Two-faced' Samy slammed on HIndraf 5

'Two-faced' Samy slammed on HIndraf 5

Mar 31, 08 7:25pm

S Samy Vellu’s call for the release of the Hindraf 5 from Internal Security Act (ISA) detention is a political ploy by the MIC president, alleged the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) today. "The demand made by the former works minister is dishonest and is apparently politically motivated," said GMI president, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (right) in a statement. He said the timing of Samy’s call for the release of the five was suspect as the MIC boss had never made such calls prior to the general election on March 8. In a dramatic move, Samy, at an event at the party’s headquarters yesterday, publicly called for the release of the Hindraf ISA detainees as he said ‘there were no longer reason to detain them’. The veteran politician said he would meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi soon to discuss this matter. He also urged Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy - who is currently in London in self-exile - to return to Malaysia, saying he latter was not a political refugee. Samy’s call came in as a shock to many as he was among the government and BN leaders who had vociferously criticised the Hindraf movement prior to the arrests of its key leaders on Dec 13. Meanwhile the wife of ISA detainee and Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M Manoharan today denied she had sought help from Samy Vellu for the release of her husband. "I didn't go and see Samy Vellu," S Pushpaneela was reported by Star Online as saying. Samy Vellu had on Sunday claimed that Pushpaneela had met him to discuss the matter. Release all detainees Hindraf has been credited for being partly responsible for the worst ever performance by the MIC in a general election following the March 8 polls. Samy Vellu lost at his parliamentary constituency in Sungai Siput while the rest of the party’s top leadership fared no better, losing in all their respective constituencies they had contested. Syed Ibrahim said Samy’s call for the release of the Hindraf 5 was a move necessary for him to regain the trust of the Indian community which saw Hindraf as a voice for their struggle against increasing marginalisation by the government. "If he is really sincere about justice, why does he not call for the release of all 70 ISA detainees, all of which have been denied their basic right to a fair trial," questioned Syed Ibrahim. He said GMI would continue to insist that the government release all the 70 ISA detainees being held and not just the Hindraf 5 as the detention of all the 70 was unjust and a violation of their human rights.

Samy calls for Hindraf 5's release

Samy calls for Hindraf 5's release

RK Anand | Mar 30, 08 12:14pm

In a dramatic about-turn, MIC president S Samy Vellu today called for the release of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders held without trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA). The veteran politician said he will meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi soon to discuss this matter. He also urged Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy - who is currently in London on self-exile - to return to the country and be reunited with his family, saying that the latter is not a political refugee. Samy Vellu was speaking to reporters after opening the MIC divisional leaders workshop on 'Rebranding MIC' at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The Hindraf leaders detained under the security law are Waythamoorthy's brother, Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau, M Manoharan, T Vasantha Kumar and R Kengadharan. The five - four of whom are lawyers - were arrested shortly after organising a mammoth street rally in Kuala Lumpur which drew some 30,000 people on Nov 25 last year. Approached by detainees' families Samy Vellu revealed that the families of Manoharan and R Kengadharan had approached him for assistance. "Because they made an approach, I will talk to the PM (about securing their freedom)," he said, adding, "We also don't want them to be kept inside. "The government has to make a decision. Kenghadharan is very sick, Manoharan is an elected member. So I think it is quite reasonable. I am going to ask PM (to release them) and meet the Internal Security Minister (Syed Hamid Syed Albar). "I made some moves on this earlier, but I didn't tell anybody. I will now make a very strong move to see what can be done," he added Manoharan won the Kota Alam Shah state seat in Selangor under a DAP ticket in the March 8 elections. In the past, Samy Vellu had been critical of Hindraf and the Nov 25 demonstration. The movement, in return, also accused MIC and the party's boss of failing to uplift the status of the Indian community. Not a publicity stunt Responding to a question, Samy Vellu denied that the move to call for the five's release was a publicity stunt. Describing it as being motivated by "fairness", he said: "At the same time, we feel that as Indians, we have to do something about this." The MIC president also revealed how he had helped secure the release of four students detained with scores others in the wake of the Hindraf rally. Thirty-one detainees were later charged with the attempted murder of a policeman, but this was subsequently dropped. Samy Vellu said this happened because he spoke to the prime minister and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail. "But one of the detainees' fathers scolded me like hell... (the father said) 'Who the hell are you?', 'Where were you when my son was arrested?' "He ashamed me, it was very unreasonable. But I didn't take it to mind, as long as the students were released and the (attempted murder) charge against the others was reduced," he added. The MIC president said "many had argued for them because they want publicity." "We only want the truth," he said.

