PM - ISA Threats; Pledges Fairness for ALL; BAR Council denounced High handedness & Force to solve problems; “Free Food” during Hindraf Rally

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PM - ISA THREATS; PLEDGES FAIRNESS FOR ALL; BAR COUNCIL DENOUNCED ...

1 hour ago by bt Malaysiakini has the early reports Upon MIC’s ‘Robin Hood’ to encounter the whip Gathering of crooks’ hasn’t sinister community’s picture Suhakam’s Khoo: Convene reflects grievances Speaker shoots down suit upon Hindraf convene ...

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Malaysiakini has the early reports On MIC's 'Robin Hood' to meet the whip

Gathering of crooks' hasn't tainted community's image

Suhakam's Khoo: Rally reflects grievances

Speaker shoots down motion on Hindraf rally

Malaysiakini.tv still On Hindraf trio discharged from sedition

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PM Abdullah on returning home after his sojourn in Egypt was echoing the words of his Deputy Johari & the MB of Pahang who had much earlier asked for the use of ISA against the “street demos”. There are 3 versions of the reports below and if you read from one source you will miss some points as each has given the necessary slant. NST was fairer in reporting PM urge for a fairer implementation of polices and not to concentrate on one particular race as others would complain.
If you believe the Star’s account, the Memo submitted to the Queen is considered “harum” when downloaded and distributed because of unproved accusations “to spread allegations against the Government.

Meanwhile the Bar Council in a strongly worded statement has called on the Government to heed the plaintive cry of the Indians and condemns the outdated high handedness & use of force to solve problems.

Prof Khoo Khay Khim (ABOVE, a historian) and Suhakam member has absolved the Government from the blame in the current Hindraf claims. He declared it is not “an Indian-Malay problem” purely an “Indian problem” and points the finger on the current peculiar ethnic parties in our country which are looking after the welfare of the respective races.

And the group of people who had their “free food” in a restaurant, the Police is hot on the heels after them when the restaurant made a detailed police report.

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November 27, 2007 17:58 PM
Government Will Impose ISA When Situation Warrants, Says Abdullah

PETALING JAYA, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The Government will invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) to handle street demonstrations when the situation warrants for such action to be taken, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday.

The Prime Minister, however, said under current circumstances, the Government was leaving it to the police to evaluate the situation and take appropriate measures to guarantee peace and security. "The ISA is a preventive measure to spare the nation from untoward incidents that can harm the prevailing peace and harmony and create all sorts of adverse things. "So, I don't know (when to invoke the ISA), but ISA will be there. When it is appropriate to use it, it will be used," Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, told reporters on his return from a two-day visit to Egypt. The Prime Minister was responding to reports that several street demonstrations would be held in the country soon.

Commenting on calls from the people urging the Government to invoke the ISA to tackle street demonstrations, the Prime Minister said: "I am very surprised that the people want the ISA. I thought they never wanted the ISA". To another question on the accusation in the memorandum sent by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) to the British Government that the Malaysian government led by Umno had killed 100 Indians in the Kampung Medan incident, the Prime Minister said it was a serious accusation. "If that's the case, then Umno needs to take action because they said it was Umno people who killed (Indians). We want to know, where's the proof? he asked. The memorandum was addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and signed by Hindraf's legal adviser P. Uthayakumar was posted by bloggers in their blogs. The memorandum, among others, asked the British Government to refer Malaysia to the World Court (International Court of Justice) for committing crime against minority Indians. Asked to comment on Barisan Nasional Member of Parliament S. K. Devamany questioning government policies on Indians, Abdullah said the Government must be fair in implementing its policies without merely focusing only on one race.

"The people must understand this. There are policies that we are working on now and there are policies that have been implemented. If there are views, the Government is prepared to listen, but if demanded in the way that can lead to the country's instability, then we've to take action," he added.

ABOVE: Devamany's "Slip of the tongue" or "absent-minded" mention of 50,000 corrected by Samy Vellu

Devamany is said to have mentioned in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the 50,000 people attending the Hindraf demonstration in the city on Sunday showed the dissatisfaction of the Indian community to be at a serious level. Earlier, about 100 people welcomed Abdullah and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang. Present were Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.
Soon after arrival, Abdullah was entertained to a reception to mark his 68th birthday Monday.

