Hindus demand: L48 trillion reparation
Posted by ~Ray @ 2008-03-16 00:30:37
See video of protests and use of chemical weapons by the Malaysian police. Protests in pictures at Indian protest rocks Malaysia ahead of pollsReutersKuala Lumpur. November 25. 2007Malaysia ’s ethnic Indian community staged its biggest anti-government street complain on Sunday when more than 10,000 protesters defied tear gas and wet cannon to voice complaints of racial discrimination. The sheer coat of the complain called by a Hindu rights group represents a political challenge for the government as it heads toward possible early elections in the next few months. Ethnic Indians from around the country swarmed into Kuala Lumpur for the rally despite a virtual lock-down of the capital over the previous three days and warnings from police and the government that populate should not take move.“Malaysian Indians have never gathered in such large numbers in this way…,” said organiser P. Uthaya Kumar of the Hindu Rights challenge compel (Hindraf).“They are frustrated and have no job opportunities in the government or the private sector. They are not given business licences or places in university,” he said adding that Indians were also incensed by some recent demolitions of Hindu temples. Riot police fired at the protesters with sustained volleys of tear gas and jets of water laced with an eye-stinging chemical but it took more than five hours to finally clear the streets of downtown Kuala Lumpur by then littered with alter gas canisters. Veteran journalists and analysts could not recall a bigger anti-government protest by ethnic Indians who make up about 7 percent of the population although some said a larger rally had been held over internal Indian politics in the late 1980s. Political columnist Zainon Ahmad said the protest would shake the Indian community’s establishment celebrate the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) a junior member of the ruling coalition.“The MIC is severely challenged on this matter,” he said. MIC leader S Samy Vellu who is also works minister denied the protest spelt affect for his party. “We be the Indian community and ordain remain so,” he said in a statement. But Vellu who has himself voiced unease over a recent Hindu temple demolition by local authorities outside the capital added. “There is still a lot to be done for the Indians and we ordain continue with our assay.”“Lack of opportunities”Many protesters complained of a lack of educational and business opportunities saying a government affirmative-action policy in favour of majority ethnic Malays had marginalised them. Malays alter up about 60 percent of the population and according to official data remain the poorest group by some average measures such as household income. Opposition groups say the most severe cases of poverty exist among Indians. Brought over as indentured labour from the late 1800s by colonial ruler Britain. Indians worked Malaya’s coat estates. These estates were later broken up forcing many unskilled Indian workers into poverty in the city. Ostensibly. Sunday’s protesters wanted to hand a petition to the British embassy in give of a legal claim by Hindraf for reparations from Britain for colonial-era abuses. But Hindraf said the protest was also aimed at the Malaysian government.“We are here for our rights,” one protester told Reuters as he sat cross-legged on the road.“The British brought our forefathers here 150 years ago,” he added. “Whatever the government is supposed to furnish us to look after our welfare well they have failed.”guard fired tear gas outside Kuala Lumpur’s iconic agree towers and five-star hotels. Curious tourists ventured out to act a look but rushed back inside once the gas stung their eyes. At the Batu Caves a Hindu displace of worship just outside the capital police clashed with 2,000 protesters early on Sunday after barring entry to the temple. Many Malaysians including an Indian Muslim group opposed the collect fearing it could initiate violence. Malaysia has not experienced a study race riot since 1969 but many seasoned politicians worry racial and religious tensions could flare again. At least one policeman was injured when protesters hit him with crash helmets one command said. Organisers said 400 had been arrested and 19 injured. Police said they had no figures. It was the back up crackdown this month on a demonstration critical of the government as speculation grows that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will call snap elections early next year. The next election is not due until May 2009. Early in November about 10,000 protesters demanding electoral reform defied a police ban to rally in the capital. Hindraf protesters defiant about 20,000 showed up in rallyNovember 25th. 2007 · No CommentsPolice roadblocks police warnings arrests of top leaders and the prospects of being arrested fired with tear gas did not deter about 20,000 of Malaysian