Kuala Lumpur, (PTI): Malaysian police will seek help from international agencies like 'Interpol' and 'Europol' to monitor the overseas activities of Hindraf which spearheaded protests by ethnic Indians against alleged marginalisation.
Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Mohd Johari Baharom, told reporters that the agencies involved were the European Law Enforcement Organisation (Europol), Asean police (Aseanapol) and Interpol.
Malaysian police had earlier accused the Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraf) of having links with terror outfits, including the LTTE.
"They are not only monitoring the group, but everything," he was quoted as saying in Kuching by Malaysian news agency Bernama.
Johari was commenting on reports of attempts by one of the leaders of the group, P. Waytha Moorthy, to garner support abroad.
He said the Malaysian police's "good ties" with international law enforcement agencies would enable the force to obtain more information on crime activities abroad.
On December 13, five Hidraf were held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and sent on a two-year detention. They are P. Uthayakumar, 46, M. Manoharan, 46, R. Kenghadharan, 40, V. Ganabatirau, 34, and T. Vasantha Kumar, 34.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Hindraf Lawyers are DAP members!
By V. Vasudevan, NST, Dec 12.
Two prominent Hindraf activists, one of whom has been charged with sedition, are members of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP).
V. Ganabatirau is advisor to the DAP’s Sri Muda branch in Shah Alam and lawyer M. Manoharan is an ordinary member.
Manoharan led a team of lawyers who defended Ganabatirau, P. Uthayakumar and P. Waytha Moorthy at the Klang Sessions Court on sedition charges.
Manoharan, together with Uthayakumar, Waytha Moorthy, Ganabatirau and R. Kenghadaran, were named as respondents in a magistrate’s court order barring the Hindraf rally on Nov 25.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng admitted today that Ganabathirau and Manoharan were members of the DAP but he disputed police claims that Hindraf leaders had links to terrorist organisations.
“These are not proven charges but allegations by the government.” Guan Eng also claimed that the issues raised by Hindraf “have struck a chord with our members”.
“We support them (Hindraf) but not the language they use,” Guan Eng said.
When asked about allegations of ethnic cleansing of the Indians made by Hindraf’s Uthayakumar, Guan Eng said: “Of course, there is no ethnic cleansing in Malaysia. But the issues like marginalisation of the Indian community is there.”
He stressed that the DAP did not condone violence and would act against party members involved in violence.
Guan Eng, his father, opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were among opposition leaders who had turned up at the courts to show moral support for the Hindraf leaders charged with sedition.
DAP chairman and Bukit Glugor MP Karpal Singh, however, has distanced himself from Hindraf. In an earlier report, he had said that Hindraf’s allegations of ethnic cleansing were baseless and untrue and urged Hindraf leaders to be more responsible when uttering such statements.
Karpal also questioned the manner in which Hindraf’s rally was carried out, adding that there should not have been any violence involved.
He had, however, said DAP was supportive of peaceful demonstrations and questioned the need for police permits.
Two prominent Hindraf activists, one of whom has been charged with sedition, are members of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP).
V. Ganabatirau is advisor to the DAP’s Sri Muda branch in Shah Alam and lawyer M. Manoharan is an ordinary member.
Manoharan led a team of lawyers who defended Ganabatirau, P. Uthayakumar and P. Waytha Moorthy at the Klang Sessions Court on sedition charges.
Manoharan, together with Uthayakumar, Waytha Moorthy, Ganabatirau and R. Kenghadaran, were named as respondents in a magistrate’s court order barring the Hindraf rally on Nov 25.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng admitted today that Ganabathirau and Manoharan were members of the DAP but he disputed police claims that Hindraf leaders had links to terrorist organisations.
“These are not proven charges but allegations by the government.” Guan Eng also claimed that the issues raised by Hindraf “have struck a chord with our members”.
“We support them (Hindraf) but not the language they use,” Guan Eng said.
When asked about allegations of ethnic cleansing of the Indians made by Hindraf’s Uthayakumar, Guan Eng said: “Of course, there is no ethnic cleansing in Malaysia. But the issues like marginalisation of the Indian community is there.”
He stressed that the DAP did not condone violence and would act against party members involved in violence.
