MORE PICS - IGP Joke on HINDRAF Rally; PETITION Submission Allowed but No Leaders were there; PM: Police Actions Taken for Public Safety & Security?

UPDATE: Copy of Memo:

December 06, 2007 22:05 PM
Hindraf memorandum to UK Prime Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (as provided by Bernama) -- Following is the Hindraf memorandum to the UK Prime Minister:

HINDRAF; Hindu Rights Action Force; No. 135-3-A, Jalan Toman 7,
Kemayan Square, 70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Malaysia. Tel : 06-7672995/6
Fax: 06-7672997 Email waytha@hotmail.com
15.11.2007
The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown; Prime Minister of the United Kindom;
10 Downing Street, Fax: +442079250918; London, URGENT; SW1A 2AA
Dear Sirs,

RE: 1. COMMONWEALTH ETHNIC INDIAN PEACE LOVING SUBJECTS IN MALAYSIA PERSECUTED BY GOVERNMENT BACKED ISLAMIC EXTREMIST VIOLENT ARMED TERRORIST WHO LAUNCHED A PRE DAWN VIOLENT ARMED ATTACK AND DESTROYED THE KG JAWA MARIAMAN HINDU TEMPLE AT 4.00 A.M THIS MORNING (15.11.2007).

2. APPEAL FOR U.K TO MOVE EMERGENCY U.N RESOLUTION CONDEMNING “ETHNIC CLEANSING” IN MALAYSIA.
3. APPEAL TO REFER MALAYSIA TO THE WORLD COURT AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT FOR CRIMES AGAINST IT’S OWN ETHNIC MINORITY INDIANS.
We refer to the above critical matters in Malaysia but which generally gets the least attention locally even by the Opposition parties, NGO’s, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission and the media for this community is generally regarded as politically insignificant, do not draw local or international funding and are deemed not pressworthy. To the contrary the Malaysian government has successfully projected itself to the world as a modern Islamic thinking country which is not true.
The ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia were brought in to Malaysia by the British some 200 over years ago. Since independence in 1957 the Malaysian Indians have been permanently colonialised by the Islamic fundamentalist and Malay chauvinists UMNO led Malaysian government.
Among the recent atrocities committed by this government are as follows:-
1.100 over Indians were slashed and killed by the UMNO controlled Malaysian government in the Kampung Medan mini genocide. Despite numerous appeals, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission has refused to hold a Public Inquiry. The UMNO controlled Malaysian courts struck off a victim’s public interest civil suit for a Public Inquiry to be held without even the said UMNO controlled government having to file in their defence. The UMNO controlled Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police refused to investigate and / or initiate an inquest into the death of at least six Indians in this tragedy despite.
2. Every week one person at average is killed in a shot to kill policy and in every 2 weeks one person is killed in police custody. About 60% of these victims are Indians though they form only 8% of the Malaysian population.
3. In every three weeks one Hindu temple is demolished in Malaysia.
The latest being the demolishment of the Mariaman temple in Padang Jawa, Shah Alam, Selangor early this morning (15.11.2007) and the next being the (Mutaiya) Hindu temple in Sungai Petani scheduled for the 29.11.2007.
A violent armed pre down attack at 4.00a.m this morning was launched by the UMNO controlled Malaysian government backed by about 600 police, riot police, Islamic extremist and armed terrorists which completely destroyed this temple.
In an attack two weeks ago, uniformed police, riot police and city Council officers hurled rocks and attacked unarmed Hindu devotees with knives, sticks and iron rods.
At least 20 Hindu devotees were seriously injured and 19 arrested including 4 of their United Kingdom trained lawyers in direct violation of Article 5 (Right to life) Article 8 (Equality) Article 11 (Freedom of Religion) Section 295 (defiling a place of worship), Section 296 (disturbing a religious assembly), 298A(causing racial disharmony) and Section 441(criminal trespass) of the Malaysian Penal Code.
These authorities are plagued by an above the law mindset and in fact liberally take the law into their own hands. These atrocities however does not happen to almost all Islamic places of worship. Please visit www.policewatchmalaysia.com for further and better particulars.
4. State sponsored direct discrimination against the Indians in Public University intakes, Indian (Tamil) Schools, skills training institutes, civil service and private sector job opportunities, business and license opportunities and in almost all other aspects of daily life.
Despite our hundreds of letters, appeals and pleas to the Malaysian King and Sultans, the Prime Minister, Attorney General, Inspector General of Police, Ministers, Chief Ministers and the latest being our letters to the Prime Minister dated 29.10.2007 and 30.10.2007 and to the Attorney General dated 1.11.2007 the Malaysian authorities are only proceeding with greater ferocity and with impunity with very little regard for the Federal Constitution and laws of Malaysia. So please help us.
CONCLUSION
We fear that this peace loving Indian community of Tamil origin having been pushed to the corner and the persecution getting worse by the day may be forced to into terrorism in a matter of time as what has happened to the Sri Lankan Tamils.
APPEAL
On our part we are committed to a peaceful and lawful struggle and pray and appeal that the Government of the United Kingdom:-
1. Moves an emergency United Nations resolution condemning these state sponsored atrocities and persecutions of Malaysian Indians in Malaysia.
2. Refers Malaysia to the World Court and the International Criminal Court for Crimes against it’s own ethnic minority Indians

