Malay Hindus pray for detained Hindraf activists
Kuala
Lumpur,
Dec
31:
Hindus
residing
in
Malaysia
gathered
in
large
numbers
at
various
temples
in
the
country
to
offer
their
prayers
for
the
early
release
of
detained
activists
of
the
Hindu
Rights
Action
Force
(Hindraf).
After the November 25 violent protests by Hindus seeking equal rights, the Malaysian government had detained a large number of Hindraf activists in a nationwide crackdown. Five persons have been detained under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA), and over two dozen others have been charged for participating in an illegal assembly. The special prayers were organised by a coalition of 30 non-governmental organisations and the Indian community present here. These prayers also turned out to be an occasion for the aggrieved Indian community to express their discontentment over the ill treatment that they have to face in public life.
The minority Indian community here are demanding equal employment opportunities.
At one such prayer in Klang, Coalition spokesman L. Segaran said that they would be urging the Malaysian Prime Minister to release the five persons detained under ISA.
Last week, five leaders of Hindraf- M. Manoharan, 46, V. Ganabatirau, 34 and P. Uthayakumar, 46, along with Hindraf co-ordinator K. Vasantha Kumar, 34 and R. Kengadharan, 40 -submitted a formal application for their right to be present at a habeas corpus petition court hearing, scheduled for next month.
The five Hindraf leaders claim that their detention was illegal as they were detained without thorough investigation, required under section 73 of the Act.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who will be leading a 70-member delegation to the Pravasi Barathiya Divas conference in New Delhi beginning on January 7, has said that he would meet Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and other leaders to apprise them about the real situation concerning the Indian community in Malaysia, The Star reported.
ANI
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