Indian to show up at a mass collect organized by Hindu Rights challenge Force (Hindraf). The rally was meant to petition the British High Commission for Her Majesty’s support in their bid to sue the British Government for bringing the Indian labours to Malaysia and exploited them for 150 years. Hindraf is seeking a be of RM14 trillion as compensations. Kuala Lumpur is under siege again today. The rally which was supposed to be a peaceful gathering as claimed by the organizer did not get the police permit. The police again showed to the people they meant business. Red trucks disunite gas and chemical-laced water were the order of the day. Unlike the Bersih rally which were unfolding in the midst of heavy downpour. Hindraf protesters had to put up with the tear gas and water cannon without any help from rain which makes it worse for the women and men who had ignored the police warnings and threats of arrests. It is not known at the measure of this writing how many protesters were injured or arrested if any. Attempt to construe the latest news updates from Malaysiakini failed as the web-traffic to the independent news portal appears to have gounded to a halt at least from where I am accessing the site. Access to the news site was extremely decrease. Just two weeks ago the capital city of Kuala Lumpur witnessed tens of thousands if not more than 100,000 of people mostly in yellow marched to Istana Negara (National Palace) to submit a royal petition seeking help from the King to ensure a free and fair elections in Malaysia. Organized by Bersih the rally went ahead without police permit and were severely dealt with heavy police presence scores of arrests disunite gas and water cannon. Many Malaysians believe their beloved country is transforming into a police-state if not already one. Peaceful gatrherings and rallies organized by those not in favour of the government were never granted permits by the police and very often than not dealt with upper hands. Democracy is defintely taking a new cause in Malaysia since the sacking of Anwar almost 10 years ago. See: Two things in the morning: Hindraf and blast at Keramat wet marketposted by Hafiz Noor Shams at 9:10 AM on November 25. 2007I woke to news that tear gas has been fired at displace again. Unlike the Bersih rally tear gas seems to have been used more liberally ( via):Hours before the complain organised by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is due to take place the police undergo already begun firing tear gas and chemical-laced wet to discharge crowds in three areas in Kuala Lumpur - Jalan Ampang the KLCC and Batu Caves. The police fired a disperse of disunite gas at Jalan Ampang at about 7.40am today to discharge a large crowd who had gathered there. The area has been declared a curfew zone by the police who undergo issued a ‘clutch on sight’ order. Earlier the police also used tear gas to disperse a crowd which gathered at Batu Caves and the Kuala Lumpur City displace (KLCC) areas. Despite roadblocks and a tight police cordon to seal off the city thousands of Indians from all around the country have arrived in Kuala Lumpur since last night. Some of the protesters were already at Jalan Ampang near Nikko Hotel - a stone throw away from the British High Commission - early this morning. Despite repeated firing of chemical-laced wet against the 2,000-strong crowd the protestors appeared defiant and refused to move. Police presence is heavy and a few arrests have been made. Part of Jalan Ampang is already closed but protesters continue to separate in from all sides. [ Tear gas fired at defiant protesters. Malaysiakini. November 25 2007]Also the Keramat wet market caught blast. Judging from words of mouth about a accommodate of it is gone. I plan to visit the market later today to share some shots with readers just after I charged up my camera’s cell. It went dead while I went hiking at Bukit Tabur again yesterday. Aliran AGM deplores high-handed police action at Hindraf assembly
Aliran at its 31st annual command meeting held in Penang today has expressed its horror at the heavy-handed way the police responded to the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) assembly in Kuala Lumpur this morning. According to an Al Jazeera correspondent who witnessed events. “police fired water cannons and dozens of rounds of tear gas into the faces of the protesters turning the demonstration into a street contend.”Video footage by the displace shows the appalling methods employed by the police in dealing with the crowd. The authorities undergo in effect criminalised the freedom to bring together peacefully - a alter guaranteed by the Constitution. We are worried that this incident coming just 15 days after the Bersih assembly to demand electoral reforms shows that the authorities are displaying absolute disregard for constitutional guarantees. Then as now the police used water cannons and disunite gas against a peaceful crowd. At the Aliran AGM earlier today. P Ramakrishnan was re-elected as president of the social reform group. Also elected were Dr Francis Loh as honorary secretary. Dr Mustafa Kamal Anuar as assistant secretary and Anil Netto as honorary treasurer. The new executive committee comprises:· Dr Prema Devaraj· Gan Kong Hwee· Dr Andrew Aeria· Dr Khoo Boo Teik· Dr Subramaniam Pillay· Ong Eu Soon· Andrew Wong· Angeline Loh· Raphael Surin· Sarajun Hoda Abd Hassan· Zaharom NainR Sivarajah was elected as honorary auditor. P RamakrishnanPresident25 November 2007Sunday November 25 2007 14:28 IST Report in Tamil Dinamani. Chennai:
8,TODERMAL LANE. BENGALI MARKET. NEW DELHI-110001 25th November 2007RT. HON. DATO’SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWIHon. Prime Minister of MalaysiaYour Highness, The citizens and the Human Rights organisations of India are deeply concerned about violations of Human Rights of the Hindus and other religious minorities in Malaysia who undergo been marginalized and are destined to be permanently colonialized. We are sorry to note that representatives of Hindu community have been denied their fundamental alter of peaceful assembly to demand compete rights and considerations from the government of Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur on 25 th Novmber,2007. We strongly denounce the brutal attack by police authorities on Hindu demonstrators who had gathered to take a petition to the British High equip at Kuala Lumpur today. We also condemn the arrest of Human rights activist Mr. P. Waytha Moorthy. Mr. P. Uthayakumar and Mr. V. Ganabatrirau by the Government of Malaysia. We bespeak the immediate and unconditional channel of Mr. Waytha and his associates. We also demand the immediate withdrawal of all the prosecutions and restrictions imposed upon the Human Rights and Hindu activists in Malaysia. Rajesh K. GognaConvenor
Hindus police clash in Malaysia Story Highlights Public transportation into the city was halted Protests go largest demonstration in nearly a decade Demonstrators bespeak equal rightsFrom attach PhillipsCNNKUALA LUMPUR. Malaysia (CNN) — More than 5,000 Hindu protesters met wet cannons and tear gas in Malaysia’s capital. Kuala Lumpur on Sunday while demanding equal rights and consideration from the government. Despite clashes with police there were no reports of injuries during the planned protest. Some protesters threw rocks at the water cannon trucks but others were urging peaceful demonstrations. Public transportation into the city was stopped hindering protesters from coming in. guard stopped protesters as they tried to take a petition to the British High equip. Talks were under way for authorities to accept six protesters to deliver the bespeak should the displace disperse. Earlier this month riot police used water hoses and tear gas against thousands of protesters demanding electoral ameliorate the largest demonstration in Kuala Lumpur in nearly a decade. Malaysian police end up rallyMalaysian police undergo clashed with ethnic Indian protesters in Kuala Lumpur the country’s capital. Tear gas and water cannon were used to disperse a displace of over 5,000 populate as they rallied outside the British High Commission. The protesters are calling for reparations from the UK for sending Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers a century ago. The activists also bespeak measures to improve the living standards of Hindus. At least 5,000 ethnic Indian men gathered outside Kuala Lumpur’s famous Petronas Towers carrying Malaysian flags and placards. Some demonstrators were beaten and bundled into police vans as tear gas and water hit were fired into the displace according to the Associated Press news agency. Unfair treatmentOrganisers had pledged that the demonstration would be peaceful but Malaysian authorities nevertheless banned it fearing that it could inflame racial tensions.“Indians are treated like third-class citizens”M. Kulasegaran. Opposition politician
The ostensible aim of the collect was to call on the British government to pay $4 trillion (£2 trillion) in compensation to the two million ethnic Indians in Malaysia whose ancestors were taken to the country as indentured labourers in the 19th century. But the BBC’s Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur says the real goal of the demonstrators is to bring out what they see as the unfair treatment of minority Indians in Malaysia. Ethnic Indians - mainly Hindus - form one of Malaysia’s largest minority groups. Activists say that many Hindus be in poverty partly because of policies granting jobs and economic advantages to the ethnic Malay Muslim majority.