The government tried to link HINDRAF to the LTTE, but this seems to me ridiculous.

Hindu identity makes the difference

Though the Malaysian Mohammedan state boasts that its society is multi-cultural and multi-faith and that it is tolerant to other religions, Wahabism, the intolerant, high handed oppressive brand of Mohammedanism is gaining ground with every passing day in Malaysia. Quite contrary to its earlier shade, Malaysia’s official dark green is becoming darker and darker very fast.

When Malaysia’s Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) chairman and Barrister at Law (Lincoln’s Inn) Shri P. Waythamoorthy was in Chennai on a mission to garner moral support to the agitating minority Hindus for their basic rights in his country, even most of the mediapersons repeatedly questioned him as to why should they focus on their religion while calling their organisation instead of projecting themselves either as Malaysian citizens of Indian origin or Malaysian Tamils.

The bewildered HINDRAF chairman was confused for a few seconds and soon recovered to retort: “It is because as Hindus by faith and culture that we face the challenge.”

The mediapersons were still uncompromising: If you call yourself an ethnic minority of Indian origin or Malaysian Tamils, it would be easier to get their voice heard at every quarter, they argued. Frankly speaking, this is the mindset of most of the people especially in Tamil Nadu, as a result of the ‘socio-political infection’ called pseudo- secularism and the seventy five years old influence of Dravidian movement that has sowed the seeds of parochialism in the minds of the gullible.

Shri Waythamoorthy sadly revealed that he had to face similar questions almost everywhere, even though he was explaining that the issues were related exclusively to the citizens of Malaysia as Hindus.

In the guise of development and improving infrastructure, hundreds of Hindu temples are being razed to the ground in the Malaysian capital, whereas deviation takes place in haste from the original plan if a mosque stands in the way. And many of these temples are hundred years old; some seventy five or fifty, constructed during colonial days.

Among those demolished, only a few were offered alternative sites but they are either adjacent to drainage or unfit for any congregation. Even then, after years of patience, Malaysian Hindus did not plan to air their objection to the Malaysian government. Their sole objective was to march peacefully to the office of the British High Commissioner to submit a memorandum to the queen of Britain to remind her Majesty’s moral responsibility in resolving their issues. Malaysian government, despite claiming to be a democracy, did not allow this normal democratic practice, and had also taken ruthless repressive measures to suppress their grievances, determined to teach them a lesson so that they do not dare in future to let off their steam in public.

Though the Malaysian Mohammedan state boasts that its society is multi-cultural and multi-faith and that it is tolerant to other religions, Wahabism, the intolerant, high handed oppressive brand of Mohammedanism is gaining ground with every passing day in Malaysia. Quite contrary to its earlier shade, Malaysia’s official dark green is becoming darker and darker very fast. This is the reality today, not only in Malaysia but all over the world, wherever Mohammedan community has its presence. Increase in the number of Mohammedan women in black burqua is the indication for Wahabism having taken deep and strong roots in their mohalla or jamat.

Issues before Malaysian Hindus for being Hindus are varied. Mother and child, husband and wife are forcibly separated if one’s name is mistakenly or purposely registered as Mohammedan. If any Hindu male gets converted to Mohammedanism, his wife and even major offsprings are automatically taken for granted to be Mohammedans. They are sent to religious reformation schools if they raise any objection to their forced conversion.

It is needless to explain that these so-called religious reformation schools are nothing but similar to concentration camps of communist countries. If a Hindu finds his or her religion wrongly registered as Mohammedan and application for rectification is filed, there ends the peaceful and normal existence of that person. The religious reformation school alias concentration camp opens its iron gates and until the person changes his or her mind and consents to be a Mohammedan, he or she is virtually a prisoner.

A recent case of this sort of arrogance is that of one young mother by name Revati, who was separated from her small baby and husband, and shut in the religious reformation school just because she wanted her religion to be corrected as Hindu in the records. All along, she had been a practising Hindu, living with her grand mother since her childhood, who is also a Hindu but her parents living elsewhere were converted to Mohammedanism at a point of time. That was enough for the administration to treat her also a Mohammedan. Again, a Hindu, just because either intentionally or inadvertently registered as a Mohammedan, when dies, is forcibly buried in a Mohammedan burial ground, deprived of Hindu rites.