Gov't rejects calls to release detained state legislator

Gov't rejects calls to release detained state legislator

Mar 28, 08 6:17pm

Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar today rejected opposition calls for the release of an ISA-detained state legislator, citing the need to uphold public security. "We must react to the country's internal security and public order," Syed Hamid was quoted saying by the state Bernama news agency. The opposition parties last week pressed for five ethnic Indian activists, including lawyer M Manoharan who won a seat in recent elections, to be freed from the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial. Manoharan, standing for the DAP, was elected from his detention centre - soundly beating the government incumbent in the Kota Alam Shah state seat in the March 8 general elections. Syed Hamid said Manoharan will be forced to sit out of the newly formed state assembly when it convenes. "You definitely can't be at two places at the same time," he said. The five are leaders of rights group Hindraf who were detained last December for organising an unprecedented mass rally claiming discrimination against ethnic Indians. Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the November protest, which drew at least 8,000 people. The opposition, which now controls more than a third of parliamentary seats, has said it will seek to repeal the ISA - which dates back to the British colonial era when it was used against communist insurgents. It is currently being used to hold more than 100 people, including about 80 alleged Islamic militants.

Senior lawyer wants Hindraf 5 released

Senior lawyer wants Hindraf 5 released

Mar 24, 08 4:09pm

Senior lawyer and international jurist Param Cumaraswamy today urged the government to release the five Hindu Rights Action Force leader presently being detained under the Internal Security Act. He said that the recent results of the general election indicated that there was no longer any justification whatsoever for the continuation of their detentions. “The results of the general elections two weeks ago must be seen as vindicating whatever suspicions the government had against them at the time of their detention. “The cause of Hindraf has now become part of the cause of MIC within the government and also the opposition,” he said in an open letter to the newly appointed Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar. The five - P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasanthakumar - were detained on Dec 13 for participating in Hindraf activities that called on the government not to marginalise the Indian community. They were immediately sent to Kamunting detention centre for two-years, to prevent them from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of the state. Param, a former UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, also said that the fact that one detainee Manoharan was elected in Kota Alam Shah should be taken as a clear message that “the electorate there do not see him as a threat to the security of the state”. “There clearly is no longer any justification whatsoever for the continuation of their detentions,” he added. 100 days in detention Param also reminded Syed Hamid, a former foreign minister, of his long term association with the United Nations programmes for the promotion of human rights and the rule of law and urged him to appreciate that detention without trial offends the first principle of the rule of law. “In the interest of justice and furtherence of racial integration and harmony in the country, please review the orders and release the five and unite them with their families,” said Param. He also said Manoharan must be allowed to serve his electorate of Kota Alam Shah effectively. Meanwhile, Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy said that it has been 100 days since the detention of the five and urged the government to release them as well as to repeal the ISA. He said that Hindraf supporters remembered the 100th day of detention of the five by holding prayer sessions and forums throughout the country on March 22 and 23. He added that a protest was also organised at the San Francisco United Nations Plaza in the US on March 22. In recent weeks various other quarters have also urged the government to release the five Hindraf leaders, including BN coalition partner Gerakan, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and an influential Indian business group.

