Hindraf blames cops for failed march

(see www.malaysiakini.com 28.2.2011)

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) blames the police force for the failure of yesterday’s "People’s March in Solidarity Against Umno’s Racism".

"The march was unsuccessful because we were arrested (on the spot) by the police force, and we were outnumbered," Hindraf coordinator W Sambulingam said in response to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s comment last night.

Yesterday, Bernama reported that Hishamuddin said the effort by Hindraf failed as there was poor response.
Human Rights Party (HRP) chief P Uthayakumar (right) said it was impossible to proceed with the peaceful march, considering that Inspector-General Police Ismail Omar rejected their police permit.
On Feb 11, Hindraf submitted an application to the IGP for a permit to hold the peaceful march, but it was rejected by Dang Wangi police on Feb 24.
It does not make sense to say the peaceful march was a failure, Uthayakumar said, since police rejected the application and stopped and gave a stern warning to those intending to support the march.
"None of this (the arrests) would have happened if they approved our application. All we asked for was a permit to march peacefully, to show what we are upset over and present our demands… and our permit was turned down," Sambulingam said, adding that the peaceful march was never scheduled for any bad intention.
18 still being detained
All Hindraf supporters who were arrested during yesterday’s march attempt were freed in stages yesterday, except for 18 supporters who showed up for a candlelight vigil outside the Jinjang police station last night.
"They were released about 3pm today, including 17-year-old Virasanth Visvanathan, who had been held at the Sungei Besi station," Uthayakumar said.
Yesterday, some 200 Hindraf supporters made their way to the Jinjang police station, demanding the release of their leaders.
At 8am yesterday, Uthayakumar was intercepted and arrested by four plainclothes police officers as he left his apartment in Pantai Hillpark, Kuala Lumpur.
Asked to comment on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s statement that "Hindraf wanted police to use force on them", Uthayakumar denied the accusation, saying the Hindraf march was to be held peacefully.
Apart from that, Uthayakumar said, the movement was willing to meet the prime minister, whenever it suited him.
"We will kuburkan Hindraf, provided the prime minister obliges to our 18-point demand. We are giving Umno a tip for on how to kuburkan Hindraf… just answer our demands on what has been done, what is being done and what will be done for the Indian community," he added.

18-point demand of community

On July 28, 2007, Hindraf submitted a memorandum to then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, making an 18-point demand for the Indian community.

Among the demands are:

• The Umno-controlled government sets up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the ‘Kg Medan mini genocide’, condemns the violence, apologises to the Indian community for this, undertakes not to repeat the same in future and pays a compensation of RM1 million for each and every citizen killed, permanently maimed, maimed or injured in this tragedy.

• All forms of racial and religious discrimination, oppression and suppression of the Indians/Hindus in both the public and private sectors be stopped with immediate effect. A Race Relations Commission Act 2007, an Equal Opportunities Commission Act 2007 and a Freedom of Religions Commission Act 2007 be enacted. These should be powerful commissions to give effect to anti-racism, anti-Islamic extremism and anti-direct discrimination practices by the Umno-controlled government, in both the public and private sectors.

• A minimum of 20 Opposition Members of Parliament be elected exclusively by the Indian community to represent their interests at the highest political level and also as a parliamentary democracy check-and-balance. This should be safeguarded and entrenched into the Federal Constitution, and increased proportionately with the increase in parliamentary seats.

As for now, the movement will not hold any form of demonstration.
Asked if Hindraf had a time frame for an answer from Najib, Uthayakumar replied, "We will wait and see, as we have been waiting for the past three years for a change. But, Umno must stop all their wayang kulit and take this seriously, as we do not like to demonstrate for no reason. No one likes to do so."