Guan Eng, his father, opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were among opposition leaders who had turned up at the courts to show moral support for the Hindraf leaders charged with sedition.
DAP chairman and Bukit Glugor MP Karpal Singh, however, has distanced himself from Hindraf. In an earlier report, he had said that Hindraf’s allegations of ethnic cleansing were baseless and untrue and urged Hindraf leaders to be more responsible when uttering such statements.
Karpal also questioned the manner in which Hindraf’s rally was carried out, adding that there should not have been any violence involved.
He had, however, said DAP was supportive of peaceful demonstrations and questioned the need for police permits.
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Diary of a Proud Malaysian Indian
VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE! NEGATIVITY BEGETS CONFRONTATION. These are the words of Blogger-cum-lawyer Jeyapalan T.S. Mahesan, a third generation Malaysian of the Raja Cholan Heritage.In his blog entry entitled: Hindraf, Hindraf, Hindraf! he wrote: "Not a tear will I shed, Not a drop of blood will I cause split!"I was born in this bumi/land. I am anak buah Malaysia! Have I been marginalised? No! I am a Hindu and have been & been to many Temples my Land!"I have been not given a place in University? No! Three times I have been enrolled! Bachelor of Arts (Literature & Drama in Bahasa & English, with Sanskrit & Tamil Literature as minors) - graduated with Honours - Universiti Malaya 1977. Further Certificate in Legal Practice (The CLP), Universiti Malaya in 1986. Masters in Law (LLM) in 2000, University Malaya (I withdrew for personal reasons)."Jeyapalan was educated at the Methodist Boys School, Kuala Lumpur (Standard 1 to Form 6! and was offered a place in the elite Royal Military College (RMC) in 1969, but his father did not give permission because he believed that it is his destiny to be a man of the Laws not to carry weapons!"Was I never offered a Scholarship? Was too, many, but was/am very independant and refused!"Am I anti Government! No! because The Executive is the fundamental triparte bastion of Malaysian Democracy! But I am always "quarelling" with Government, such that when I appear in a Government Department, things get down (for my people - Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Muruts, Eurasians, Peranakan etc)."In my heart & soul, the rich tapestry of our cultures is so imbedded with our heritage that even when I am travelling along our roads, past padi fields, past plantations, I feel the sense of history & blessedness this Bumi emmanates!Jeyapalan said there were many imbalances, many injustices, many faults - but that's human. All matters can be resolved by those who have the ability, by dialogue & "harrasment", until the authorities relent. Proper & clever use of the law and talking will overcome."If I one person, with a whole lot of friends (network) can achieve these, without street confrontation, and especially when I do not have the financial resources, so can other Indians (read HINDRAF)."He said he is very proud of by Heritage (Raja Cholan Indian/Hindu) but he is Malaysian first!"I am very proud to be a subject of MY KING (DYMM YANG DI PERTUAN AGONG) & I will never give allegience to a Sovereign of another Land!"Talk, discuss, suggest, keep plugging, my friends: Uthayakumar & Manogaran, but please not the streets!
http://jeyapalantsmahesan.blogspot.com
http://jeyapalantsmahesan.blogspot.com
IGP: Hindraf Trying to Garner Support from Terrorists
By LOURDES CHARLES and ANDREW SAGAYAM
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: There are signs lately that the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is trying to garner support from terrorist groups, the police charged yesterday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said Hindraf has also set up a fund by misleading the public into believing that the money is to finance its activities.
“We view such matters very seriously. It is also very worrying especially when we live in a multi-racial society.
Ominous words: The front page of Monday’s edition of Singapore’s The New Paper which interviewed P. Uthayakumar and quoted him as saying that Hindraf will not rule out violence.“The police will not hesitate to take stern action against anyone to ensure that peace and security prevails in this country,” he said.
Musa also said the group was trying to sow hatred towards the Government and that its actions could spark racial clashes.
He said such dangerous sentiments were being widely spread via Hindraf forums, distribution of books and leaflets, on websites as well as through the short messaging service.
“It is also trying to rope in gangsters to prevent local authorities from demolishing illegal temples in the near future.