These are some of the Hindu specific issues for people in Malaysia for being Hindus. And a Hindu wrongly recorded as Mohammedan wants to be officially corrected as Hindu so that he or she need not be under the purview of medieval Mohammedan civil code of Sharia that is in force in Malaysia. There is also much more socio-cultural neglect for being Hindus. In the light of these facts, it is quite essential for Malaysian Hindus to identify themselves as Hindus instead of projecting as citizens of Indian origin or Malaysian Tamils.

Calling themselves as people of Indian origin will make them vulnerable to the charge of being unfaithful to the country that has accepted them as its own citizens, still fond of being identified as people of the country from where their forefathers migrated. And if they pose as Malaysian Tamils, they would be voluntarily limiting their scope to a narrow linguistic circle in drawing attention and sympathy.

Today, Hinduism has become universal, true to its ancient characteristics of Vasudhaivakutum-

bakam. There are many non-Hindustanis who willingly and devotedly follow Hindu faith and its rich culture. In depth study of Hindu philosophy has drawn many non-Hindustanis to be staunch Hindus, without any need to getting converted to Hinduism ritually. And there are many Hindu organisations now with international reach to take up any Hindu cause. Also, many Hindus with the origin of Hindustan irrespective of the difference in their mother tongue are living as one community in various nations with legitimate citizenship.

Going by these factors, it is time not only for Malaysian Hindus but Hindus all over the world to identify themselves as Hindus so that the feel of oneness would solidly stand in support behind them in all their efforts to retain their faith and culture and assert their rights.

HINDRAF activities in England

2 HINDRAF meetings have been held in London and 1 is going on today, 6/1/08 at London Colony Village Club, St. Albans.
More than 50 people attended the first meeting in Highgate Hill Murugan Temple and 150 people for the second meeting in East Ham Murugan Temple.
The following special prayers had/is being held for the release of our 5 HINDRAF leaders captured under ISA colonial law:
Homam on 4/1/08 in East Ham Murugan Temple.
108 Swarna Pushpa Archana (108 gold Archana) on 5/1/08 at Chennai Viswaroopa Adhivyadhihara, Sri Bhaktha Anjaneyaswami, Tamil Nadu.
2 poojas on 6/1/08:
Arhana Ananthara Dharshan at Thirupathy, 5.30 a.m.
Special Kungumam Archanai at Padmavathy temple in Thirupathy (Perumal’s wife) at 9.00 am.
There are many activities, meetings, campaigns and rally (yes another peaceful) have been organised in the nearest future throughout England especially in London.
Overwhelming support from Malaysian Indians and also friends from other races as we are fighting for justice and equality. Hence, putting pressure on the racist UMNO led government of Malaysia.
Below are few pictures taken at the meetings and special prayers held in London.

Our view on the Bar Council (and the Malaysian Bar)

M Manoharan, P Uthayakumar, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau, - have they been forgotten? - 2008/01/05 21:07 M Manoharan, P Uthayakumar, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau are lawyers and are of 4 of 5 Human Rights Defenders that have been arrested and detained under the ISA and I am most disappointed because all that I have seen the Bar Council (and the Malaysian Bar) do is issue ONE press statement - and even in that statement, the names of those arrested were not even mentioned.

Since then, we ho have an on-going "No Detention Without Trial Campaign" seems to have been not doing anything in the form of a campaign to immediately and unconditionally secure their release.

The Malaysian Bar has allowed itself to be distracted by other matters --- and this is SCARY --- and it surely does not install much confidence in other lawyers who have stood up and may stand up for the cause of justice without fear and favour.

Do tell us also about the steps taken to assist these lawyers as far as their practice is concerned? Do tell us also about the steps taken to assist their family and dependents?

I expected a FULL-BLOWN campaign initiated and led by the Malaysian Bar to secure the release of not just these 5 but also the others who still continue to be detained under laws that allow for detention without trial.

I know that elections are over - but that do not mean that our leaders of the Bar are permitted time-off to rest, relax - celebrate Hari Raya, Christmas and New Year as our fellow brethren in law languish in Kamunting.