Thank You, Yours Faithfully ; P.Uthayakumar; Legal Adviser

= == = == = =UPDATE: - New twist & Spin from NST to cover up the joke. In the Interview No Mention was made of "Intent" and this was supposed to be from an IGP "statement"

IGP: They'd no intent to give memo

P. Uthayakumar (ABOVE) addressing the protesters yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: The pro-testers were spoiling for a fight and had no intention of submitting the memorandum to the British High Commission. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said police had been ready to negotiate with Hindraf leaders to allow them to hand over the memorandum. "But they were nowhere in sight. They emerged about 1.30pm, gave a few speeches and dispersed," Musa said in a statement yesterday. He said the 4,000 policemen trying to bring order to the gathering were assaulted and had stones, bottles and other objects thrown at them. At least three policemen were injured in the fracas, one requiring 11 stitches for a head wound. Among them were Sub-inspector Chew Choon Peng, Sergeant-Major Harjit Singh and Lance Corporal Razali Redzuan. Musa said the protesters, whom police estimated at 5,000, had also damaged seven police vehicles. After Batu Caves, several other groups gathered near KL Sentral, KLCC, Nikko Hotel and in other areas along Jalan Ampang. "We exercised restraint and only used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd. "There was no body contact from my men," Musa stressed. On the rally yesterday, he said police picked up 240 people for investigations. The demonstrators, aged between 20 and 45, were sent to the police training depot in Jalan Semarak. When asked why P. Uthayakumar was not arrested as he had disobeyed a court order, Musa said: "Wait till Monday. He has to appear in court." Musa added police had obtained ample evidence to go after the leaders and others involved.

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Another Victory day for HINDRFA Leaders at the Court

November 26, 2007 18:16 PM

Court Frees Hindraf Leaders Of Sedition Charge
KLANG, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Three leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) have been freed of a charge under the Sedition Act. Sessions Court Judge Zunaidah Mohd Idris said: "If we want to prosecute someone, the grounds must be clear. (In this case,) the court is not convinced which that submitted as the charge; the charge is not very clear."

She granted the trio -- P. Uthaya Kumar, 46, P. Wartha Moorty, 41, and V. Ganabati Rao, 34, -- a discharge not amounting to an acquittal. On Friday, the three Hindraf leaders were charged with making seditious remarks in Tamil at the Yuen He restaurant in Jalan Batang Berjuntai between 8.30pm and 11.15pm on Nov 16. They pleaded not guilty. The case was re-mentioned today after their lawyers pointed out several technicalities in the charge which included the absence of transcripts of the alleged seditious remarks.