“The fanning of such racial sentiments among the Indians is very unhealthy and dangerous,” Musa said, adding that the police would not hesitate to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) against those who abused technology to stoke racial hatred or unrest.
The IGP said those found guilty of spreading such messages through SMS or e-mail could be jailed up to three years, fined RM10,000, or both, under Section 28 of the ISA.
One of Hindraf’s leaders, P. Uthayakumar, was reported as saying in an interview in Monday's edition of Singapore’s New Paper that that he would not rule out using violence.
He was quoted as saying that the protest by monks in Myanmar last September inspired Hindraf’s public protest.
“The monks were prepared to die for their cause. I’ve shown slides of monks getting shot and killed during my roadshows and I think it struck a chord with the people.
“I think it’s quite unlikely we’ll head down that path towards a civil war but there’s always that possibility. Some of the uneducated may resort to violence,” Uthayakumar was quoted as saying by the paper.
He also allegedly made similar statements in an interview with Indian national television in a programme called Times Now, where he warned of serious consequences.
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: There are signs lately that the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is trying to garner support from terrorist groups, the police charged yesterday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said Hindraf has also set up a fund by misleading the public into believing that the money is to finance its activities.
“We view such matters very seriously. It is also very worrying especially when we live in a multi-racial society.
Ominous words: The front page of Monday’s edition of Singapore’s The New Paper which interviewed P. Uthayakumar and quoted him as saying that Hindraf will not rule out violence.“The police will not hesitate to take stern action against anyone to ensure that peace and security prevails in this country,” he said.
Musa also said the group was trying to sow hatred towards the Government and that its actions could spark racial clashes.
He said such dangerous sentiments were being widely spread via Hindraf forums, distribution of books and leaflets, on websites as well as through the short messaging service.
“It is also trying to rope in gangsters to prevent local authorities from demolishing illegal temples in the near future.
“The fanning of such racial sentiments among the Indians is very unhealthy and dangerous,” Musa said, adding that the police would not hesitate to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) against those who abused technology to stoke racial hatred or unrest.
The IGP said those found guilty of spreading such messages through SMS or e-mail could be jailed up to three years, fined RM10,000, or both, under Section 28 of the ISA.
One of Hindraf’s leaders, P. Uthayakumar, was reported as saying in an interview in Monday's edition of Singapore’s New Paper that that he would not rule out using violence.
He was quoted as saying that the protest by monks in Myanmar last September inspired Hindraf’s public protest.
“The monks were prepared to die for their cause. I’ve shown slides of monks getting shot and killed during my roadshows and I think it struck a chord with the people.
“I think it’s quite unlikely we’ll head down that path towards a civil war but there’s always that possibility. Some of the uneducated may resort to violence,” Uthayakumar was quoted as saying by the paper.
He also allegedly made similar statements in an interview with Indian national television in a programme called Times Now, where he warned of serious consequences.
Abdulah Slams Genocide Claim
By YENG AI CHUN
aichun@thestar.com.my
PENANG: If Malaysia practised genocide or apartheid, half the Cabinet would not be filled with non-Muslims, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
“When Hindraf said we carried out genocide, its allegation was a sign of evil.Please think about the Cabinet.
“Half of it is non-Malays, non-Umno members and non-Muslims,” he said at a press conference at the IMT-GT SME Conference & Expo 2007 here yesterday.
He said the Cabinet would not follow the Government if such atrocities were being practised.
“You think they (the Cabinet) would go with the government and allow themselves to be associated with it? Tak masuk akal (This does not make sense),” he said, referring to a front-page article in a foreign newspaper that claimed Malaysia was practising apartheid against Hindus.
Abdullah said only those who did not know the real situation would be hoodwinked.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the slew of rumours via SMS that could bring discord to the country.
“When the country gets into trouble, who will win or benefit? Nobody,” he said.
Abdullah said that instead it would affect the economy and “that is why we need to consciously guard the peace in the country.”
“We must always ensure that our relationship (between each other) is well and we must always be united,” he emphasised.
Abdullah said that based on his experience as the former Foreign Minister, he found that the international community did not understand the political situation in Malaysia and they often had a wrong perception on Malaysian politics.
