Hindraf urges Commonwealth to suspend Malaysia

H S Rao in London June 10, 2008 12:06 IST

Hindraf, a Malaysian outfit spearheading a stir by ethnic-Indians, will press the Commonwealth to suspend Kuala Lumpur from the body for its discriminatory policies against the community.
"We will urge the 54-member Commonwealth to suspend Malaysia from its body," said Malaysia-born Waytha Moorthy, founder-chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force.
Moorthy, a lawyer by profession, is currently seeking asylum in the United Kingdom after the Malaysian government revoked his passport following his return from Geneva on April 21.

"I was totally shocked when I was informed by the UK immigration officer at Gatwick Airport that the Malaysian government has revoked my passport, thus making me de facto stateless."
"The Malaysian government had intended that I be deported back to Malaysia by the British authorities so that I too could be arrested under the draconian Internal Security Act and be detained for an unspecified period of time without trial and be subjected to torture and inhumane treatment for my political beliefs," Moorthy said.

Five Hindraf members, including a newly elected lawmaker, have been in detention since December under ISA for leading unprecedented anti-government street protests in Kuala Lumpur. Their repeated pleas for freedom have been struck down by the Malaysian judiciary.
"I have not committed any offence or crime other than to champion the cause of the systematically marginalised, discriminated and alienated ethnic Indian community in Malaysia, who remained permanently colonised despite achieving independence 51 years ago."

Moorthy said he was distressed that the land where his forefathers 'toiled as indentured labourers' had decided to banish and exile him for speaking for his community.
He claimed that the Malaysian government had demolished an estimated 10,000 Hindu temples during the last 20 years in the name of development.

"We are not against development but we are against targeting the ethnic minorities and their places of worship in the name of development," the Hindraf leader said.
He said the Malaysian government had arrested the five members on the 'cooked up' charge that they were linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, though they had nothing to do with the Tamil Tigers.
Among those arrested and held under ISA is his elder brother P Uthayakumar, a leading Malaysian lawyer.

He said there were about 1.8 million to two million ethnic Indians including Christians, Muslims and Hindus in Malaysia, which has a population of 27 million.
Moorthy, who did his law from the UK, said, "The Malaysian government is opening a new chapter in the history of our democratic struggle by revoking my passport and arresting others connected with the movement."
He alleged that ethnic Indians in Malaysia were denied equal opportunities in education and other fields and their plantations were acquired by government.

Abolish ISA-Car Convoy in Sgor Update

Sunday 15th June 2008, Fathers Day were celebrated by HINDRAF Makkal Sakthi Selangor in a different way. About 300 cars took part in a car convoy to create awareness and repeal ISA. The car convoy went around Klang Valley to various spots and the whole event was about 7 hours.

As early as 8 am, cars started to que up in Rawang near Taman Pelangi Industrial Park.
All the cars were numbered and pasted with various posters of HINDRAF leaders and ABOLISH ISA posters with mini Malaysian Flag with Hindraf flag. There were about 20 policeman standing at the corner watching all the cars and some SB were recording the event.

YB Manikavasagam (MP Kapar) and YB Gan Pei Nei (ADUN Rawang) were there at the start point. In the launching speech, YB Gan did mention that ISA need to abolish as it misused by the govt to suppressed voice of all race in Malaysia.
YB Manikavasagam said that he will continue his support in all Hindraf activities to ensure the release of HINDRAF 5 leaders and return of Hindraf Chairman, Mr Waythamoorthy to Malaysia.


The convoy was launch with the ceremony of releasing ballon with "NO ISA" bunting tied to the ballons. 70 ballons were representing 70 ISA detainees in the KEMTA now.

The cars moves from Kawasan Perindustrian Taman Pelangi to Rawang town at 9.30am . The people were waving hand to express support for the convoy. Later the convoy drive towards Bt. Caves. After 15 mins drive, there was a roadblock set by the police. Surprising only the convoy cars were stopped and other cars were released. This cause some massive traffic jam. After the negotiation with JPJ and police there, the convoy were released from the block.
The similiar roadblock were set up in Bt. Caves, Sentul, Brickfields and Jalan Klang Lama to slow down and divert the convoy planned routes.

For a surprise this time, the traffic policemen ( about 20 of them) came to "support" the convoy by controlling the traffic. They "ensure" that the convoy doesnt go into KL town area. The organiser thank the policemen for the support given.

The convoy also visited the recently demolished temple in Sentul near the Sentul Pasar area. This temple is been there for more than 30 years and private developer whom took over the land promised the new site for the temple. The temporary site which were given by the developer is just about 200 meters away from previous location. Finally DBKL came last week to demolish the temporary temple and also all the statues there within 30 minutes on a working day morning without any documents. The issue were brought up to PR leaders and Ministry of FT.
The convoy team were sad and dissapointed that even after the recent promises by the govt, the temple demolish activities never stops.

Later the convoy drive thru Little India of Brickfields, Federal Highway near Mid Valley, Jalan Klang Lama, Desa Mentari, Sunway, Subang and to Shah Alam. In Shah Alam at Sri Muda temple, packed lunch were prepared. After short break the convoy move to Klang thru Klang Sentosa and Kota Raja. It drive thru the Klang Little India, Jln Tengku Kelana were hundreds of people waving hand and chanting Vaalge Hindraf and NO ISA along the road.

Finally the convoy came to the end point at car park near Padang Cetti. It was about 5 pm and the spirit were still high. A few coordinators gave thank speech to all participants and sponsors. This is the biggest one day car convoy against ISA in Selangor. It convoy disprease peacefully after singing together the Hindraf motivation song-Tholvi Nilai Ena Nilaithal.

Vaalge Hindraf Makkal Sakthi
Report by Kannan, National Event Coordinator

Please visit http://www.hindraf.ning.com/ for more pictures and clips.
Nandri.