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PM: We have to be fair so as to ensure harmony

By : Azman Zakaria; NST
SUBANG: The government will use the Internal Security Act, if necessary, to prevent illegal demonstrations from disrupting the country's harmony, the prime minister said. "If there is cause to use the ISA, we will use it," Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base after his return from an official visit to Uganda and Egypt yesterday. Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, said the police would decide the next course of action as matters pertaining to national security were under their purview. Asked if the ISA would be used against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders behind the illegal assembly last Sunday, Abdullah said: "There is no need for me to provide conclusive details.

"The ISA is a preventive measure that can protect the country from serious disturbances of the peace. The ISA is still there and, when appropriate, will definitely be used." On pressure from certain quarters for the government to put its foot down, including using the ISA, against street demonstrations, Abdullah said: "I don't think anyone wants us to use the ISA." When asked about the possibility of other illegal assemblies next month, Abdullah said appropriate action would be taken with the government constantly reminding that street demonstrations could cause hardship to the rakyat. On Hindraf's memorandum to the British government calling, among others, for an emergency resolution at the United Nations condemning what it claims as the "ethnic cleansing" of Indians in the country, Abdullah said: "If they want to poison the minds of the British, it is up to them."

Asked about Cameron Highlands MP S.K. Devamany's suggestion in parliament on Monday that the demonstration showed government policies had failed to improve the lot of the Indian community, Abdullah said the government had to be fair to all. "What is important is that the government has to be fair to all because if we concentrate only on one group, others will complain. "We have to be fair in giving out opportunities to ensure the whole country develops and everyone can live in a peaceful, safe and harmonious country." He also said the cabinet meeting today would discuss the setting up of the royal commission to investigate the "Lingam" video clip.

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Wednesday November 28, 2007
We will use Act against street protestors if we have to, says PM

By JANE RITIKOS; STAR
PETALING JAYA: The Government will use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against street demonstrators who threaten national security and disrupt racial harmony if necessary, warned the Prime Minister. “If there are reasons for us to use it, we will use it,” Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stressed. He was commenting on illegal street demonstrations held in Kuala Lumpur recently, including the latest by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which claims to be fighting for the Hindus in Malaysia.

Abdullah said using the law, which allows for detention without trial, would be preventive action to spare the country untoward incidents that could affect its peace and national security. “The ISA is there, if the situation warrants it, it will be used,” he told reporters at the RMAF air base in Subang here upon his return from Cairo yesterday. On calls by certain quarters for the ISA to be invoked against illegal street demonstrators, Abdullah said: “I am very surprised that people want the ISA. I thought they never wanted it.” The police, he said, would decide on the appropriate action to be taken. On rallies being planned for next month, he said he would leave it to the police to assess whether they would be a threat to national security. The annual Human Rights March organised by the Bar Council human rights committee is planned for next month.

Abdullah also warned that action would be taken against those who download and distribute the memorandum signed by Hindraf legal adviser lawyer P. Uthayakumar addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, which had been published in the Internet.

The memorandum alleges persecution of Malaysian Indians. He said the Government acknowledged freedom of the Internet but action could be taken against those who misuse it to spread allegations against the Government. The memorandum appeals to Britain to refer Malaysia to the World Court for crimes against ethnic Indians. It also claimed that “100 over Indians were slashed and killed by the Umno-controlled Malaysian government in the Kampung Medan mini genocide”. To this, Abdullah said that if Hindraf had indeed made such claim, Umno would act. “We want to know what proof they have (to support their claim). This is a serious accusation because they say it was Umno,” he said. On Hindraf’s action, he said: “They want to kiss the orang putih (British).

They want the orang putih to take action because they are not satisfied with us”. Abdullah said Hindraf got support from the Indian community who thought they would each get RM1mil in compensation from its class-action suit filed against the British Government for bringing Indians into Malaya to work as labourers. The Prime Minister also said that everyone must realise that accusations against the Government were made because certain people thought that the election was around the corner, and this was the case in every elections. “But we hear what they say. Some of the demands are in the process of being addressed while some have been addressed but they are still harping on it,” he said. On Cameron Highlands MP S.K. Devamany’s comment in Parliament that the Hindraf demonstration showed there was frustration at the lower levels in the community, Abdullah said the Government must be fair to all. “If we focus on the interest of one group, others will be jealous, others will complain,” he said.