“They don’t really understand the power-sharing concept practised by the Barisan Nasional Government because such cooperation of political parties has never worked and existed in their countries,” he said.
aichun@thestar.com.my
PENANG: If Malaysia practised genocide or apartheid, half the Cabinet would not be filled with non-Muslims, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
“When Hindraf said we carried out genocide, its allegation was a sign of evil.Please think about the Cabinet.
“Half of it is non-Malays, non-Umno members and non-Muslims,” he said at a press conference at the IMT-GT SME Conference & Expo 2007 here yesterday.
He said the Cabinet would not follow the Government if such atrocities were being practised.
“You think they (the Cabinet) would go with the government and allow themselves to be associated with it? Tak masuk akal (This does not make sense),” he said, referring to a front-page article in a foreign newspaper that claimed Malaysia was practising apartheid against Hindus.
Abdullah said only those who did not know the real situation would be hoodwinked.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the slew of rumours via SMS that could bring discord to the country.
“When the country gets into trouble, who will win or benefit? Nobody,” he said.
Abdullah said that instead it would affect the economy and “that is why we need to consciously guard the peace in the country.”
“We must always ensure that our relationship (between each other) is well and we must always be united,” he emphasised.
Abdullah said that based on his experience as the former Foreign Minister, he found that the international community did not understand the political situation in Malaysia and they often had a wrong perception on Malaysian politics.
“They don’t really understand the power-sharing concept practised by the Barisan Nasional Government because such cooperation of political parties has never worked and existed in their countries,” he said.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Karunanidhi conned into supporting HINDRAF?
Karunanidhi conned into supporting HINDRAF?
Karunanidhi conned into supporting HINDRAF in ‘larger conspiracy’?
Source: Natteri Adigal, 04 December 2007, Tuesday
Was it necessary for Karunanidhi at the fag end of his career to get bogged down in the dirty mire of factional / religious politics? He found himself in the eye of this storm that threatened traditionally cordial relations between India and Malaysia.
CITING THE big noise from India about a simple crowd control exercise that had not resulted in a single injury, the Malaysian PM suspected that HINDRAF’s bigger motive might be to cause chaos and disturb the peace in the country. Shockingly, there seems to be some substance in the apprehension of a larger conspiracy working behind the protest by ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
Syed Hamid Albar, Malaysia’s foreign minister told the daily ‘The Star’: “If they are talking about Indian citizens, we would understand the concern, but what happened that day has involved Malaysian citizens also. If they break any law, it is our right to deal with them in accordance with Malaysian laws.” He was responding to India’s reported ‘concerns’ over alleged bad treatment of Indians in Malaysia last week.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said: “There is concern whenever Indians or people of Indian origin are affected.” PM said it apparently in response to which Malaysian PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi obliquely referred to India’s records on riots. Manmohan Singh said: “In Malaysia, there has been no conflict between the Muslims and Indians or Islam and Hinduism. We abide by it and hold firmly to the Rukun Negara.”
The unmistakable snubs were in response to the big noise raised in Indian Parliament on the police action against HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) protesters in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (Nov 25). India’s foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee had said in parliament on Friday: “We are aware of remarks made by a Malaysian minister against the respected Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi. We are in touch with the authority there.”
It was a quirk of fate that the DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi found himself at the eye of this storm, which threatened traditionally cordial relations between both the countries. In fact, even the umpteen splinter factions of DMK have faced charges of corruption; lawlessness but none of them can be accused of ever playing the Hindu-Muslim card. Yet, it was he who had urged centre to take immediate and appropriate action to end the sufferings of ethnic Indians in Malaysia without ascertaining facts completely. It now appears that he was conned into that by highly organised saboteurs, employing the Hindu front.
When reminded by the de-facto justice minister of Malaysia that his place was in Tamil Nadu and not in another country, he mellowed down his voice. He said: “I did not criticise the government of Malaysia. I was only doing my duty as chief minister and a Tamil and spoke up for ethnic Tamils. It is my duty to defend Tamils. I am prepared to accept that.”
His daughter Kanimozhi, who is an MP, clarified: “He has just written to the PM expressing his concern over what had happened there. That’s all. Now, it is up to the centre to decide what it can do to control the situation in Malaysia.” Such postscripts could not heal the severe hurt felt by the Malaysian government.