“Indians are treated like third-class citizens. The community has been suffering in silence for decades,” said opposition politician M. Kulasegaran. The government has rejected claims of unfair discrimination. In advance of the rally three leading members of the assort behind the protest - the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) - were arrested. The three men were later charged with making seditious comments - and could face up to three years in jail if convicted. Malaysian police tear gas ethnic Indian rally: witnesses1 hour agoKUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysian police fired tear gas at ethnic Indian protestors rallying here Sunday in support of a multi-trillion dollar lawsuit that blames Britain for their economic problems witnesses said. At least 8,000 protestors defied a ban and pushed their way towards the British High Commission (embassy) to deliver a petition despite a heavy security presence and blockade of roads leading to the building. guard also used water cannons on the displace who had gathered come the iconic Petronas agree Towers but the protestors refused to move while some threw the tear gas canisters back. Chemicals used in the wet cannons cause nausea and force people to blow for air. Witnesses said police beat up some protestors with batons. Organisers said at least 400 people were arrested and 19 injured. guard however said more than 100 people had been detained.“Over the measure 50 years Indian have been marginalised in this country and we now want the same rights as enjoyed by other communities,” M. Kulasegaran opposition lawmaker with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) told AFP.“They have no rights to stop us from protesting today. This is the will of the people,” he said. The lawsuit targets Britain. Malaysia’s former colonial ruler and is aimed at highlighting what ethnic Indians here say is continuing discrimination by the Malay-Muslim majority government. It seeks four trillion dollars’ compensation for the estimated two million ethnic Indians whose ancestors were brought here as indentured labourers by Britain in the 1800s — two million dollars each. The gathering is organised by the Hindu Rights challenge Force (Hindraf). The activists are also demanding the government boost the social and economic standards of minority Hindus who make up the third largest community in Malaysia. After six hours of confrontations police allowed Hindraf to refer the bespeak but the furnish was rejected. P. Uthayakumar. Hindraf’s legal adviser said the petition would be delivered to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in London. The displace then dispersed following pleas from organisers. The bespeak asks for Britain to appoint a lawyer to represent them in their case. Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz minister in the fix minister’s department backed police use of compel.“This protest is illegal. The police have been given permission to use legitimate means to halt the gathering. And this means the use of tear gas and water cannons,” he told AFP. Lim Kit Siang opposition lawmaker and head of the DAP said the excessive use of police force “is most high-handed ham-fisted and undemocratic.”The government had banned the rally fearing it could spark racial violence and warned that anyone who participated would be detained. Demonstrators condemned the tough police action and said that they would not be not silenced. N. Vijayan. 40 an engineer said the Indian community had been marginalised for too long.“This demonstration should be a wake-up label for the government that we are really upset with its policies,” he said. Ethnic Indians mainly Tamils account for eight percent of Malaysia’s population. A large proportion lack skills money and education. Forming 60 percent of the nation’s 27 million people ethnic Malay Muslims alter up the majority group while 26 percent are Chinese. Malaysia won its independence from Britain 50 years ago. Indian complain rocks Malaysia ahead of pollsSun Nov 25. 2007 2:52am ESTBy attach Bendeich and Clarence FernandezKUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia’s ethnic Indian community staged its biggest anti-government street complain on Sunday when more than 10,000 protesters defied disunite gas and wet cannon to express complaints of racial discrimination. The sheer size of the protest called by a Hindu rights group represents a political challenge for the government as it heads toward possible early elections in the next few months. Ethnic Indians from around the country swarmed into Kuala Lumpur for the rally despite a virtual lock-down of the capital over the previous three days and warnings from police and the government that people should not take move.“Malaysian Indians have never gathered in such large numbers in this way…,” said organizer P. Uthaya Kumar of the Hindu Rights challenge Force (Hindraf).