Revoke ban against Hindraf, urges Pakatan Rakyat

Pakatan Rakyat urged the government to revoke the ban against Hindraf.

Speaking at a Press conference at the parliament lobby yesterday, three PR representatives said the government should stop discriminating civil society movements.

They also called for the release of all Internal Security Act detainees.

The three - PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaafar, Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Sivarasa Rasiah and DAP’s Tony Pua condemned the ban saying that it violated democratic rights.

They said Hindraf’s visit to the Hari Raya open house was not intended to create problems but to extend their Hari Raya wishes to the prime minister.

They had also wanted to hand him a memorandum, urging him to free Hindraf leaders detained under the ISA.

They said the group also included supporters of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and the government should explain why they han singled out Hindraf.

Kamaruddin said there were many unregistered civil movements raising issues from time to time, including holding vigils and peaceful gatherings, but they were not banned.

“Although we do not agree with all of Hindraf’s claims, we want to make a stand that these issues should be handled with care,” said Kamaruddin.

Meanwhile, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran submitted an emergency motion to the Dewan Rakyat speaker over the unwarranted ban of Hindraf.

In his motion, Kulasegaran said there was absolutely no necessity to ban Hindraf, a move which he said was was considered retrogressive, vindictive and petty.

source:nst