Sixteen people, including former Internal Security Act detainee P Uthayakumar, were arrested at a candlelight vigil near Dataran Merdeka tonight.
The vigil, organised by rights group Hindraf, began with a march of a 100-strong crowd from nearby Masjid Jamek.
The participants, who were singing songs and carrying red and white roses and candles, called for Malaysians to respect one another's rights.
However, before they could reach Dataran Merdeka, the crowd was confronted by two dozens police officers.
The cops, who stopped the marchers at the junction of Jalan Parliament and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, ordered the crowd to disperse.
The cops then began counting from one to 10 (right), and launched the arrests soon after.
Among those arrested were Hindraf leader S Jayathas and Uthayakumar's fiancee, S Indradevi.
Uthaya held on all fours
Uthayakumar, were among the last few individuals to be arrested. He was nabbed together with Indradevi while walking away from Dataran Merdeka.
Several police personnel pounced on Uthayakumar until fell to the ground. Once on the ground, he was held on all fours and rushed to an awaiting police truck.
In the wake of the arrests, participants began leaving the area at about 8pm, barely 15 minutes after the vigil started.
But some 30 minutes later, two more were arrested - Shanti Waytha Moorthy and Waytha Nayagi - some distance away from Dataran Merdeka while sending out alert SMSes.
Though never stated explicitly, it is understood that the vigil tonight was a reaction to the 'cow-head' demonstration last Friday by a group of Shah Alam residents opposing the relocation of a Hindu temple to their neighbourhood.
In contrast to the heavy-handed dispersal of vigil participants tonight, no action was taken against the 'cow-head' protestors.
Police double standards
According to Hindraf leader in exile P Waythamoorthy, the aim of the vigil was to “repair the damage to the centuries-long brotherly Hindu-Muslim relations in the wake of the cow-head protest in Shah Alam”.
In an immediate reaction, he condemned the arrest and accused the police of practising double standards in view of the 'cow-head' demonstration, which has caused public outrage, especially among Hindus.
“It is ridiculous that the Muslim extremist 'cow-head' protesters who were behaving in a violent manner, delivered fiery speeches promoting racial hatred and insulted Hindus were given full police protection.
“Whilst the Hindraf supporters who were armed with unlit candles and roses were violently arrested, bundled and taken into police lock-ups,” said Waythamoorthy in a statement late this evening.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman said that 13 men and three women were detained.
The vigil, organised by rights group Hindraf, began with a march of a 100-strong crowd from nearby Masjid Jamek.
The participants, who were singing songs and carrying red and white roses and candles, called for Malaysians to respect one another's rights.
However, before they could reach Dataran Merdeka, the crowd was confronted by two dozens police officers.
The cops, who stopped the marchers at the junction of Jalan Parliament and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, ordered the crowd to disperse.
The cops then began counting from one to 10 (right), and launched the arrests soon after.
Among those arrested were Hindraf leader S Jayathas and Uthayakumar's fiancee, S Indradevi.
Uthaya held on all fours
Uthayakumar, were among the last few individuals to be arrested. He was nabbed together with Indradevi while walking away from Dataran Merdeka.
Several police personnel pounced on Uthayakumar until fell to the ground. Once on the ground, he was held on all fours and rushed to an awaiting police truck.
In the wake of the arrests, participants began leaving the area at about 8pm, barely 15 minutes after the vigil started.
But some 30 minutes later, two more were arrested - Shanti Waytha Moorthy and Waytha Nayagi - some distance away from Dataran Merdeka while sending out alert SMSes.
Though never stated explicitly, it is understood that the vigil tonight was a reaction to the 'cow-head' demonstration last Friday by a group of Shah Alam residents opposing the relocation of a Hindu temple to their neighbourhood.
In contrast to the heavy-handed dispersal of vigil participants tonight, no action was taken against the 'cow-head' protestors.
Police double standards
According to Hindraf leader in exile P Waythamoorthy, the aim of the vigil was to “repair the damage to the centuries-long brotherly Hindu-Muslim relations in the wake of the cow-head protest in Shah Alam”.
In an immediate reaction, he condemned the arrest and accused the police of practising double standards in view of the 'cow-head' demonstration, which has caused public outrage, especially among Hindus.
“It is ridiculous that the Muslim extremist 'cow-head' protesters who were behaving in a violent manner, delivered fiery speeches promoting racial hatred and insulted Hindus were given full police protection.
“Whilst the Hindraf supporters who were armed with unlit candles and roses were violently arrested, bundled and taken into police lock-ups,” said Waythamoorthy in a statement late this evening.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman said that 13 men and three women were detained.
06/09/09
2 comments:
Both my parents are Indian and Hindu; and I am an evolutionist.
In September 2009, some people in Malaysia paraded a cow's head. The media has the right to highlight it. What is news? When a dog bites a man, it is not news worthy. But when a man bites a dog, it is news worthy. The media makes news judgement. The media must be given freedom to decide what is news worthy or not. Please leave the media alone.
Some people decided to carry a cow's head. So what? They can carry a cow's head if they want. Nobody should be offended by it. The best thing to do is to play down on it and ignore it. The main thrust for Hindus should and must be in giving a good education to their children. The world will become more competitive. It is the duty of all Hindus in Malaysia to take care of their own families. Please do take care of your own family. If you can, please do work at two jobs so that you can get extra money.
Parading a cow's head should not perturb you. If it does perturb you, then you have only yourself to blame. Those people parading a cow's head look like comedians any way. Why are you perturbed by comedians? They say that laughter is the best medicine. It is good to have some comedy.
People do have the right to parade a cow's head, or for that matter, chicken wings, pig's ears, goat's feet, turtle shell, cat's tail, etc.
Incidentally, there are many Hindus in Malaysia who eat pork and beef. After you see a cow's head being paraded several times, then you would get used to it and it would no longer perturb you any more. The human mind has the capacity to de-sensitize. It may help to increase beef consumption. Wait a minute. Beef has high cholesterol but not as high as crustaceans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_lBBx4UnoE
levelheaded-It's your opinion anyway;perhaps you do not see the long term affect by this cow head parade to Hindus.This is just the beginning,and if we do not put an end to this it will pop up,soon or later in another version.You're probably right,Hindu Indian consumed beef; unknowingly,that's right; like our children in schools, (canteen) manage by beef eaters.Why because beef is cheaper than mutton or chicken,i was told by a butcher.This has been going on lately in restaurants even in government run org who knows,however it does not give one any right to fake or trick another's wish to remain as non beef eater.
Well that is one part of the story,what if the Hindus were to parade with pig head....? when there is a temple demolition everytime,what would have happened by now?.....
The bottom line is;it's not the matter what they walk with?(like you've stated)but it was done purposely to offend,knowingly cow is sacred to Hindus.Now!that's what i call cow brain in human head,wouldn't you agree?
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