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November 26, 2007 15:32 PM

Hindraf Rally Politically Motivated, Says Najib

PETALING JAYA, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today the illegal rally staged by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday was evidently politically motivated. Whatever the motive, he added, the government would not be afraid of facing it. "We will meet the challenge. We will not back down from a political challenge," he told reporters when asked whether the gathering posed a challenge to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government. Najib, who is also BN deputy chairman, said that if the BN government had been discriminatory in its policies against the Indian community as claimed by Hindraf, the Indian community would not have supported the BN and the coalition would not have achieved its massive electoral victories. "Now, all of a sudden, they (Hindraf) want to raise the issue (of alleged marginalisation).

Their (Hindraf's) intention is politically motivated," he said after taking delivery of three Dauphin AS365 N3 helicopters from Eurocopter Malaysia for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Subang near here. Thousands of Hindraf sympathisers gathered in the heart of Kuala Lumpur yesterday to support the handing over of a petition to the British High Commission asking Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen's counsel to represent the Indian community in a class action suit against the British Government for bringing Indians as indentured labourers to then Malaya and exploiting them. Hindraf has filed a US$4-trillion (RM13.5 trillion) suit in London claiming that the British were to blame for the marginalization of Indians in Malaysia. Police dispersed the Hindraf supporters with the use of tear gas and water cannons at the junction of Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Ampang, preventing them from getting to the British High Commission in Jalan Ampang. Some of the supporters turned violent and damaged public property and hurled stones and other objects at the police, injuring several policemen. Over 130 people were arrested.

= == = == == = == == == == = == == =ORIGINAL POST BELOW

MORE PICS - IGP Joke on HINDRAF Rally; PETITION Submission Allowed but No Leaders were there; PM: Police Actions Taken for Public Safety & Security?
Malaysiakini like the Bersih Rally almost has a virtual Monopoly in e early coverage of the Hindraf outing with a few blogs giving on the spot coverage. But its total protesters have been revised upwards from 10K to 30KIt coverage are

A Gandhi-inspired mass civil disobedience Andrew Ong | Nov 25, 07 5:38pm
30,000 Hindraf protesters rally in KL streets
20,000 Hindraf protesters rally in KLCC Nov 25, 07 10:22am
Tear gas fired at defiant protesters
10,000 Hindraf protesters rally in KLCC
Anwar: Hindraf rally a safety valve
Samy tells Indians to work 'within the system'

It with its Malaysiakini.tv on Cat and mouse around KLCC
More Pics coming....

The IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan who was interviewed by Al Jazeera News on the 4.00 pm news had the audacity to said that they were no leaders there to submit the petition. Many were not aware of this Interview and the shameful words he said. If they were allowed, the tear gas & water cannons would not have been fired. And why the leaders were not there? The restraining order was in place. So was he telling the truth?

ALJazeera: Your officers were fairly effective in driving the protesters away from the British High Commission, do you think that had they been allowed to hand over the petition at the High C, this would have ended peacefully without any disturbance?
IGP: Well first of all we allowed it; but of course they got no leaders with them’ So we don’t know who wants to hand over the memorandum. And by the end of it the, leaders came, but later on they didn't even hand over the memorandum to the British High Commission.

(Full transcript follows soon.)

MORE PICS - IGP Joke on HINDRAF Rally; PETITION Submission Allowed but No Leaders were there; PM: Police Actions Taken for Public Safety & Security?

Police break up Hindraf rally with tear gas and water cannons

By Charles Ramendran

ABOVE: The main archway into the Batu Caves Temple and the peaceful protesters gathered there. BELOW:Why would the Police want to disperse this peaceful crowd 25 km away from the British High Commission?. Were they going to march all the way there?

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ABOVE & BELOW: All they are saying is , give them a chance just to submit the Petition

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 26, 2007): Police resorted to tear gas and water cannons to disperse a crowd of about 20,000 who took part in a rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) on Jalan Ampang Sunday morning. Police, who had mounted roadblocks since Thursday along entry points to the city, had cordoned off approaches to the High Commission from about 2km away from early morning.