I know that our chairman of the Human Rights committee was also recently arrested and charged in court - but that is no excuse for procrastination in action demonstrated thus far...I wanted to call for the immediate resignation of Edmund Bon - but let us give him and his committee a chance to prove me wrong in my criticisms.

Some of us may not have liked Uthayakumar and his methods - but that does not excuse us for our lack of real action.

THIS must be the priority of the Malaysian Bar - let us wear arm-bands, badges, etc... in protest. Let us do a signature campaign. Let our President and the Vice President go on an hunger strike --- let us do something serious here to get those detained under these NDWT laws released immediately...

Ambiga, Ragu, State Bar Chairs, ....let us BEGIN..

In solidarity,

Charles Hector

In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place-Mahtma

Singapore artist protesting Indian detentions in Malaysia ends hunger strike

SINGAPORE -- A Singaporean artist calling for the release of five ethnic Indian activists detained in neighboring Malaysia ended his five-day hunger strike Saturday.

Seelan Palay, 23, had been camped outside the city-state's Malaysian High Commission since Monday, consuming nothing but water. Seelan, an ethnic Indian, was protesting the arrest and detention of leaders from the Hindu Rights Action Force who led a massive rally Nov. 25 in Kuala Lumpur to highlight what the group says is racial discrimination faced by ethnic Indians.

The group's leaders were arrested in December under Malaysia's Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial.

On Saturday, a crowd of supporters gathered around Seelan and presented him with a garland that he wore around his neck over a placard that read, "Give them fair trial."

"What I have done is only what I can do as an individual; if we had a hundred, we could make a difference," Seelan said. "One day, we will all achieve freedom."

Seelan said he hoped his hunger strike would draw attention to the detentions.

"I hope that the international community, regardless of race and religion, to look into this issue and pressure the Malaysian government to release the Hindraf five," he said.

Two men hoisted Seelan up and pumped their fists in the air as Seelan completed his protest.

"We are so proud that there is at least one Indian in Singapore supporting our cause," said Mayil Sapapathy, 36, an ethnic Indian from Malaysia who works in Singapore. "Indians like us don't get the same privileges in Malaysia like the ethnic Malays do."

Ethnic Indians form about 8 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people, and complain that the government denies them opportunities in jobs, education and business. They say that years of systematic repression have kept them at the bottom of society. The government denies this.

Officials could not be reached Saturday at the Malaysian High Commission, which was closed, while Singapore police said they had no comment on Seelan's protest.

Protests are rare in Singapore, where police permits are required for outdoor gatherings of more than four people.

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On behalf of HINDRAF and the entire Malaysian Indian community I thank and salute Seelan for his brave and sincere attempt to highlight the evil of ISA and seek the release of HINDRAF leaders.

Waytha Moorthy
chairman
HINDRAF

"He alone lives who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive" Swami Vivekananda

Mr.Waytha : HINDRAF TO CONTINUE STRUGGLE.

Today there was an article published in the Malaysian newspapers relating Hindraf. The statement the article refers to by Mr Waytha was unfortunately manipulated by the journalists giving out irrelevant and misleading information contrary to what Mr Waytha had actually said.

This is the latest statement released by Mr Waytha himself
Please spread the news to all of our fellows friends

MEDIA STATEMENT BY HINDRAF

RE: HINDRAF’S PEACEFUL STRUGGLE FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY INDIANS WILL CONTINUE TO THE END

HINDRAF WILL NOT GIVE UP EVEN IF WE ARE FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE .

MY STATEMENT TO AP TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT

On the 30th December 2007 I was interviewed by a journalist from the AP who had spent about 1 ½ hours interviewing me. I am equally disappointed that a small portion of the interview had been blown out of proportion to mean I am giving up the struggle of Hindraf or that the struggle is likely to die soon.