Pak Lah told to free Hindraf 5 (Malaysiakini)

Pak Lah told to free Hindraf 5

Mar 22, 08 12:14pm

Malaysia's opposition on Friday pressed for five ethnic Indian activists, including a man who won in recent elections, to be freed from indefinite detention under a tough security law. Lawyer Manoharan Malayalam, standing for the Democratic Action Party (DAP), was elected from his jail - soundly beating the government incumbent in the state seat on March 8. DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should free the five, leaders of rights group Hindraf, who were detained last December under the Internal Security Act (ISA). They had organised an unprecedented mass rally claiming discrimination against ethnic Indians in November. Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the protest, which drew at least 8,000 people. Lim called for the "immediate and unconditional release (of) the five Hindraf leaders from ISA detention as proof that Abdullah has 'heard the voice' of Malaysians to start the process of 'national healing' after... the general election." Abdullah's Barisan Nasional coalition won the election on March 8 but with a reduced majority and lost an unprecedented five states to the three-party opposition alliance of the DAP, the Islamic PAS and PKR. It was the ruling party's worst election result since 1969. Swearing-in in detention centre Lim said the election result showed that ethnic Indian support for the government had plunged. Manoharan's lawyer Karpal Singh told AFP he had filed an appeal to the Federal Court, the highest in the land, after the High Court last month rejected a freedom bid by the five. Manoharan will be sworn in as a state assemblyman in the detention centre if he was not freed, he added. His wife, lawyer S Pushpaneela, also urged Abdullah to step in and release the men. "Only the prime minister has the power to release him. He should let him (Manoharan) and the others go now to gain more confidence from the people. It looks like people have completely lost their trust in him," she said. Pushpaneela said with Manoharan in detention, she has to undertake most of his duties as state assemblyman in the Kota Alam Shah constituency in central Selangor state.

Gerakan wants Hindraf 5 released (malaysiakini)

Gerakan wants Hindraf 5 released
Mar 19, 08 4:36pm
Gerakan today called upon Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release the five Hindu Rights Action Force leaders presently being detained under the Internal Security Act. The party’s assistant secretary KK Supramaniam urged all political leaders under the Barisan Nasional coalition to request the prime minister to release the five as soon as possible. “Majority of the Indian Malaysians are upset that the five Hindraf leaders are still being detained under the ISA,” he said in a statement today. The five Hindraf leaders - P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar - were arrested on Dec 13 and placed under two-year detention at the Kamunting detention centre for allegedly being a national threat. Hindraf became a household name on Nov 25 last year after a rally it organised drew some 30,000 disgruntled Indians to the streets and made headlines the world over. While numerous quarters agreed with the issues the movement raised, Hindraf also drew criticisms for alleging that a state-sanctioned ethic cleansing of Indians was taking place. The government condemned the movement as an extremist outfit and subsequently detained these five leaders under the ISA. Immunity to Waythamoorthy The movement’s chairperson P Waythamoorthy however escaped detention as he was away in India canvassing support for the movement at that time. He is presently based in London, directing the movement from there with the help of several coordinators in Malaysia. Supramaniam also said that Abdullah should grant immunity to Waythamoorthy to allow him to return to Malaysia. “If the self-exiled leader is to be charge for treason, then I request that other opposition leaders, who have committed the similar offence should also be charged,” he added. The awareness created by Hindraf among the Indian community turned into a huge swing of disapproval against the BN government, resulting in massive losses for parties such as Gerakan, MCA and MIC. Gerakan, a senior component member of the BN, suffered a humiliating blow when it lost its grip of the Penang state government to opposition party DAP. Similarly the anti-establishment wave among the Indian community also resulted in big defeats for MIC, the sole Indian representative in the government, including the defeat of party president S Samy Vellu in Sungai Siput. Gerakan has always advocated for the abolishment of the ISA.