The protesters, including thousands from other states who came to back the handing over of a memorandum to Queen Elizabeth II (ABOVE) by Hindraf legal adviser P.Uthayakumar, found the road leading to the British High Commission blocked. At 7.45am, after repeated warnings to the protesters to disperse were ignored, Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel fired tear gas and jets of chemical-laced water from water cannons to break up the illegal gathering. Some protesters carried banners and placards while others waved the Union Jack.

At about 10am, protesters who had fled towards Jalan Semarak, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng and near Ampang Point (wrong, Ampang Park) on Jalan Ampang regrouped near the junctions where roadblocks were put up. Each time the FRU and other police personnel chased them away, they defiantly returned to show their defiance. Many of the protesters wore saffron-coloured headbands and some held up posters of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, an proponent of non-violence.

ABOVE: Protesters chased along Jalan Ampang by the Chemical Water Cannons and BELOW: Cooling the restless and heated up crowd with water cannons

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said in a statement that 136 were arrested and 105 had their statements recorded. Hindraf claimed that about 400 people were detained, including some who had gathered at the Batu Caves temple to march to Jalan Ampang. Sporadic use of tear gas and water cannons continued until late morning when Uthayakumar aborted the attempt to hand over the memorandum. The streets were finally cleared about 1pm. Uthayakuma told Al Jazeera television, which showed scenes of police breaking up the protesters during its hourly news bulletins, that the group would deliver the memorandum to the Queen in Buckingham Palace. However, a Hindraf spokesman told Bernama that the memorandum was faxed to the high commission at 1.30pm.

ABOVE: The loyal Protesters bearing the Malaysian Flags

The memorandum was to raise the economic plight of Malaysian Indians and to urge the Queen to appoint a Queen's counsel to argue Hindraf's US$4 trillion class action suit against the British government for neglecting the community's welfare after bringing their forefathers to Malaya as indentured labourers 150 years ago. On Thursday, the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court issued a restraining order on five Hindraf leaders -- Uthayakumar, his younger brother Waythamoorthy, M. Manoharan, V.S. Ganapathi Rao and R. Kengadharan -- and their supporters against organising or taking part in Sunday's rally which police had refused permission, citing threats to public security. Lawyers Uthayakumar, Waythamoorthy and Ganapathi were also charged in the Klang Sessions Court on Thursday under the Sedition Act for allegedly uttering seditious words in their speeches at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai, Kuala Selangor, on Nov 16. All three claimed trial to the charge, which carries three years jail term and RM5,000 maximum fine. Their case will be mentioned Monday. Manoharan said that Malaysian Indians had created history by coming together as one to voice their qualms on their economic status despite the obstacles put in the way by police and objections of the rally by government officials. "They came in support and did so peacefully but the police used water cannons and tear gas on them," he said, claiming that some protesters were roughly-treated.

MIC president and Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu issued a statement denouncing the rally as a ploy by the Opposition to smear the government's image in the eyes of the world. He said people should refrain from taking part in such illegal gatherings and to use the existing forum to voice their grievances, adding that the MIC is the mainstream party in voicing the rights of the Indians and it will remain so. “We have been working within the system to resolve the problems faced by the Indian community,” he said, adding that the MIC does not support street demonstrations. “There is still a lot more to be done for the Indians and we will continue with our struggle,” said Samy Vellu, who repeated the message when contacted by AlJazeera. Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who took part in a protest march to the King's palace on Nov 10, criticised the tactics used by police as unreasonable. "That is a peaceful gathering and they just want to claim their rights,” he said.