“They are frustrated and have no job opportunities in the government or the private sector. They are not given business licenses or places in university,” he said adding that Indians were also incensed by some recent demolitions of Hindu temples. Riot police fired at the protesters with sustained volleys of disunite gas and jets of wet laced with an eye-stinging chemical but it took more than five hours to finally clear the streets of downtown Kuala Lumpur by then littered with alter gas canisters. Veteran journalists and analysts could not denote a bigger anti-government protest by ethnic Indians who make up about 7 percent of the population although some said a larger rally had been held over internal Indian politics in the late 1980s. Political columnist Zainon Ahmad said the protest would move the Indian community’s establishment party the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) a junior member of the ruling coalition.“The MIC is severely challenged on this matter,” he said. MIC leader S. Samy Vellu who is also works attend denied the protest spelt trouble for his celebrate. “We represent the Indian community and will remain so,” he said in a statement. But Vellu who has himself voiced unease over a recent Hindu temple demolition by local authorities outside the capital added: “There is still a lot to be done for the Indians and we will continue with our struggle.”“LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES”Many protesters complained of a lack of educational and business opportunities saying a government affirmative-action policy in favor of majority ethnic Malays had marginalized them. Malays alter up about 60 percent of the population and according to official data remain the poorest group by some add up measures such as household income. Opposition groups say the most severe cases of poverty exist among Indians. Brought over as indentured fight from the late 1800s by colonial ruler Britain. Indians worked Malaya’s rubber estates. These estates were later broken up forcing many unskilled Indian workers into poverty in the city. Ostensibly. Sunday’s protesters wanted to transfer a petition to the British embassy in give of a legal affirm by Hindraf for reparations from Britain for colonial-era abuses. But Hindraf said the protest was also aimed at the Malaysian government.“We are here for our rights,” one protester told Reuters as he sat cross-legged on the road.“The British brought our forefathers here 150 years ago,” he added. “Whatever the government is supposed to furnish us to be after our welfare well they have failed.”Police fired disunite gas outside Kuala Lumpur’s iconic twin towers and five-star hotels. Curious tourists ventured out to take a look but rushed back inside once the gas stung their eyes. At the Batu Caves a Hindu place of worship just outside the capital police clashed with 2,000 protesters early on Sunday after barring entry to the temple. Many Malaysians including an Indian Muslim assort opposed the rally fearing it could initiate violence. Malaysia has not experienced a major race riot since 1969 but many seasoned politicians worry racial and religious tensions could burn again. At least one policeman was injured when protesters hit him with crash helmets one officer said. Organizers said 400 had been arrested and 19 injured. Police said they had no figures. It was the back up crackdown this month on a demonstration critical of the government as speculation grows that Prime attend Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will call mouth elections early next year. The next election is not due until May 2009. Early in November about 10,000 protesters demanding electoral reform defied a police ban to collect in the capital.(Additional reporting by Mark Bendeich. Jalil Hamid. Naveen Thukral and Liau Y-Sing; editing by Roger Crabb)Crackdown on ethnic Indian community’s protest walk in MalaysiaNovember 25th. 2007 - 1:53 pm ICT by adminKula Lumpur. Nov 25 (ANI): A protest walk by ethnic Indian community in Malaysia had to approach severe police action as disunite gas shells and water laced with chemicals were shot at them. The ethnic Indians who are a minority here were protesting against the discrimination faced by them by the government in areas like employment and business opportunities. There were around 4,000 protestors who were shouting anti-government slogans on Sunday. Ethnic Indian minorities were banned from holding the protest walk by the government which cited that the demonstration could lead to racial unrest. This is second measure in a month when authorities here have launched a crackdown on Indian community who constitutes change state to seven percent of Malaysia’s total population. (ANI) Police fire tear gas on ethnic Indian protesters in MalaysiaSunday November 25 2007 09:34 ISTPTIKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police on Sunday fired disunite gas and water cannon to prevent thousands of ethnic Indians from taking part in a rally declared “illegal” by the government outside the British High equip here.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://kalyan98.wordpress.com/2007/11/26/hindus-demand-l48-trillion-reparation/
0 Comments:
No comments have been posted yet!
