(Malaysiakini) Human Rights Party (HRP) legal advisor M Manoharan says P Uthayakumar and other Hindraf leaders arrested today are being detained under the Police Act and the Societies Act.
At a press conference at their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Manoharan (right) said the Hindraf leaders were presently at Jinjang police station, and being investigated under section 27(5) of the Police Act on participating in an unlawful assembly and section 45(1) of the Societies Act in relation to an unregistered organisation.
The lawyer, who is also Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, added that HRP information chief S Jayathas and nine other state HRP leaders were being held in Jinjang, along with number of HRP and Hindraf supporters.
He added that a further number of supporters and others are being detained at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak.
At a press conference at their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Manoharan (right) said the Hindraf leaders were presently at Jinjang police station, and being investigated under section 27(5) of the Police Act on participating in an unlawful assembly and section 45(1) of the Societies Act in relation to an unregistered organisation. The lawyer, who is also Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, added that HRP information chief S Jayathas and nine other state HRP leaders were being held in Jinjang, along with number of HRP and Hindraf supporters.
He added that a further number of supporters and others are being detained at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak.
Manoharan could not say what the others were being detained for.
"I do not know why they were being detained. We still have not started any rally ... We just wanted to assemble peacefully to go to the Dang Wangi police station to lodge a report against the novel Interlok.
“There was no demonstration. We only came together to make the police report," he told Malaysiakini after the press conference.
Manoharan blasted the police for arresting the leaders and supporters without giving the reasons or justification for their arrests.
He also said that the police seized Jayathas' shirt, that bore the HRP logo.
Jayathas, whom the police later assured would be released, said he will not leave until they return his shirt, said Manoharan.
Selangor slams arrests
Meanwhile, the Selangor government says Selangor residents of all races strongly condemned the arrests made by police prior to the gathering at KLCC today.
In a statement today, exco member Xavier Jayakumar the state government urged the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to free Uthayakumar and the others "immediately" and unconditionally.
"Such large-scale arrests is clearly contrary to the right to assembly as provided for in Article 10 of the federal constitution, the supreme law of the country.
"The Umno-BN government should respect that the Indian community wishes to express their stand on the issue of the novel 'Interlok' by holding a peaceful rally outside KLCC," said Jayakumar.
"We want to emphasise that the International community is watching the government's actions in dealing with the people.
"The government must be reminded that the rise of the people in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain and now in Libya is provoked by the dissatisfaction of the people that has long been oppressed by the government," he said.
Arrested for being Indian
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) also joined the chorus of condemnation over the heavy-handed police action.
“We also have reliable information that many others were arrested simply because they were Indians,” said PSM Secretary General S Arutchelvan in a statement today.
Arutchelvan blasted Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration for their blatant hypocrisy over the arrests just days after lending their support for the Lybian demonstrations.
“Just two days ago, Muhyiddin Yassin called on Libya's leaders to allow the people there to demonstrate peacefully.
“Why then are Hindraf and HRP supporters not allowed to exercise their freedom of speech and assembly here? Why this double standards?” said Arutchelvan.
He pointed out that HRP had already notified the police about the event and of their intentions to proceed to Dang Wangi to lodge a police report.
“If the police would have allowed this peaceful action to be done and negotiated with the organisers, then all this violence, road-blocks and arrest would be unnecessary,” he said.
"I do not know why they were being detained. We still have not started any rally ... We just wanted to assemble peacefully to go to the Dang Wangi police station to lodge a report against the novel Interlok.
“There was no demonstration. We only came together to make the police report," he told Malaysiakini after the press conference.Manoharan blasted the police for arresting the leaders and supporters without giving the reasons or justification for their arrests.
He also said that the police seized Jayathas' shirt, that bore the HRP logo.
Jayathas, whom the police later assured would be released, said he will not leave until they return his shirt, said Manoharan.
Selangor slams arrests
Meanwhile, the Selangor government says Selangor residents of all races strongly condemned the arrests made by police prior to the gathering at KLCC today.
In a statement today, exco member Xavier Jayakumar the state government urged the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to free Uthayakumar and the others "immediately" and unconditionally."Such large-scale arrests is clearly contrary to the right to assembly as provided for in Article 10 of the federal constitution, the supreme law of the country.
"The Umno-BN government should respect that the Indian community wishes to express their stand on the issue of the novel 'Interlok' by holding a peaceful rally outside KLCC," said Jayakumar.
"We want to emphasise that the International community is watching the government's actions in dealing with the people.
"The government must be reminded that the rise of the people in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain and now in Libya is provoked by the dissatisfaction of the people that has long been oppressed by the government," he said.
Arrested for being Indian
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) also joined the chorus of condemnation over the heavy-handed police action.
“We also have reliable information that many others were arrested simply because they were Indians,” said PSM Secretary General S Arutchelvan in a statement today.Arutchelvan blasted Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration for their blatant hypocrisy over the arrests just days after lending their support for the Lybian demonstrations.
“Just two days ago, Muhyiddin Yassin called on Libya's leaders to allow the people there to demonstrate peacefully.
“Why then are Hindraf and HRP supporters not allowed to exercise their freedom of speech and assembly here? Why this double standards?” said Arutchelvan.He pointed out that HRP had already notified the police about the event and of their intentions to proceed to Dang Wangi to lodge a police report.
“If the police would have allowed this peaceful action to be done and negotiated with the organisers, then all this violence, road-blocks and arrest would be unnecessary,” he said.
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