ABOVE: An angry young man holding a fired empty tear gas cannister that disrupted his peaceful gathering on a Sunday morning

Updated: 12:00AM Sun, 25 Nov 2007
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UPDATE: Nov 26 2:25am= == ==

Situation Under Control, Says IGP

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- The Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, said police are keeping the situation under control with regard to an illegal gathering initiated by some activists at the intersection of Jalan Ampang and Jalan Tun Razak here today. A few thousand people had gathered in the area as early as 6.30am to provide support to the handing over of a petition to the British High Commission by a group known as the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

As at midday, the petition has yet to be handed over. The petition pertained to the alleged marginalisation of the Indian community in Malaysia. Police have refused permission to the staging of the gathering in the interest of public safety.
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November 25, 2007 23:29 PM

Abdullah: Police Have To Disperse Protesters For Security Reasons
From S. Retna
KAMPALA, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Police had to be firm in dispersing the illegal gathering in Kuala Lumpur in the interest of public safety and security, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. He said the situation could have easily turned violent if police did not take the necessary action to break up the demonstration.

ABOVE: One of excess pavement block accidentally went inside the car BELOW, kicked up by a passing lorry? And the whole protest was condemned.

"I was told that one group of demonstrators pelted policemen and police vehicles (with stones and bricks) at Batu Caves and they also tore down the temple gate there," Abdullah told Malaysian reporters at the end of the three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2007) here. Abdullah said if police did not take the necessary action to disperse the crowd, others would have blamed them for not protecting the public. However, police did not retaliate violently although they were provoked,he added. To a question, Abdullah said those who had been organising street demonstrations seemed to be testing the government's patience. "Don't abuse the freedom that has been given to you," he said, adding that those who took part in the illegal gathering would not go unpunished.

ABOVE: A policeman was reportedly injured when an object fell from the sky and injured his head and BELOW: As he was in pain, they send him for observation in a hospital

Abdullah said claims that a particular race was being marginalised was not true as there were poor and rich people among all races in the country. He said if the Barisan Nasional government did not help the poor, it would have been rejected by the people long ago. "In every society, there are poor people and we have been doing our best to help the Indian community through the MIC, and we will continue to help them," he said. Abdullah also questioned Hindraf's (Hindu Rights Action Force) intention to go ahead with the demonstration despite police warning not to do so. "If you want to submit a memorandum, there are other ways of doing it," he said, adding that action could also be taken against public servants who took part in the illegal demonstration.

ABOVE: Pizza Hut business was not affected; and protesters walk through it by-passing the FRU on the right.

He said the demonstration yesterday disrupted business and caused people, including tourists, to stay away from the city centre. Abdullah also refuted claims that there was no democracy and media freedom in the country.

= == = == = == =Below Original Post

This previous Post has been hijacked by the following in the Malaysiakini RSS feed; how to screw them?

http://karlisle.consulting23.info/

= == = == = == = == =MORE PICS & Video – Unstoppable HINDRAF Rally Becomes Running Battles; Police No Compromise – Fired Tear Gas & Chemical Water Cannons

It was a day to remember for all Indians (except the MIC crowd) in Malaysia when despite dire warnings from Police, the use of an unprecedented court restraining order, the many roadblocks as early as Thursday and the arrest and release of the Hindraf leaders to restrain and frighten them, the dissatisfied and marginalized Indians came by the thousands to Ampang Park, Wisma MCA and KLCC as the gathering points for the rally. Some were seen walking in single file to avoid detection into the designated points. But there were reports a few thousands also gathered at the Batu Caves temple area as a show of support for those present in the KLCC/Ampang areas.

They were allowed to gather & assemble and demonstrate but no further. This time, the Police did not compromise. The moment they started to make a move and marched towards the British High Commission, volleys of tear gas were fired at them in order to deter them from doing so. The only choice for these peaceful protesters were to retreat and regroup and it became a running battle in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the landmark of the Petronas Twin Towers.

ABOVE & BELOW: When the tear gas canisters were aimed at the demonstrators, some were picked up and thrown back at the Police.

And these took place for several hours before the crowd realizing that they were not able to submit the petition dispersed peacefully just before 1 pm.

