graveyard of politics

KUALA LUMPUR: The detention of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders under the Internal Security Act on Thursday was imperative.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said investigations into the movement's activities since July had deemed the five to be a threat to national security.

"They clearly have links with international terrorist organisations and they are involved in activities that amount to inciting racial hatred."

He said the evidence against them and the proposal to detain them under the ISA were forwarded to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also internal security minister.

Musa was commenting on the arrest of lawyers P. Uthayakumar, R. Kengadharan, V. Ganabatirau, M. Manoharan and a senior executive with Malaysia Building Society Bhd, K. Vasantha Kumar.
The four lawyers were legal advisers for Hindraf while Vasantha Kumar was the movement's co-ordinator. All were sent to the Kamunting detention centre in Taiping, Perak, for two years under Section 8(1) of the Internal Security Act 1960.

The five were key officials of Hindraf, which organised a rally here on Nov 25 where some 10,000 Indians protested against alleged racial discrimination.

Musa also said the five were also trying to sow hatred towards the government, adding that their actions could spark racial clashes.

He said inflammatory sentiments were being widely spread through their forums, distribution of books and leaflets, on websites as well as through the short messaging service.

"The fanning of racial sentiments among Indians is very unhealthy and dangerous."

When asked whether the ISA would be used on Uthayakumar's brother, P. Waytha Moorthy, who is currently overseas garnering support for Hindraf, Musa did not rule out that possibility.

"We cannot arrest him now as he is overseas."

Waytha Moorthy was also charged with sedition last month, but was released on bail.

He is believed to have then gone to India to garner support there. Currently he is said to be in the United Kingdom.

Musa also did not rule out the possibility that more Hindraf leaders and supporters would be arrested under the ISA.

He urged Hindraf leaders and supporters not to continue going against the government and the law.

"We would not hesitate to take similar action against them."

He also pointed out that Hindraf was not a legal organisation.

Chronology of events

- 2007: Police investigations show that Hindraf was involved in numerous violent demonstrations, including employing the services of secret societies against local authorities legally demolishing temples.

- July 2007: Hindraf leaders give speeches and distribute a seditious publication, 50 Years of Violation of the Federal Constitution by the Malaysian Government at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

- Aug 12: Hindraf leaders and followers gather illegally outside the prime minister’s office, demanding that the prime minister personally collect a memorandum from them. Hindraf leaders speak and widely distribute pamphlets containing their memorandum which called for the end to Malay special rights and included other similar demands intended to cause racial tension.

- Aug 30: Hindraf files class action suit against the British government for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years and thereafter failing to protect the Indian community’s rights under the Federal Constitution when independence was granted. The sum sought was US$4 trillion (RM14 trillion) — or US$1 million for every Malaysian Indian.

- October - December: SMSes alleging government conspiracies to demolish temples and completely marginalise the Indian community are circulated. In relation to the planned Hindraf rally, SMSes are sent stating that each Indian attending the rally would receive RM100,000.

- Nov 15: In a letter to the British prime minister, Hindraf alleges that the Malaysian government practises ethnic cleansing and the Islamic extremist backed government demolished Hindu temples.

- Nov 16: Hindraf applies at Cheras police station for a permit to hold a gathering to submit a petition to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to fund (estimated by Hindraf to be RM5 million) their lawsuit against the British government.

- Nov 16: Hindraf’s application for permit rejected by police as the planned gathering could potentially lead to trouble and public disorder as well as the fact that the application was made by an individual. Under Section 27 of the Police Act 1967, any application for a permit to assemble in a public place must be made by an organisation or jointly by three individuals.

- Nov 16: Hindraf leaders alleged to have given seditious speeches in Tamil at a restaurant in Kuala Selangor.

- Nov 22: Court issues an order to Hindraf leaders prohibiting them from participating in the planned Nov 25 illegal gathering. This order means, that if the gathering goes on, the respondents will not only be held liable for illegal assembly, but can also be cited for contempt of court.

- Nov 23: Three Hindraf leaders are arrested and charged with sedition. Two are released on bail while the third refuses bail and threatens to go on a hunger strike.

- Nov 23: Scuffle breaks out between Hindraf supporters and FRU. A 2,000-strong Hindraf procession gathers behind Klang district police headquarters where released Hindraf leaders give speeches.

- Nov 25: Hindraf supporters damage vehicles and temple in Batu Caves, KL, as well as cause grievous bodily hurt to policemen present.


- Nov 25: In defiance of a court order and police warnings, Hindraf leaders vow to proceed with the illegal gathering and urge all Indians to attend. Police were ready to negotiate with Hindraf leaders to allow them to hand over the memorandum but they were missing from the rally and only attended at 1.15pm, more than 5 hours after the crowds had gathered.

- Nov 26: Hindraf leaders are granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal at the Klang Sessions Court.

- Nov 28: British High Commissioner denies receiving Hindraf memorandum. Hindraf claims it was faxed.

- December: Hindraf leaders systematically engage in a planned campaign spreading falsehoods to foreign governments and politicians. They claim that the Malaysian government carries out ethnic cleansing and widespread indiscriminate destruction of Hindu temples.

- Dec 01: A Hindraf leader, in an interview with the Indian Express (India), warned that Malaysia could become another Sri Lanka.

- Dec 04: A Hindraf leader, in an interview with the New Paper (Singapore), said that Hindraf could not rule out violence.

- Dec 06: IGP reveals that Hindraf has links with terrorists and local gangster groups.

- Dec 07: Attorney-General informs the court of documents alleging links between Hindraf and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

- Dec 11: Hindraf leaders are arrested and charged with sedition. A crowd gathers near Pudu Jail and begins shouting for the leader’s release. The police and the Federal Reserve Unit take up positions as the crowd begins to swell.

- Dec 12: Police raid the offices of two Hindraf leaders at Menara Mutiara Bangsar in KL and in Seremban and seize computers and documents.

- Dec 13: Five Hindraf leaders are picked up from Petaling Jaya, Brickfields, Bangsar and Seremban under the Internal Security Act and send to the Kamunting Detention Centre where they will be held for two years. Hindraf supporters gather in two groups — one outside the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman and the other outside Menara Mutiara Bangsar. They condemn the arrests and vow to carry on with their struggle.

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