MORE PICS & Video – HINDRAF Rally Becomes Running Battles; Police No Compromise – Tear Gas & Chemical Water Cannons Used: IGP - Petition Not Submitted

UPDATE:2007/11/26

It’s Queen Elizabeth they want now

KUALA LUMPUR: Next stop, Buckingham Palace!
Having failed to submit their memorandum to the British High Commission, indraf has now pledged to take it directly to Queen Elizabeth II. Hindraf legal adviser P. Uthayakumar said that they would get a second bite at the cherry when they go to London in mid-January. Uthayakumar, despite being one of the main men behind the rally, was not seen in the frontlines all morning. From noon onwards, the protesters began getting restive and started calling repeatedly for the lawyer.

Shouts of "We want Uthaya!" could be heard echoing again and again and the mob refused to disperse even after being told repeatedly by police and other rally leaders to disperse. They said they would not go until Uthayakumar came. Hindraf lawyer, A. Sivanesan tried to calm them down, to no avail. When pressmen asked him where Uthayakumar was, he said Uthayakumar had gone home because he had something important to do. When questioned as to what could be more important than the rally, Sivanesan said Uthayakumar had a meeting to attend. He refused to say what the meeting was about. Uthayakumar finally arrived, to cheers, at 1.15pm. In his speech to the protesters, he said that Hindraf would continue protesting, even under the threat of imprisonment under the Internal Security Act. "We speak the truth and will continue to speak the truth.

"We have been independent for over 50 years and we've been told to be patient and to be silent, but that mindset has now changed. "We don't want to rely on Indian-based parties anymore. "We want to go directly to Umno because it is they who hold power," said the lawyer who was in the midst of the illegal gathering yesterday. Uthayakumar hailed the demonstration as a victory, despite not being able to hand over the memorandum to the British High Commission. "We have won today. Victory is ours," he said while the crowd cheered. He claimed Hindraf gathered 100,000 protesters yesterday. But independent estimates put the figure at less than 10,000. Earlier, Sivanesan demanded that the government set up a Royal Commission to investigate alleged police brutality during the rally.

Both Uthayakumar and Sivanesan were treated as heroes by the crowd, and they were repeatedly hoisted onto their supporters' shoulders and feted by the mob. DAP Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran who turned up at the gathering at about 1pm urged the crowd to disperse saying "we have been heard today". "Today we saw a change in the Indian community. A change for the better. "Uthayakumar is expected to face a fresh charge of contempt at the Klang Sessions court today as he had ignored an earlier court order not to turn up at the gathering yesterday. Police had obtained a court order on Thursday where Uthayakumar together with Hindraf leaders M. Manoharan, P. Waytha Moorthy, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadaran and members, were barred from taking part in the illegal rally. Uthayakumar, his brother Waytha Moorty and Ganabatirau were also charged on Friday for inciting racial hatred, an offence under the Sedition Act. Uthayakumar and Ganabatirau had posted bail of RM800 each and were released. They were ordered to be in court today for mention of the case.
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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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Listen Video Clip Below; IGP Interview with Al Jazeera and his shameful words “we allow it”

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 did not even hand over the memorandum to the British High Commission.= = == = == ==

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?

"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. 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.

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

http://karlisle.consulting23.info/

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Malaysiakini like the Bersih Rally almost has a virtual Monopoly in the 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....

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 noon.

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

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 did not even hand over the memorandum to the British High Commission.

(Full transcript follows soon.)

More than 300 people were reported detained.
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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 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 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.

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, 25 Nov 07

3min 13 s, speed reduced 10%

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