More than 300 people were reported detained.
= == = == = Reuters account; Nov 25, 2007

ABOVE & BELOW: The fantastic pics from Reuters; ABOVE: Protester throwing back the tear gas cannister at the FRU Police

KL police fire tear gas to halt protest

Malaysian riot police fire water cannon at protesters during a demonstration by ethnic Indians in Kuala Lumpur. --

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN police used tear gas and water cannon on Sunday to quell a street protest by more than 10,000 ethnic Indians complaining of government discrimination against their community. It was the second crackdown this month on a demonstration critical of the government, as speculation grows that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will soon call early elections. Sunday's rally was the biggest by ethnic Indians in 20 years.

Thousands flocked to the gathering in central Kuala Lumpur called by a Hindu rights group despite threats of arrest and four days of road blocks that have put the city into virtual lockdown. At least one policeman was injured when protesters wielding crash helmets as weapons clashed with riot police, one officer said. Organisers said 400 were arrested and 19 injured. Police said they had no official figures as yet. Police prevented protesters from marching to the British embassy, where they had planned to ask the former colonial ruler to indemnify Indians for bringing them to Malaya as indentured labour more than a century ago. But the rally sent Mr Abdullah a clear message. 'We are here for our rights,' one protester said. 'The British brought our forefathers here 150 years ago. Whatever the government is supposed to give us, to look after our welfare, well, they have failed.'

'Marginalised'

Some ethnic Indians, who make up about 7 per cent of the population, complain that they are marginalised in terms of employment and business opportunities by a government dominated by politicians from the majority race, the ethnic Malays.

The group had promised that Sunday's rally would be peaceful, but the government warned ethnic Indians not to participate, saying it could stoke racial tension. On Friday, police arrested three Indians from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), charging them under Malaysia's colonial-era Sedition Act for making what the authorities called seditious speeches at a recent rally outside the capital. On Sunday, thousands of ethnic Indians, some with Malaysian flags and others holding placards, gathered near a normally busy intersection as dozens of police trucks and hundreds of riot police stood guard. A police helicopter hovered overhead. Some shouted 'No democracy in Malaysia, no human rights in Malaysia'. Placards read: 'We too fought for the independence of this country. Why neglect our rights?' One protester, K K Krishna, said ethnic Indians were badly under-represented in Malaysian universities. 'Why is that - are Indians stupid?' he said.

P. Uthaya Kumar, the rally organiser and legal adviser, said the group had sent letters and appeals to the prime minister and the government over the past five years, asking for a dialogue. 'They don't respond to us, they don't reply,' he told the crowd. Outside the city's iconic twin towers, police chased protesters down side streets and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Curious tourists ventured out of hotels to take a look. 'They are threatening us like a dog,' said engineer Sara Vicriman, from the northern state of Penang. 'They don't want to give education places for Indians, they don't want to give any opportunities for Indians to do any business.'

Batu Caves

At the Batu Caves, a Hindu place of worship just outside the capital, police clashed with 2,000 protesters early on Sunday morning after stopping them from entering the temple. Malaysia bans public assemblies of more than five people without a police permit. In practice, police deny permits to anti-government protests but often issue them for protests aimed at foreign governments, such as the United States. Only two weeks ago the government had cracked down on a protest by about 10,000 people demanding electoral reform. 'We don't support street demonstrations,' said S. Samy Vellu, leader of the country's main Indian ruling political party. 'This is an opposition ploy to smear the government's name.' -- REUTERS

