The police has arrested three key leaders behind the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) – lawyers P Uthayakumar, P Waythamoorthy and V Ganapathy Rao, just as the movement is preparing for a mass rally this Sunday (Nov 25). [Malaysiakini]
Klang Valley folks should have noticed the unusual jam in and around KL for the past 2 days. Police has set up roadblocks, albeit prematurely, to cope with the potential confrontation before the rally. Seems like they has just up their ante by arresting the leaders of Hindraf.
About Hindraf and the rally
Not many Malaysians beside the Hindu community are paying attention to Hindraf… that’s a sad fact. After 50 years of independence, Malaysians are not giving much damn about the welfare of other races. The irony thing is… the arrest and roadblocks actually helped spreading Hindraf’s movement.
Hindraf is planning a gathering outside of British High Commission at Jalan Ampang on Sunday to submit a petition with 100,000 signatures to Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen’s Counsel to represent the Indian community in a class action suit against the British government for bringing Indians as labourers to the then Malaya and thereafter exploiting them.
The suit, filed at the Royal Courts of Justice in London by Hindraf chief P. Wathyamoorthy in August, sought compensation of up to US$4 trillion (RM13.5 trillion), or US$1 million (RM3.4 million) for every Indian in Malaysia.
The petition and suit might sound ridiculous; people have been teasing the real motive behind the rally. Regardless, I am not going to question the possible personal agenda in Hindraf organization… I chose to believe that they want to seek international (and Malaysians’) attention on the problem the Indian society is facing in Malaysia, and that the suit is just a gimmick to get attention.
I am not a big fan of public rally or demonstration, but I am not going to deny the rights of others to voice their thoughts. Besides, who would want to bath under the torching sun or soak in the rain (and possibly polices’ tear gas and water cannon) to demonstrate if their voices are heard in a more comfortable way? People go to the streets because they don’t have much choice, not for fun.
For whatever cause it is… Don’t bring minors to a demonstration. One thing that I absolute distaste during the BERSIH rally is seeing minors involved.
Street demo is always unpredictable; the crowd might go wild, or the police might become irrational in handling situations. Violent confrontation might happen… it’s not safe to bring your young children to a demo. Forget about education from young age, that’s bull sh!t… there are better ways teaching children about democracy, human rights or whatever.