Transcript – New Twist IGP-Al Jazeera Interview - No Intention to Give Memo; MIC Reactions: Samy No Regrets; MP: Raises Indian Plight told – RESIGN
MIC MP: Rally reflects govt's failure
and a Reply from the Deputy Home Affairs Minister Johari
Hindraf 'manipulated' the innocent
with Malaysiakini.tv coverage on Hindraf trio discharged from sedition
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UPDATE: from Bar Council on Excessive force used
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.
The IGP has given a new twist & spin to his Interview he had with with Al Jazeera on Sunday 25 Nov 07(see Transcript at Bottom) via the NST. To cover up the joke that "no leaders were there to hand it over?". Now he added Hindraf has No INTENTION of doing it! In the Interview No Mention was made of "Intent" and this spin was supposed to be from an IGP "statement" quoted apparently by NST ONLY (see below).
And the reactions from the MIC side to the Hindraf Rally Protest. The MIC President being spurned by the leaders could only say he was “sad but not angry”. He further claimed that PM Abdullah has “never shut his eyes or ears to their plight then what happened to the 18-point Memo that was submitted to PM’s PutraJaya Office more than 3 months ago on
And for the first time when an MIC MP (Cameron Highlands) opened his mouth to express his concerns on the Indian Plight in the country (that was so glaringly highlighted in the Sunday Rally protester” he was told curtly to resign from the MIC by an UMNO Minister. So what hope is there through legitimate means except by “streets demo” to get the necessary attention
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IGP: They'd no intent to give memo
Musa said the protesters, whom police estimated at 5,000, had also damaged seven police vehicles. After
ABOVE: MIC MP Devamany defensive double talk in Parliament being attacked by DAP Leader LIM K S
AN MP from the MIC asked in Parliament whether the government's efforts on distributing wealth equally among the various communities has been effective. S.K. Devamany (BN -
Abdul Raman said the Government had ensured that all races were given attention in its efforts to reduce poverty and the income gap between the communities. “The Barisan Nasional Government does not take steps just because a demonstration had occurred. “The Government has given attention to all races since independence and we have been able to reduce poverty in the country,” he said. Later, Devamany again brought up issues concerning the Indian community when his question came up. Following a reply by Internal Security Deputy Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum on the percentage of Indians in the police force, Devamany asked:
“The Government has promised a lot of things – in Vision 2020 development policy, Ninth Malaysia Plan, on the recruitment for the civil service, training opportunities, entry into public universities and for financial aid.“ But the reaction yesterday (Sunday), nearly tens of thousands showed that there is frustration at the lower levels. “Youths and the middle class joined the demonstration and this showed that the opportunities have been slim and small. “Where is the failure? What are the actions to show the sincerity and resolve to overcome poverty and the limited of opportunity for the Indians?” At this juncture, Lim stood up and lashed out at Devamany for contradicting what he said during an interview with the Al Jazeera TV station on the demonstration. He ignored Lim and continued with his comments. Devamany’s comments caused uneasiness among the backbenchers, who brought the matter up to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz. Nazri said he was not in the House when Devamany raised the issue but based on what he had heard, he was of the view that Devamany should resign from the MIC. Asked if Devamany had broken ranks, Nazri said he would have to look at the report and the Hansard first. When met at the Parliament lobby, Devamany said he did not regret talking about the demonstration in the House. He said he was not breaking ranks as he was speaking out for the community.
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Samy: Sad, not angry
ABOVE: Samy Vellu looking Sad glumly after the Hindraf shame on him
SEREMBAN: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said he was “deeply saddened but not angry” with the Hindu Rights’ Action Force (Hindraf) for organising Sunday's illegal rally. Samy Vellu said Hindraf could have taken a better approach to air its grievances and should not have accused the MIC of failing the Indian community. “They must follow the law. In this country, we are very open ... I have never seen a government which is more open????. “The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has never shut his eyes or ears to their plight .[.What happened to the 18-point MEMO submitted to PM Office in Aug 07? In the wastepaper basket?. Details Go H E R E] . but they should have abided by the law,” he said to reporters after opening the RM1.3 million SJK (T) Ladang Seremban in Sg Gadut near here. Hindraf defied a court order to go ahead with the illegal rally of thousands that was dispersed by police using tear gas and water cannons. During the incident, 241 people were arrested but of those, 105 were released after their statements were recorded.
