Mkini-Hindraf accepts PAS' offer, urges others to speak up

Nov 4, 08 2:48pm

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) welcomes the offer by PAS to initiate reconciliation between the banned movement and the government, said Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy.

However, the self-exiled leader who is currently in London also called for veteran politicians like Umno deputy president Musa Hitam, former MCA president Ong Ka Ting and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) chief Joseph Pairin Kitingan to speak up against the ban of Hindraf. "We would like to invite matured and seasoned politicians… to participate together to act as mediators for Hindraf, in all fairness as we trust they are able understand the problems faced by the Malaysian Indians as a minority and maybe able to reach out to the Umno-led government in lifting the ban on Hindraf," said Waythamoorthy in a statement.

"The aspiration of Hindraf has always been to address the grievances of the ethnic Malaysian Indians who are continuously marginalised and discriminated in every aspect of socio-economic in Malaysia," he added.

The movement was made illegal on Oct 15 shortly after some 200 Hindraf supporters visited the prime minister's 'open house' during the Hari Raya celebration on Oct 1 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). On Oct 23, 11 others were arrested for gathering at the Prime Minister Department's in Putrajaya to submit a letter for the release of the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Among those who were held but released the next day were Waythamoorthy’s wife K Shanti and the couple’s six-year-old daughter Vwashnnavi.

Several days later, PAS vice-president Husam Musa led a delegation to the Putrajaya district police headquarters to reconcile matters."PAS and other political groups as well as non partisan groups have voiced their dissent against the government's stance in declaring Hindraf illegal as they truly understand that in reality, the Malaysian Indians are subjected to socio-economic imbalance due to unfair and unjust policies thus creating a new underclass society," said Waythamoorthy.

He added that the rights of the Indian minority were never raised until Hindraf voiced their grievances "to be treated equally and fairly.""If the government fails to engage through these mediators, it clearly shows that the Umno-led government is least interested in addressing the Malaysian Indians dilemma but rather continue their obstinate methods in further alienating the Indians in every aspect of socio-economic development in (the country)," he said.

Front Line voices concern

In a related development, Dublin-based human rights organisation Front Line, had also come to the defence of Hindraf and voiced concern over the predicament of the 10 people who were arrested on Oct 23 for illegal gathering.

"Front Line believes that the… persons (who) have been arrested and detained solely on account of their legitimate human rights activities calling for the release of P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, V Ganapathy Rao, T Vasanthakumar and R Kengatharan," said the organisation’s director Mary Lawlor in a letter addressed to the King."

In addition Front Line believes that the five members of Hindraf were targeted as a result of their work defending the rights of the ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia.” The organisation also expressed concern for the "physical and psychological integrity" of members of the Hindraf movement and urged the authorities to release the five detained under the ISA for their "legitimate human rights activities.""Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Malaysia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment," Lawlor said citing the United Nation's declaration on human rights.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92406

PS from WMP - Welcome the talk mediate by PAS and urge others to join

MEDIA STATEMENT

04/11/2008

The UMNO led Malaysian Government in its attempt to silent the voice of HINDRAF had made this people's Civil Rights Movement an illegal movement. The aspiration of HINDRAF has always been to address the grievances of the ethnic Malaysian Indians who are continuously marginalized and discriminated in every aspect of socio-economic in Malaysia.

PAS and other political groups as well as non partisan groups have voiced their dissent against the government's stance in declaring HINDRAF illegal as they truly understand that in reality, the Malaysian Indians are subjected to socio-economic imbalance due to unfair and unjust policies thus creating a new underclass society in Malaysia.

The voice of the underclass Malaysian Indians being a minority have never been heard before until HINDRAF came along to address the genuine grievances of this mass to be treated equally and fairly. The UMNO led government instead of engaging us to listen to the public's grievances rather chose to silence us by fear and intimidation by unjust operation of law.

This only creates further animosity amongst the Malaysian Indians toward the ruling government.

We welcome PAS's intention to act as mediator and negotiate on behalf of HINDRAF to lift the ban on HINDRAF. Along with PAS, we would like to invite matured and seasoned politicians like Tun Musa Hitam, Dato Seri On Ka Ting and Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan to participate together to act as mediator for HINDRAF in all fairness as we trust they are able understand the problems faced by the Malaysian Indians as a minority and maybe able to reach out to the UMNO led government in lifting the ban on HINDRAF.

If the government fails to engage HINDRAF through these mediators, it clearly shows that the UMNO led government is least interested in addressing the Malaysian Indians dilemma but rather continue their obstinate methods in further alienating the Malaysian Indian in every aspect of socio-economic development in Malaysia.

Thank you.

P. Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

Despite ban, Hindraf continues to attack government

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 - The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) continues to speak up against the government, this time scoffing at Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's statement that the plight of Malaysian Indians is being looked into by a special Cabinet committee chaired by him.
Despite its recent banning, its chairman P. Waytha Moorthy called the statement made at the government's Deepavali open house yesterday "empty talk" and mere "eyewash" and insisted that authorities must state the initiatives "in dollars and cents."
"The DPM, who is also the Finance Minister, should make a concrete announcement of an allocation of funds to uplift the socio-economic condition of Indians in the country. Enough of setting up special Cabinet committees and all the years of empty promises," he said in a statement to the press.
"Malaysian Indians have woken up and can no longer be cheated with mere promises. The government of the day has to be serious and come up with a concrete plan of how to address the issue instead of giving piecemeal solutions and empty promises," Waytha demanded.
He added that these promises were made every "Deepavali" and "MIC annual general assemblies," where Indians are made to believe that "their plight is being looked into" and "help is just around the corner".
"We have been hearing this for the past 51 years and no Malaysian Indian would believe this apart from the MIC cronies who live and thrive on the 'biscuits' thrown at them by Umno.
"The DPM must have thought the Indians could be fooled as usual. Perhaps he would have received a thunderous applause for his goodie announcements, which no doubt must have come from all the planted MIC cronies."
Hindraf was declared illegal on Oct 15 in the aftermath of its controversial presence at the Cabinet Hari Raya open house, but it continues to lobby over issues related to the Indian community here, although not necessarily under its own name.
Just prior to Deepavali, leaders of the group, insisting they were there as ordinary citizens, were arrested as they attempted to submit a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi demanding the release of five Hindraf leaders currently held under the Internal Security Act.
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