Karunanidhi, 83, is a gifted scholar Kalaignar (‘expert artist’). He possesses mind-boggling wizardry with the Tamil language. He played a significant role in spreading the ‘self-esteem’ movement under the leadership of CN Annadorai in Tamil Nadu. The state pioneered the concept of ‘egalitarian society through affirmative action’, which became the buzzword in the rest of India and also in Malaysia much later. It was through Kalaignar’s incisive dialogues for Tamil movies that the message was propagated. Karunanidhi is capable of reeling off whole stanzas from dozens of Tamil classics at the drop of a hat despite not having undergone any formal advanced education.
The script-writer is also a gifted poet, who can instantly pen exquisite poems on any subject on earth. Anointed by CNA as his successor, he did emerge simultaneously as the leader of Tamil-speaking people and as the political face of TN as well. However, disintegration of DMK into several factions has eroded his position in state politics. Like any other Indian politician, Karunanidhi is forced to be engaged for most of the time in saving the throne from own partymen and allies.
Was it necessary for him at the fag end of his career to get bogged down in the dirty mire of factional / religious politics? Tragic but true! The CM, who had dedicated his whole life for the betterment of Tamil language, who justifiably prides himself as a rationalist and agnostic, has unwittingly played into the hands of HINDRAF, with a narrow Tamil Hindu constituency to the alienation of everyone else.
HINDRAF had started off as a small Lawyers’ practice engaged in advocating interests of poor labourers pitted against authorities seeing the law across, taking back the squatter land, and delaying eviction. Its clientele consisted of downtrodden descendents of Tamil-speaking labourers brought in by white settlers in Malaya to hunt and terrorise locals. Its functionaries Ganapathy Rao and brothers P Waytha Moorthy and P Udaya Kumar later started inciting them to protest against removal of temples from squatter land by alleging injuring, humiliation and emotional trauma.
About 80 per cent of Malaysians of Indian origin belong to this category and are in the bottom rung of the economic ladder. Rather encouraging them to become more educated and to develop skills, the outfit flourished by exploiting the ignorant, unskilled and perhaps stupid people by promising to get reparations worth $2-plus million each from UK. The HINDRAF rally of November 25 was for petitioning the British queen to expedite its comical class action suit it has filed in London. Rational Tamil-speaking Malaysians feel that the repercussions for violating law on November 25 are going to affect the innocent, hardworking Malaysians of Indian origin.
The HINDRAF lawyers are suspected to have landed up in an assignment from contacts developed during the course of their class action suit to undermine the efforts of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with intent to finish it off by using their ingenious legal stunts. This angle will be clear when the attorney general’s office in Kuala Lumpur completes investigations about the outfit.
By equating Malaysia with Eelam, and itself with LTTE, the Malaysian outfit plans to destroy the goodwill and respect still being enjoyed by LTTE. An indication of HINDRAF’s agenda is provided by the frequent references it makes to Sri Lankan situation. The outfit had sent out a petition to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, stating that genocide would occur in Malaysia, with the Indian community being forced into violence like in Sri Lanka if their “cause” was ignored.
However, P Waytha Moorthy, in an interview after the rally, said: “I prefer the path of nonviolence. But I don’t rule out the possibility of the protest turning violent in the future, though I hope it does not.” He also said that he will not seek the support of the LTTE and hoped the LTTE will not offer its support to me as well.
Karunanidhi has been conned into the horrible mess, by falling prey to a bunch of imposters, must come cleared from any kind of association with HINDRAF’s future plans. According to the interactions of the Indian daily DNA with Waytha Moorthy, the overwhelming response to the HINDRAF rally has spurred its leaders into planning revolution. He will be traveling to Delhi, London, Geneva, and Amsterdam. The outfit will lobby for support from governments and NGOs for the fight against ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Malaysia. Moorthy has also claimed that Karunanidhi, who was extremely sympathetic towards the cause, has promised him to continue to speak up in their support and follow up the matter with PM Manmohan Singh despite the barbs from the Malaysian government.
Now, only Karunanidhi can confirm if the HINDRAF founder was telling the truth. If not, he will be well advised to promptly repair the damage he has done to his own reputation in this issue. He must clarify things to PM Abdullah of Malaysia and halt the unfortunate slide in Indo-Malaysian relations.