Samy Vellu said that although he had offered to meet Hindraf leaders after they forwarded a memorandum to the Prime Minister weeks before the rally, they had refused to meet him. “I told them that I was prepared to see them but I was told that they wished to deal directly with Umno. So what can the MIC do?” he said adding that Hindraf leaders submitted a one-page memo(????????, can one page fit an 18-point memo?) to the Prime Minister about the community's problems over the past 50 years. Asked if there was merit in Hindraf’s demands, Samy Vellu said problems should be discussed within the system. “When we discuss among ourselves, we can quarrel as much as we want. But why must we raise our displeasure outside the system?” he asked. On comments by newly-formed Malaysian Indian United Party president Datuk Nalla Karuppan that the party would work with the Barisan Nasional, Samy Vellu said anyone could do this.
“Working is one thing but getting into the Barisan is a different thing. “Like I have always said, there will only be one party representing the Indian community in the Barisan and that is the MIC,” he said. Meanwhile, in Petaling Jaya, MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel said the party would not gamble on the future of the Indian community by urging them to take their grievances to the streets. He said this was because a large majority of Malaysian Indians depended on the Government for the community’s development. “We believe we cannot achieve much by going to the streets. “The cause you struggle for should not only be justified but must be pursued through legitimate means,” he said in a press statement.
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Street Demonstrations Can Adversely Affect Tourism Industry
that their actions are not only against the law but can also affect the country's economy," he said at a press conference on the
Tengku Adnan said street demonstrations could be avoided if the parties involved used the right channels to voice their grievances. On MISA, he said it would be held for three months from Dec 15 to enable the public, especially students, to hear for themselves the experiences of
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Transcript - Interview IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan with Al Jazeera on Sunday 25 Nov 07
ALJazeera: Why Police actions needed to disrupt what was a peaceful protest?
IGP: Well, first of all we advised them not to participate in this demonstration because this demonstration is illegal. Because
1. They did not get a police permit and
2. There was a court order to refrain them from having this demonstration.
This is because that there were a lot of speeches being made by the members of Hindraf before they made this demonstration- inciting the public to come in large numbers and they were also inciting the pubic to go against the Government because of the demolishing of temples and all that, so we are afraid that it would involve racial clash later on.
ALJazeera: Sure, but this protest moved into very public and very popular public area. Was it responsible do you think given that there were many people in the area who were not involved in the protest to go ahead and use force?
IGP: We have advised the public not to get involved. And these, those persons involved are being planned by their leaders you know and of course in this demonstration only the fellows were there but leaders were not there.
ALJazeera: But clearly there were ordinary residents of the city, many tourists in the vicinity when this was taking place. They didn’t choose to be caught up in the middle of a street demonstration. (of course when we try to disperse.) Was it responsible to get your officers to fire tear gas under those circumstances?
IGP: Of course when we try to disperse them we only do it on the demonstrators it is not on the innocent people, you know
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 Commission, 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 Com.
ALJazeera: Are you concerned that given these images which are very graphics that perhaps people watching might perceived the police were taking, using force against an ethnic minority and there might be some kind of backlash as a result of that.
IGP: No, I don’t think so because we were restraining ourselves not to use force but of course hen this is illegal demonstration we only use the water and also the tear gas to disperse them but there was no body contact.
ALJazeera: Tan Sri Musa Hassan, thank you for talking to us on Al AJzeera
ABOVE: The three Hindraf leaders who were given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal. Another Victory day for HINDRFA Leaders at the Court
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."
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More DetailsGo H E R E
posted by multidimid at 9:10 AM
1 Comments:
"There was no body contact from my men," Musa stressed.
Are these not body contact??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtXOMeRBWy8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0QgLccqdjk
I hope these videos get the attention they deserve.
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