= == = == =Bar Council condemns the excessive use of force & high handedness to solve problems

The Bar Council is concerned at the manner in which the Hindraf gathering was handled. Reports have been received of the unnecessarily large number of roadblocks, the unnecessary use of force, tear gas and water cannons all against persons whose intent was peaceful. It is our belief that a softer approach would have resulted in less confrontation, less injuries and ultimately less problems. Quite apart from the fact that the right to assemble peaceably is enshrined in the Constitution, attempts to curtail the assembly muzzle voices that must be heard. There is clearly a group of Malaysians who feel marginalised, frustrated and helpless. Their grouses are real to them and are therefore real to our society. Indeed these concerns exist in other communities in Malaysia and it is time for a nation that has just celebrated 50 years of independence, to be mature enough to acknowledge that there are problems in its society that require urgent solutions. There is a sense that not all are given the opportunities that are abundantly available under the Malaysian sun. These problems cannot be left to fester. We would urge the Government to respond in a positive and constructive manner in addressing these complex issues.

Not for one minute should we dismiss this gathering which, stripped of all else, is a cry for help. In this context, the call for the use of the I.S.A. and the use of the archaic Sedition Act against 3 lawyers is retrogressive, counter productive and smacks of extreme high handedness against our own people. Gone are the days when force could be used to solve our problems. We are entering a new era of openness and democracy. A vital part of that process is to hear the voice of the people and to heed their call.
Ambiga Sreenevasan; President; Malaysian Bar
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November 27, 2007 18:12 PM

We've Not Received Hindraf Petition, Says British Envoy
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The British High Commission has not receive any petition from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), the organiser of Sunday's illegal gathering. British High Commissioner to Malaysia Boyd McCLeary said: "We offered to accept the petition on Sunday but it was not delivered."

On claims by Hindraf leaders the petition was faxed to the High Commission, McCLeary (ABOVE) said: "We did receive some faxed information."
He, however, did not elaborate. McCLeary said although the protesters headed to the High Commission at Jalan Ampang, the gathering was not organized by the High Commission. "We've nothing to do with the demonstration," he told reporters after a seminar on whether the High Commission had received the petition.

27 November 2007

= = == = = == = = = The saga of the "free food" at the restaurant

Arriving early into the city, the group of Hindraf supporters were hungry having had their dinners much earlier the previous day, so when they dropped by Brickfields and saw that restaurant (ABOVE) which was opened early, what choice do they have but to order and eat something to fill their tummy.

Then they realized they have forgotten their wallets and the owner Thomar Pandi (ABOVE) was understanding as it was Hindraf Rally day. But when they came back after the rally, much hungrier after so much running around and being drenched in water chemicals, they helped themselves to another round of food thinking again it was on the house again.

ABOVE & BELOW: Any damages to the restaurant as mentioned in the report below??

The owner though otherwise and got cheesed off and decided to see the Brickfields CPO ASP Sulaiman Junaidi (BELOW) who could only accept his report as all of them have disappeared.

= == == = == == == = == = the STAR account

27 November 2007 By KULDEEP S. JESSY, STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of men claiming to be Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters helped themselves to a hearty meal at a restaurant in Brickfields on two consecutive days and left without paying. The men destroyed furniture and kitchen equipment, causing losses amounting to RM5,000. They also slashed a worker with a parang and injured the right arm of another with an iron rod. Numbering between eight and 10, they first turned up at the restaurant in Jalan Tun Sambanthan at about 3pm on Sunday. They insisted that they should eat for free as they were Hindraf supporters fighting for the rights of Hindus.

The men, aged between 20 and 35, turned up again at about 7.30pm on Monday and helped themselves to the food. They then went on a rampage, destroying 20 tables and kitchen equipment and attacked the two workers before fleeing in two vehicles. Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Sulaiman Junaidi said one worker received 12 stitches while the other sustained a swollen arm. Both are Indian citizens. Three customers in the restaurant at the time were unharmed.

The restaurant owner, who declined to be named, said the men claimed to be Hindraf supporters, became aggressive and refused to pay the bill. "Food was strewn everywhere and two men guarded the front and back doors of the restaurant with a parang to threaten customers," he said, adding that they had also assaulted the other restaurant workers.

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