Karunanidhi conned into supporting HINDRAF in ‘larger conspiracy’?
Source: Natteri Adigal, 04 December 2007, Tuesday
Was it necessary for Karunanidhi at the fag end of his career to get bogged down in the dirty mire of factional / religious politics? He found himself in the eye of this storm that threatened traditionally cordial relations between India and Malaysia.
CITING THE big noise from India about a simple crowd control exercise that had not resulted in a single injury, the Malaysian PM suspected that HINDRAF’s bigger motive might be to cause chaos and disturb the peace in the country. Shockingly, there seems to be some substance in the apprehension of a larger conspiracy working behind the protest by ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
Syed Hamid Albar, Malaysia’s foreign minister told the daily ‘The Star’: “If they are talking about Indian citizens, we would understand the concern, but what happened that day has involved Malaysian citizens also. If they break any law, it is our right to deal with them in accordance with Malaysian laws.” He was responding to India’s reported ‘concerns’ over alleged bad treatment of Indians in Malaysia last week.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said: “There is concern whenever Indians or people of Indian origin are affected.” PM said it apparently in response to which Malaysian PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi obliquely referred to India’s records on riots. Manmohan Singh said: “In Malaysia, there has been no conflict between the Muslims and Indians or Islam and Hinduism. We abide by it and hold firmly to the Rukun Negara.”
The unmistakable snubs were in response to the big noise raised in Indian Parliament on the police action against HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) protesters in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (Nov 25). India’s foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee had said in parliament on Friday: “We are aware of remarks made by a Malaysian minister against the respected Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi. We are in touch with the authority there.”
It was a quirk of fate that the DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi found himself at the eye of this storm, which threatened traditionally cordial relations between both the countries. In fact, even the umpteen splinter factions of DMK have faced charges of corruption; lawlessness but none of them can be accused of ever playing the Hindu-Muslim card. Yet, it was he who had urged centre to take immediate and appropriate action to end the sufferings of ethnic Indians in Malaysia without ascertaining facts completely. It now appears that he was conned into that by highly organised saboteurs, employing the Hindu front.
When reminded by the de-facto justice minister of Malaysia that his place was in Tamil Nadu and not in another country, he mellowed down his voice. He said: “I did not criticise the government of Malaysia. I was only doing my duty as chief minister and a Tamil and spoke up for ethnic Tamils. It is my duty to defend Tamils. I am prepared to accept that.”
His daughter Kanimozhi, who is an MP, clarified: “He has just written to the PM expressing his concern over what had happened there. That’s all. Now, it is up to the centre to decide what it can do to control the situation in Malaysia.” Such postscripts could not heal the severe hurt felt by the Malaysian government.
Karunanidhi, 83, is a gifted scholar Kalaignar (‘expert artist’). He possesses mind-boggling wizardry with the Tamil language. He played a significant role in spreading the ‘self-esteem’ movement under the leadership of CN Annadorai in Tamil Nadu. The state pioneered the concept of ‘egalitarian society through affirmative action’, which became the buzzword in the rest of India and also in Malaysia much later. It was through Kalaignar’s incisive dialogues for Tamil movies that the message was propagated. Karunanidhi is capable of reeling off whole stanzas from dozens of Tamil classics at the drop of a hat despite not having undergone any formal advanced education.
The script-writer is also a gifted poet, who can instantly pen exquisite poems on any subject on earth. Anointed by CNA as his successor, he did emerge simultaneously as the leader of Tamil-speaking people and as the political face of TN as well. However, disintegration of DMK into several factions has eroded his position in state politics. Like any other Indian politician, Karunanidhi is forced to be engaged for most of the time in saving the throne from own partymen and allies.
Was it necessary for him at the fag end of his career to get bogged down in the dirty mire of factional / religious politics? Tragic but true! The CM, who had dedicated his whole life for the betterment of Tamil language, who justifiably prides himself as a rationalist and agnostic, has unwittingly played into the hands of HINDRAF, with a narrow Tamil Hindu constituency to the alienation of everyone else.