Karpal: Release Manoharan now

Karpal: Release Manoharan now

Athi Veeranggan | Mar 17, 08 11:20am (malaysiakini)

Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan should be released immediately as his continued detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) is against “the people’s wishes”, said DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh. “He should be released soon to take his oath a member of the Selangor legislative assembly. He has earned his right to serve the people of Kota Alam Shah,” said Karpal. Manoharan, a lawyer, was arrested under the ISA last December along with four leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and are now serving out a two-year detention order at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak. A habeas corpus hearing for Manoharan’s release is scheduled for March 26, but Karpal said that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi need not wait that long to free his client. Manoharan’s election to the Kota Alam Shah state seat has proved that the voters are unhappy and disagree with the government over his detention, said Karpal, who was himself an ISA detainee. The veteran politician argued that it would be improper for the Barisan Nasional (BN) government to continue detaining Manoharan. “He should be given every opportunity to take his oath and serve his constituents. Indeed all five Hindraf leaders should be freed because they were detained without reasonable and proper cause,” said Karpal. In the March 8 polls, Manoharan won the Kota Alam Shah state seat on a DAP ticket. He polled 12,699 votes to defeat BN’s Ching Su Chen by 7,184 votes. ‘Use discretionary power’ New Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said the oath-taking ceremony of Manoharan as a legislative member can wait until Manoharan’s release. However, the Bar Council has argued that the government is duty-bound to allow Manoharan to be sworn in as he is an elected representative. There are two precedents to back this. Two previous ISA detainees, Chian Heng Kai and Chan Kok Kit of DAP, were allowed to take their oath at the Kamunting camp when elected as members of Parliament in the 1978 general election. Chian won the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat in Perak, while Chan was elected by voters in the Sungai Besi parliamentary constituency of Selangor. Chian and Chan were sworn in as MPs in front of then Dewan Rakyat Speaker Dr Syed Nasir Ismail and in the presence of the Dewan Rakyat secretary and representatives of the camp authorities in Kamunting. Since Manoharan's detention is based on a political matter, said Karpal, Abdullah should release him as a gesture of goodwill to Kota Alam Shah constituents. “He has discretionary power and should immediately revoke the detention order and free Manoharan,” added Karpal.

Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba): FREE HINDRAF 5

After the election results, they have become brave...where were they before this Free Hindraf 5: Indian business group

RK Anand | Mar 12, 08 2:55pm

The Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) has appealed to the government to release the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Miba president P Sivakumar told Malaysiakini today that the five had to "shoulder the burden of certain sensitive issues" that others in the community, including the leaders, had failed to make a bold stand on. "Though these leaders were in power, they had either sidelined these issues or were not effective in addressing them," he said. "The five put their necks on the line, the world must know that they are professionals with families and loved ones," he added. Sivakumar also stressed that the five - P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar - did not take up these issues for 'cheap publicity'. "They did it because it was a soul searching call to stand up. If their action was wrong, then the voters of all races who cast their ballots for change are also wrong," he said. Massive rally Hindraf became a household name on Nov 25 last year after a rally it organised drew some 30,000 disgruntled Indians to the streets and made headlines the world over. While numerous quarters agreed with the issues the movement raised, Hindraf also drew criticisms for alleging that a state-sanctioned ethic cleansing of Indians was taking place. The government condemned the movement as an extremist outfit and subsequently detained five of its leaders under the ISA. The wave of discontent generated by Hindraf later evolved into what is now popularly referred to as 'Makkal Sakthi' or 'People's Power'. This led to a swing of Indian votes in favour of the opposition and contributed to MIC's crushing defeat in the polls. One of the detained Hindraf leaders -Manoharan - was elected as a state assemblyperson for the Kota Alam Shah seat in Selangor where he contested under a DAP ticket. Support for PM Meanwhile, Miba also expressed support to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's leadership. "We cannot really blame the PM (for the election outcome). He had inherited a government from the old administration which had lingering issues that went against international norms, issues that were not acceptable by many Malaysians," said Sivakumar. "With the shocking results, Abdullah will be extra careful and will take bold steps and measures to rectify the shortcomings. I am sure he will be able to support and bring progress to the nation," he added. The 2008 polls witnessed the ruling coalition's worst ever electoral performance with BN failing to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament and losing control over an additional four states. Following this, there were calls -including from former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad - on Abdullah to accept responsibility and resign. Sivakumar also recorded Miba's appreciation to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Musa Hassan for the police's neutrality and his pledge to maintain peace and order in the country.