November 25, 2007 13:48 PM

Use Existing Forums To Air Woes, Samy Vellu Advises Indians

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu today urged the people to use existing forums to voice out problems and not resort to street protests. He said neither the government nor the MIC supported street demonstrations as a means to resolve problems, said the Works Minister. "MIC is aware of issues and problems confronting the Indian community but street protest is not the answer. "We believe in working from within the (government) system," he said in response to the illegal gathering organised by the defiant Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders. The minister issued the statement following requests from local and foreign media for his comments on the rally. "The MIC has been working within the system and it has been proven to be successful. "We have resolved many problems and issues through consultations and dialogues with the government, without resorting to street demonstrations," he said. Samy Vellu said education, economic and social issues have been resolved through direct consultations with the federal, state and local governments. "Every Wednesday, at Cabinet meetings, we bring up issues concerning the Indian community. Some matters are discussed behind closed-doors as it involves sensitive matters. "However, the government has always been supportive. The leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been very supportive and sympathetic towards our cause," he said. On the gathering, Samy Vellu said it was obvious the Opposition was behind it and was a ploy to smear the government's name, especially in the eyes of the world. While the rally staged by Hindraf began this morning, the police have warned Hindraf leaders and supporters not to challenge the law. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Ismail Omar has warned protesters they risked arrest if they turned up for the unlawful gathering. Yesterday, Hindraf co-ordinator S. Manickavasagam singled out Ampang Park, Wisma MCA and KLCC as the gathering points for the rally.

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November 25, 2007 13:02 PM
Neither Government Nor MIC Will Support Street Demos - Samy Vellu

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Neither the government nor the MIC supported street demonstrations as a means to resolve problems, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today. "We believe in working from within the (government) system," the MIC president said in response to the illegal gathering organised by the defiant Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders. The minister issued the statement following requests from local and foreign media for his comments on the rally. "The MIC has been working within the system and it has been proven to be successful. "We have resolved many problems and issues through consultations and dialogues with the government, without resorting to street demonstrations," he said. Samy Vellu said education, economic and social issues have been resolved through direct consultations with the federal, state and local governments. "Every Wednesday, at Cabinet meetings, we bring up issues concerning the Indian community. Some matters are discussed behind closed-doors as it involves sensitive matters. "However, the government has always been supportive. The leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been very supportive and sympathetic towards our cause," he said. On the gathering, Samy Vellu said it was obvious that the Opposition was behind it and was a ploy to smear the government's name, especially in the eyes of the world. While the rally staged by Hindraf began this morning, the police have warned Hindraf leaders and supporters not to challenge the law. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Ismail Omar has warned protesters that they risked arrest if they turned up for the illegal gathering. Yesterday, Hindraf co-ordinator S. Manickavasagam singled out Ampang Park, Wisma MCA and KLCC as the gathering points for the rally.

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Saturday November 24, 2007 MYT 5:39:32 PM

One hour max, says Hindraf; By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) will go ahead with its gathering on Sunday and asks to be given "one hour maximum" to hand over its petition to the British High Commission. A. Sivanesan, one of the lawyers representing the three Hindraf members who had been charged with sedition in the Klang Sessions Court on Friday, said Sunday's gathering would go ahead as planned.

ABOVE & BELOW: The dumb Jalan Cheras Inspector Jaafar Mohd Noah & others putting up the restraining order in front of the Bristish High Commission. Who would be allowed there to see it?. They should have used the Helicopter and dump thousand of copies of them onto the people at KLCC and at Ampang Park

Sivanesan said Sunday's planned gathering outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur would be peaceful and orderly. "It is away from the city and 60% of the shops in that area are closed on Sunday. We are not going to be a nuisance to the people," he added. The police had said it would not issue a permit for the gathering and warned people against attending it. Sivanesan pointed out that the British High Commission had already said there would be someone at the commission to accept Hindraf's petition. "Just give us a chance. It will be an hour maximum. We will hand over the petition to the British High Commission, speak to the crowd, then we will go back," he said.