HINDRAF had started off as a small Lawyers’ practice engaged in advocating interests of poor labourers pitted against authorities seeing the law across, taking back the squatter land, and delaying eviction. Its clientele consisted of downtrodden descendents of Tamil-speaking labourers brought in by white settlers in Malaya to hunt and terrorise locals. Its functionaries Ganapathy Rao and brothers P Waytha Moorthy and P Udaya Kumar later started inciting them to protest against removal of temples from squatter land by alleging injuring, humiliation and emotional trauma.
About 80 per cent of Malaysians of Indian origin belong to this category and are in the bottom rung of the economic ladder. Rather encouraging them to become more educated and to develop skills, the outfit flourished by exploiting the ignorant, unskilled and perhaps stupid people by promising to get reparations worth $2-plus million each from UK. The HINDRAF rally of November 25 was for petitioning the British queen to expedite its comical class action suit it has filed in London. Rational Tamil-speaking Malaysians feel that the repercussions for violating law on November 25 are going to affect the innocent, hardworking Malaysians of Indian origin.
The HINDRAF lawyers are suspected to have landed up in an assignment from contacts developed during the course of their class action suit to undermine the efforts of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with intent to finish it off by using their ingenious legal stunts. This angle will be clear when the attorney general’s office in Kuala Lumpur completes investigations about the outfit.
By equating Malaysia with Eelam, and itself with LTTE, the Malaysian outfit plans to destroy the goodwill and respect still being enjoyed by LTTE. An indication of HINDRAF’s agenda is provided by the frequent references it makes to Sri Lankan situation. The outfit had sent out a petition to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, stating that genocide would occur in Malaysia, with the Indian community being forced into violence like in Sri Lanka if their “cause” was ignored.
However, P Waytha Moorthy, in an interview after the rally, said: “I prefer the path of nonviolence. But I don’t rule out the possibility of the protest turning violent in the future, though I hope it does not.” He also said that he will not seek the support of the LTTE and hoped the LTTE will not offer its support to me as well.
Karunanidhi has been conned into the horrible mess, by falling prey to a bunch of imposters, must come cleared from any kind of association with HINDRAF’s future plans. According to the interactions of the Indian daily DNA with Waytha Moorthy, the overwhelming response to the HINDRAF rally has spurred its leaders into planning revolution. He will be traveling to Delhi, London, Geneva, and Amsterdam. The outfit will lobby for support from governments and NGOs for the fight against ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Malaysia. Moorthy has also claimed that Karunanidhi, who was extremely sympathetic towards the cause, has promised him to continue to speak up in their support and follow up the matter with PM Manmohan Singh despite the barbs from the Malaysian government.
Now, only Karunanidhi can confirm if the HINDRAF founder was telling the truth. If not, he will be well advised to promptly repair the damage he has done to his own reputation in this issue. He must clarify things to PM Abdullah of Malaysia and halt the unfortunate slide in Indo-Malaysian relations.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
An open letter to Malaysian Indians
An open letter to Malaysian Indians
I stand against any discrimination of any human being in any parts of the world. But when it comes to HINDRAF outrage in Malaysia there are some questions one should ask to Hindu Rights Action Force officials?
As an Indian, I believe ethnic Indians in Malaysia, still enjoy more rights than Indian citizens who are living in their own country.
Since the living standards of Malaysia is far much higher than in India, I agree that Hindus in Malaysia need a better deal.
As a community with migrant history, the majority of Malaysian Indians are Hindus while it also includes a minuscule Muslim, Christian and Sikh presence. The so called “Indian” heritage in Malaysia cannot be limited with just the Hindu minority in Malaysia.
Unlike Malaysia, discrimination against Indian citizens in India have a multitude of factors.
One is religion and the other is the caste factor.
After the British left in August 1947, the higher caste Hindu elite, has been effectively ruling the Indian nation for the past sixty years.
According to the Indian census of 2001, the total population was 1.028 billion.
Hindus numbered 827 million or 80.5 %.
* About 25 per cent (24 million) of those Hindus belong to Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
* About 40 per cent (400 million) are “Other Backward Castes”.
* 15 per cent belonging to the three upper castes.
* Dominant group of Hindu nationalists come from the three upper castes who constitute about 10 per cent of the total Indian population but control the civil service and economy of India.
