Author:
Publication: Tamilnet
Date: March 30, 2008
URL: http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=25152
Malaysian government's refusal to free M.Manoharan,
who was elected to Selangor State Assembly in the last elections but still
kept in custody under the Internal Security Act, is condemned by the opposition
Democratic Action Party (DAP), reported AFP on Sunday. "It shows that
Prime Minister Abdulla Ahmed Badawi's administration has not really heard
the voice of the people in the March 8 political tsunami to change towards
a more democratic and accountable Malaysian society. The ISA detentions are
used as political instruments to suppress dissent. It has no relationship
whatsoever with national security," said DAP leader Lim Kit Siang to
AFP.
Five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force
(Hindraf), including Manoharan were arrested in last December under Internal
Security Act and three of them were charged for allegedly making speeches
inciting hatred. All of them were detained for two years by an order signed
by Mr. Badawi, who was also the then Internal security Minister.
The leaders were the main organizers of an
unprecedented massive rally of around 10,000 people of Indian origin against
discrimination in Malaysia in November last year.
The draconian Internal Security Act of Malaysia
provides for detaining any individual for up to 60 days without a warrant,
trial and without access to legal council. After 60 days the Minister of Home
Affairs can extend the period of detention without trial for up to two years,
without submitting any evidence for review by the courts, by issuing a detention
order, which is renewable indefinitely.
Besides the five leaders, 31 Indians were
charged with attempted murder, in connection with the head injury of a policeman
during the banned demonstration. "This is the first time in the history
of Malaysia that an unlawful assembly has been charged with attempted murder",
said their defence lawyer, reported by Indian Express, last December.
The public opinion of the Indian community,
shaped by the grievances of discrimination and the awakening coupled with
the demonstration, had a big impact in the March elections. For the first
time since 1969 the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition has lost its two third
majority in the Parliament and lost the governance of five states to the opposition.
The mood of the Indian community was already reflective in the poor attendance
to the Thai Poosam festival at Batu Caves in January, heeding to the call
of Hindraf.
Being in detention Manoharan contested the
elections on a DAP ticket, and had an impressive victory in Selangor, defeating
the sitting candidate.
"Branding some one a terrorist is not
the prerogative of some individuals sitting in power. The verdict of the concerned
people is supreme. Laws, constitutions and all human institutions without
exception are made and unmade by people in need. Mr Badawi should learn to
respect the mandate of the people and release all leaders of Hindraf",
said a political activist of Malaysia to TamilNet.
In the meantime, Mr Samy Vellu, the leader
of the Malaysian Indian Congress, a component of the ruling front which suffered
the worst in the last elections, said on Sunday that he would seek the release
of the Hindraf leaders with the prime Minister, according to AFP and Malaysiakini
reports. He was throughout justifying the detention.
Indians constitute about nine percent of Malaysia's
population of which the large majority are Tamils.