Hindraf five, urges law expert
PETALING JAYA: Review the case of the five Hindraf leaders being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and release them unconditionally, says former United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Datuk Param Cumaraswamy.
In a letter to Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Param urged Syed Hamid to release the five in the interest of justice and harmony in the country.
Param said one of those detained, M. Manoharan, was also elected a state assemblyman in Kota Alam Shah, which should be seen as a clear message that the electorate did not view him as a threat to state security.
He added that there was clearly no justification for the five to be detained any longer.
“Unite them with their families and allow Manoharan to serve his electorate effectively,” he said.
taken from the The Star.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Msian parties seek Hindraf leaders release from ISA
Malaysian party seeks Hindu Rights leaders' release Malaysia
Sun : Friday 4th April, 2008
(IANS)
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People's Movement Party), a liberal party with predominant Chinese support that is part of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), has joined the appeal for the release of five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.Gerakan National Legal Bureau chief Chang Ko Youn said the detention of the five leaders created 'unnecessary tension and unhappiness, especially among advocates of democracy and human rights', The Star newspaper said Friday.
Chang spoke on the day Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) chief S. Samy Vellu met Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar to formally seek release of the five leaders who have been detained for two years under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA).'We are seriously against any act that prescribes detention without trial, such as the ISA and Emergency Ordinance, as they are against the cardinal principles and law, that is each person is entitled to a fair trial and right to be heard,' said Chang.When the five were detained last December, he said, Gerakan had voiced its concern over the repercussions.'True enough, it was an issue during the March general election and voters turned against us partly because of the use of the ISA against the five Hindraf leaders,' Chang said.Vellu, who was minister in the government till he lost last month's election, told media after meeting Albar that he had made the 'request' and had left it to the minister to take a decision 'at an appropriate time'.Albar told him that this was a policy matter and would require a decision by the cabinet.Vellu earlier said he would meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
On Thursday, however, he said: 'Syed Hamid is the Home Minister and this matter is in his hands and not with the Prime Minister.'Samy Vellu said he had also raised the issue of 500 priests from India who had been unable to extend their work permits to continue operating in the temples in the country.
The government is contesting the release bid in the Federal Court where M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kengadharan, and K. Vasantha Kumar are appealing against the High Court's decision of Feb 26 to dismiss their applications for a writ of habeas corpus.
Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail told the apex court the five had been detained because the government had found that the five had organized a protest rally Nov 25 last year, a threat to the country's internal security.Patail said the government acted after police investigations showed that the Hindraf movement had 'incited racial sentiments and hatred' towards the government.'Looking at the matter objectively, one cannot say that the minister went on a frolic on his own,' he said, urging the court to dismiss defence counsel Karpal Singh's submission as 'mere baseless conjecture'
Sun : Friday 4th April, 2008
(IANS)
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People's Movement Party), a liberal party with predominant Chinese support that is part of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), has joined the appeal for the release of five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.Gerakan National Legal Bureau chief Chang Ko Youn said the detention of the five leaders created 'unnecessary tension and unhappiness, especially among advocates of democracy and human rights', The Star newspaper said Friday.
Chang spoke on the day Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) chief S. Samy Vellu met Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar to formally seek release of the five leaders who have been detained for two years under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA).'We are seriously against any act that prescribes detention without trial, such as the ISA and Emergency Ordinance, as they are against the cardinal principles and law, that is each person is entitled to a fair trial and right to be heard,' said Chang.When the five were detained last December, he said, Gerakan had voiced its concern over the repercussions.'True enough, it was an issue during the March general election and voters turned against us partly because of the use of the ISA against the five Hindraf leaders,' Chang said.Vellu, who was minister in the government till he lost last month's election, told media after meeting Albar that he had made the 'request' and had left it to the minister to take a decision 'at an appropriate time'.Albar told him that this was a policy matter and would require a decision by the cabinet.Vellu earlier said he would meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
On Thursday, however, he said: 'Syed Hamid is the Home Minister and this matter is in his hands and not with the Prime Minister.'Samy Vellu said he had also raised the issue of 500 priests from India who had been unable to extend their work permits to continue operating in the temples in the country.
The government is contesting the release bid in the Federal Court where M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kengadharan, and K. Vasantha Kumar are appealing against the High Court's decision of Feb 26 to dismiss their applications for a writ of habeas corpus.
Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail told the apex court the five had been detained because the government had found that the five had organized a protest rally Nov 25 last year, a threat to the country's internal security.Patail said the government acted after police investigations showed that the Hindraf movement had 'incited racial sentiments and hatred' towards the government.'Looking at the matter objectively, one cannot say that the minister went on a frolic on his own,' he said, urging the court to dismiss defence counsel Karpal Singh's submission as 'mere baseless conjecture'
Meeting With RT.HON Mr. L.K. Advani
MEETING WITH RT.HON. MR. L.K.ADVANI
LEADER OF OPPOSITION PARTY
LOK SABHA NEW DELHI ON 1ST APRIL 2008.
A meeting between the leader of Malaysia’s HINDRAF, an ethnic minority Rights Movement from Malaysia took place today at the Rt.Hon. Leader of opposition’s residence at No 30 Prithvi Raj Road New Delhi at 7.00 pm.
The meeting lasted for about 50 minutes.
Among matters discussed are as follows:
a) Detention without trial of 5 HINDRAF leaders detained under the Internal Security Act for advocating the rights of ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia.
b) Plight of ethnic minority Indian community who have been oppressed suppressed marginalized and remain a permanently colonized community.
c) Possibility of raising a motion in the Lok Sabha on the above issues.
d) Possibility of exerting economic pressure on Malaysia.
e) Possibility of sending a high powered delegation to make personal representations to the Malaysian Government.
f) Hindraf’s International campaign and its progress.
g) Future plans of HINDRAF.
Mr. Advani was also briefed on the condition of the 5 political prisoners and the sufferings of their family members. He showed particular concern to the medical condition of Mr. R. Kengadharan.
Mr.Advani was also surprised with the treatment and plight of the ethnic minority Malaysian Indians and the violations of their human rights. He was sympathetic and deeply disturbed with the situation and assured HINDRAF that he would do everything necessary to bring the matter up with the Indian Prime Minister.
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF.
Currently in New Delhi
LEADER OF OPPOSITION PARTY
LOK SABHA NEW DELHI ON 1ST APRIL 2008.
A meeting between the leader of Malaysia’s HINDRAF, an ethnic minority Rights Movement from Malaysia took place today at the Rt.Hon. Leader of opposition’s residence at No 30 Prithvi Raj Road New Delhi at 7.00 pm.
The meeting lasted for about 50 minutes.
Among matters discussed are as follows:
a) Detention without trial of 5 HINDRAF leaders detained under the Internal Security Act for advocating the rights of ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia.
b) Plight of ethnic minority Indian community who have been oppressed suppressed marginalized and remain a permanently colonized community.
c) Possibility of raising a motion in the Lok Sabha on the above issues.
d) Possibility of exerting economic pressure on Malaysia.
e) Possibility of sending a high powered delegation to make personal representations to the Malaysian Government.
f) Hindraf’s International campaign and its progress.
g) Future plans of HINDRAF.
Mr. Advani was also briefed on the condition of the 5 political prisoners and the sufferings of their family members. He showed particular concern to the medical condition of Mr. R. Kengadharan.
Mr.Advani was also surprised with the treatment and plight of the ethnic minority Malaysian Indians and the violations of their human rights. He was sympathetic and deeply disturbed with the situation and assured HINDRAF that he would do everything necessary to bring the matter up with the Indian Prime Minister.
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF.
Currently in New Delhi
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