I wish to clarify the following:

a) I will continue to lead HINDRAF even if I’m on the move throughout the world.
b) HINDRAF’s struggle will not die “soon” as I have many plans lined up and will reveal to the Malaysian Indians in stages and with the support of PEOPLE POWER which we are witnessing now we will together continue to advocate and assert the rights of the Minority Indian community.
c) I will do all possible within my means to lobby support from the British Government Parliamentarians and Human Rights Organizations and these include our demand that the 5 Leaders of Hindraf be released unconditionally and the Minority Indian Rights which has been neglected over the last 50 years be protected. Thereafter I plan to continue the lobby to Europe, United Nations in Geneva , America , Canada , Australia and New Zealand .
d) HINDRAF would also be organizing various peaceful protests throughout the country to highlight the plight of the 70% poor underclass Malaysian Indian society and for the release of the 5 Leaders of which I would announce the first plan on Monday 7^th January 2008.
e) In the interview I was questioned what if after years (5-10years) of campaigning and lobbying the Government still doesn’t budge?

My answer was even if we are fighting a losing battle we will continue with the battle because not all battles are meant to be won. Great warriors do not worry about dying in the battlefield. If we are meant to loose we will loose so that someone else who take up the cause after us will win the war. If we loose after years of campaigning so be it we will call it a day. No one organization (including HINDRAF) can ever claim we are here forever and will continue forever. Nothing is permanent in this world and it also applies to HINDRAF.

PEOPLE POWER can continue with the struggle but the ultimate power lies in the Government. In Malaysia Indians are minority and the reality is we can’t form a Government to change the situation. So the responsibility lies in this Government to make the necessary changes in the interest of the minority Indian community.

f) In the said interview I repeated my statement which was given to the AFP about 2 years ago when I commented on the issue of temple demolition. I had then said that (on the issue of temple demolition) eventually we too would fail the community but I fear the outcome after that. “At the moment devotees are crying and begging but eventually they would not plead and cry any more”.

My fear which I had highlighted about 2 years ago came true when we all saw what happened at Padang Jawa Temple demolition. Devotees who were for the first time protecting the temple with their bare hands and yet the authorities had violently attacked them and though devotees were injured in the attempt they were arrested and charged with criminal offences.

I again wish to reiterate my fear. The Government has successfully locked up voices of peaceful struggle for democratic rights and dissent. People have no one they can trust to lead them as they are all locked up. All their hundreds of appeals, memorandums and letters to the Prime Minister written on their behalf by these leaders have gone to waste bins. What can you expect them to do next? These are poor people who are not educated to articulate their grievances in a refined manner. In these circumstances I honestly feel our “chapter” (HINDRAF’S peaceful struggle) has been forcibly closed by the Government and so they must expect a new chapter to be opened but we are not part of that chapter. If a new undesirable chapter is opened in the history of Malaysia then we hold the Government solely responsible for they have killed legitimate voices of dissent and peaceful democratic struggle by HINDRAF.

g) I was also quoted to have said the following, “…..if they can give us real concessions we are willing to keep our mouth shut I don’t look at myself as a sacrifier”.

1 ½ years ago I was interviewed by members of the Police Special Branch who had wanted to know my intentions of leading HINDRAF and my activities. Everyone would know that at that time HINDRAF was practically dealing on issues of Religious conversions (Article 121 1(A)) and Temple demolitions. Yes I did tell the Special Branch then that if the Government resolves at least the temple demolition issue and permanently gazettes all temples existing prior to independence I will “keep my mouth shut” and leave the public scene.

h) I will never regret for initiating HINDRAF and leading it to its current struggle. The Malaysian Indians have been cheated by the UMNO led Government over the last 50 years using “coalition” Indian political parties to pacify the Indian community whenever they complain their rights are trampled upon. The UMNO Government’s “divide and rule” policy seemed to have succeeded but not any longer. The Indian community can no longer be cheated

But my heart goes to the 5 HINDRAF leaders who have been made scapegoats by the Government. The irony is even our legal advisers namely Mr.R.Kengadharan and Mr. M. Manoharan who were purely acting for HINDRAF as legal advisers were not spared. They were both vigorously and couragesly defending us when various sedition and criminal charges were levelled against us. Their incarceration in particular are not acceptable for it goes against all tenets of basic Human Rights to detain lawyers who defend their clients. It proves the Government is vindictive and malicious and had intended to warn would be advocates of HINDRAF to “stay away” from representing us.

P.Waytha Moorthy

Hounslow

Middlesex