Hindraf to step up campaign

In the coming week, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) plans to step up its campaign with a series of novel actions.

Top of the chart is tomorrow’s candlelight vigil in Kuala Lumpur’s Dataran Merdeka against the draconian Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial.

The rally will call for the freedom of all ISA detainees in Kamunting Detention Centre near Taiping, Perak, especially prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin ( right ), 58, and five Hindraf leaders - P Uthayakumar, 47, T Vasanthakumar, 35, M Manoharan, 47, R Kenghadharan, 41, and V Ganabatirau, 35.

The vigil is expected to hear speeches by Hindraf leaders and a message from the movement’s self-exiled leader, P Waythamoorthy, from London.

The government will also be reminded that it had yet to fulfill any of Hindraf’s 18-point demand submitted to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a year ago.

Among the issues Hindraf has identified include the non-existence of kindergartens in Tamil schools, high suicide rate among Indians, indiscriminate demolition of Hindu temples and the marginalisation of Indians, both in the public and private sectors.

Organisers said some 15,000, including at least 8,000 people from Penang, Kedah and Perak, are expected to throng the open space outside the Moorish-style Sultan Abdul Samad building to vent their frustration at the candlelight assembly.

Nonetheless, the event organisers are expecting the police to be there in full force to stop the vigil.

Hindraf leaders did not rule the possibility of police using even tear gas and water canons to break up the anti-ISA crowd, which they did at Hindraf’s ‘rose campaign’ during the Valentine Day in February.

“The police did not hesitate to deploy brutal force to disperse a loving and peaceful assembly during the rose campaign .

“I will not be surprised if they do it again because this government is known for its double standards,” Waythamoorthy told Malaysiakini during a teleconferencing with Hindraf leaders recently.

Police reports against Ahmad Ismail

Following the vigil, Hindraf plans to organise a nationwide campaign to lodge a series of police reports against suspended Penang Umno chieftain Ahmad Ismail for uttering inflammatory remarks against the Chinese community at the Permatang Pauh by-election.

“We are shocked that the police had not initiated any charge under the Sedition Act for his racist statements,” Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran told Malaysiakini .

Ahmad was suspended for three years from Umno for his racist outburst against the minority community.

But Hindraf felt betrayed that the suspended Bukit Bendera Umno leader was not arrested while the journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, who reported his infamous ‘squatters’ statement in Sin Chew Daily, was detained under ISA.

“Why didn’t the government treat the Hindraf leaders and supporters in similar way to Ahmad? Hindraf is not racist. We only fight for Hindu rights,” Thanenthiran said, hoping that the spate of police reports would compel the police into action against Ahmad.

To cap an eventful week, Hindraf will pay a surprise Hari Raya visit to Abdullah’s open houses in both Putrajaya and his constituency of Kepala Batas in Penang.

Thousands of Hindraf supporters nationwide are being mobilised to visit the premier at each open house.

Taking a cue from Hari Raya’s motto of ‘Maaf Zahir Batin’, the open house courtesy calls are to forgive Abdullah for all his ‘wrongdoings’ against the Indian Malaysians.

“Hari Raya is a day of forgiveness. Hindraf will forgive the premier for marginalising and discriminating the Indian community and detaining the Hindraf five,” said Waythamoorthy.

Hindraf also plans to organise a major event, which is yet to be finalised, to mark the 48th birthday of the detained Uthayakumar on Nov 7.