The Hindraf gathering is to hand over a petition to the British Commission asking for Queen Elizabeth II (ABOVE) to appoint a Queen's counsel to represent the Indian community in a class action suit against the British Government for bringing Indians as indentured labourers to then Malaya and exploiting them. The group has filed a US$4 trillion (RM13.5 trillion) suit at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in August claiming that the British were to blame for the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia. The suit is equivalent to US$1mil (RM3.4mil) for every Indian in Malaysia. On Friday, three Hindraf members - lawyers P. Uthayakumar, his brother Waythamoorthy and V.S Ganapathi Rao - were charged in the Klang Sessions Court under the Sedition Act for allegedly uttering seditious words to incite hate in their speeches at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai on Nov 16.
Saturday November 24, 2007; MYT 6:40:23 PM

Jalan Ampang closed Sunday
By ANDREW SAGAYAM

ABOVE: Not only Jalan Ampang & Jalan Tun Abdul Razak BELOW: Other adjacent roads were also cordoned off

KUALA LUMPUR: Jalan Ampang will be closed Sunday to facilitate police operations during the illegal gathering organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) at the British High Commission here. Due to the road closure, other major roads leading to Jalan Ampang will also be affected and motorists are advised not to enter the city centre. City police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Zul Hasnan Najib Baharudin said traffic policemen will be stationed throughout the city centre to monitor and direct traffic flow.

ABOVE & BELOW: The FRU were there as early as 3 am to patrol the vicinity of Jalan Ampang/Jalan Tun Abdul Razak Junction

“Jalan Ampang will be closed from 8am and, because of this, all inter-connecting roads leading to the city centre will be affected. “If motorists still insist on coming into the city, they should be ready for massive traffic congestion whigh might last for hours,” DCP Zul Hasnan told The Star. “We are not stopping the public from entering the city but please avoid the gathering or the roads leading to Jalan Ampang.” he adde

November 24, 2007 21:36 PM

Teachers, Students Warned Against Participating In Hindraf Rally
KLUANG, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Education Minister Datuk Hishammuddin (BELOW) Hussein today warned teachers and students that stern action, including expulsion, would be taken if they were involved in the proposed gathering organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in the capital tomorrow.

"There will be no pardon for them," he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the ministry and Syarikat Oracle, here. Hishammudin, who is also Umno Youth leader, said he supported the Police's action against lawyers P. Waytha Moorthy, P. Uthayakumar and V. Ganabatirau, who are said to be the key players in the proposed gathering, to prevent the situation from worsening. The lawyers were charged in court yesterday with inciting racial hatred. The organisers intend to submit a petition over alleged marginalisation of the Indian community in the country. They claim the British colonialists were responsible for the exploitation of the community and are seeking four trillion pounds (RM27.7 trillion) compensation from the British government. The British colonists brought Indians from south India to the Malay peninsula during pre-Independence days to work as indentured labourers.

ABOVE & BELOW: The protesters came early early and when news that the Ampang Park LRT station was closed, they came down in the nearby Dang Wangi stop and walk all the way to the gathering points at KLCC, Ampang Park & Wisma MCA

Meanwhile, MIC Youth Vice Chief S.Ramis said such a gathering was not necessary because there were proper channels to discuss and solve problems.He described as irresponsible and irrelevant the action by Hindraf in organising the rally

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Saturday November 24, 2007; MYT 11:50:28 AM

Don't jump to conclusions, says PM

By DEVID RAJAH
KAMPALA (UGANDA): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged the public not to jump to conclusions and view police action against three members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as racial in nature.

"It has nothing to do with race. People should stop linking or viewing everything that happens in the country as a racial matter," he said. He added that people should not be too quick to make such unfounded claims. "Those who commit offences will have to face charges," Abdullah told Malaysian journalists at the end of the first day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here. Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, said police had evidence to charge the three men for making seditious statements and speeches. The police have been monitoring the activities of the three men and their group for a while now, he said. "We have to take action if these people have clearly committed offences," said Abdullah, adding that the arrest and charging of the three members had no connection with the planned gathering by Hindraf outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Watch the Al Jazeera Video Clop (3 min 19s) on the Running Battles in the Hindraf Rally

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= == = =Watch the Al Jazeera Phone Interview with IGP Musa Hassan,

3min 13 s, speed reduced 10%

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