(see Malaysiakini.com)
The Human Rights Party is keeping up the pressure on behalf of the Indian community by briefing foreign diplomats on their problems, including the peaceful march it organised against the “Interlok” novel last weekend.
During the two -hour event, four HRP speakers detailed several key points, particularly in education, problems in acquiring the Malaysian Identity Card (My-Kad), temples being demolished, deaths under police custody and freedom to practise their religion.
The eight representatives who attended the ‘International Lobby’ briefing at HRP headquarters were from the Indonesian, Swiss, French, Czech, German, Norwegian embassies, including the European Union and UNDP.
But, the diplomats appeared more keen on discussing ‘Interlok’ and last Sunday’s anti-racism rally.
The Norwegian Embassy’s First Secretary Ashild Kjok, asked the HRP the reason for the rally as the novel ‘Interlok’ she understood from comments was based on historical facts and it had also ‘painted’ the Chinese and Malay races negatively.
The main bone of contention
Uthayakumar then explained that the issue was neither the content nor the word used in the novel, but making it a compulsory literature textbook for form five students.
Uthayakumar also said that the rally could not be considered a failure as it was stopped by the police.
“We had applied for a permit (to gather and march peacefully) but it was rejected by them (the police). So, instead, they came arresting anyone they felt, or saw as suspicious,” he added.
Today was the second briefing organised by HRP for diplomats, the first was held the same time last year.
Uthayakumar told Malaysiakini that he was delighted with this year’s briefing as the representatives raised numerous questions.
“Last year, the representatives came and just listened. But it’s good that they are actually starting to ask questions,” he said.
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