25/4 W.Vwashnavi presents flower and memo to King

Daughter of Hindraf leader presents letter to palace

By PAUL CHOO and AMANDA CHRISTI

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters gathered at Istana Negara here Friday in solidarity for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the release of its five members detained under the Act.
The group's intent was penned in a letter purportedly written by Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy' s five-year-old daughter Vwaishhnnari, who was accompanied by her aunt during the event.
The three-page letter, childishly written on yellow paper with stickers of comic character Garfield wearing a royal crown and wielding a scepter requested for the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to abolish the "draconian ISA".
It read: "It is my humble request that you urge the Prime Minister to abolish the draconian ISA in your opening Royal Address in Parliament on April 29th and advise the Prime Minister to treat all Malaysians, especially the minority communities equally.
"Thank you Your Highness and I would eagerly wait for your speech before the TV," it further read.
Among other points raised in the letter included that "five of my uncles have been kept in jail without trial" and "many others are also held for very long, as the government claims they are JI members without proof".
Vwaishhnnari remained shy and rarely spoke throughout the event as she was carried by her aunt M. Philomena, 48, a housewife.
"I passed this letter to the Chief Minister of Penang yesterday, noting him of the matter.
"I deeply feel my father's absence and miss him dearly," she said when approached by reporters.
Her father is currently in London in self-imposed exile.
The five-year-old later presented the letter to the palace. The letter was received by the senior private secretary of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
She was accompanied by Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Teluk Intan MP M. Manogaran, Hindraf coordinator S. Jayathas and lawyer N. Surendran.
A squad of policemen closely monitored the 30-minute gathering which ended at noon.