* And thus the caste system virtually leaves lower caste Hindus in India to be an oppressed minority.
Considering the media manipulation techniques, time line and nature of the Hindu outrage in Malaysia, there are many reasons to believe that HINDRAF and Uthayakumar are closely associated with the RSS, a Hindu Taliban who have already spoiled India’s social fabric with fascist propaganda and communal riots.
RSS is the Hindu-supremacist organization that has fueled a rise in anti-Dalit, anti-Muslim, anti-Christian and anti-Sikh violence.
The former ruling party, the BJP is the political arm of the RSS and helped fascism to spread across the civil, defence and educational streams of the society.
The caste system and the fact that the government machinery is basically controlled by this Hindu-centric group means that violence against victims largely goes unpunished.
The man who killed Mahatma Gandhi in January 1948 for seeking conciliation with Minorities Nathuram Vinayak Godse, at one time belonged to the RSS.
That’s part of the Sangh’s legacy. And it has not only spawned the VHP, but numerous other radical organizations backing the RSS, notably the Shiv Sena (Shiva’s Army) party of Bal Thackeray, a self-declared Hitler fan.”
In the year 2005 alone, according to National Crime Records Bureau, 1,822,602 riots were reported in India.
Since Indian community issues in Malaysia is considered as a ‘Minority vs majority’ issue, let us compare the statistics of the Indian Muslims in India itself. Unlike Malaysian Hindus, Indian Muslims have not arrived from outside.
Recently, Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee report admitted that 138 Million Muslims across India are severely under-represented in government employment, including PSUs.
Ironically, West Bengal, a communist ruled state reported 0 (zero) percent of Muslims in higher positions in its PSUs.
A Muslim child attends school for three years and four months, compared to the national average of four years.
Less than two percent of the students at the elite Indian Institute of Technology comprise of the Muslim community.
Malaysian Indians are not the original inhabitants of the country, Indian Muslims are from the same racial and ethnic groups as their compatriots. And still they face discrimination in the world’s largest democracy called India. (Ref. Indian Express, The Missing Muslims)
Let us not forget the fact that, Malaysia’s ethnic Indians are mostly from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, an impoverished land lagging with illiteracy and feudalism followed by Delhi’s north favored rule.
The traditional Hindu caste system compelled caste minorities to move even to Sri Lanka, where they are now in war with their own hosts, Sinhalese.
Do Tamil community in Malaysia want to do the same rebellion to their own host in Malaysia, the Malays?
Now, Indian workers form the third largest foreign work force in Malaysia, with 140,000 of them seeking out a living there.
Most of this migrant workers are the relatives of ethnic Indians who comprise 7% of Malaysia’s population of around 24 million.
By falsely claiming of “Ethnic cleansing against Hindus in Malaysia” , HINDRAF officials are working against the interests of India’s peaceful migrant community around the world.
Every year, more than 1 million Indian citizens leave their country to build better life.
Indians form about half of the 2.6 million expatriate workers in the United Arab Emirates’ private sector.
Migrated Hindus from India constitutes 1 million or 0.4 per cent of US population now. They have built around 1,000 Hindu temples throughout the US.
Now, what makes people move out of India?
Here are some Indian facts:
* India accounts for 40 per cent of the world’s poor and its fiscal deficit is one of the highest in the world.
* Almost half of Indian women are still illiterate;
* About 40 million primary school-age children are not in school.
* India ranks way down at 96 among 119 developing countries included in the Global Hunger Index (GHI). [Ref: IFPRI Country Report on India
* In India, 16 percent of the population still remains and live with out having sustainable access to improved water resources
* and there is a probability at birth for 15.3 percent of the population of not surviving to the age of 40.
* 34.7 percent of the Indian population live with an income below $ 1 a day and 79.9 percent below $ 2 a day.
* According to the India’s planning commission report 26.1 percent of the populations live below the poverty line.
* About 20 per cent, or 200 million, are religious minorities.
* Muslims constitute 138 million or 13.4 per cent,
* Christians 24 million or 2.3 per cent,
* Sikhs 19 million or 2 per cent,
* Buddhists 8 million or 0.8 per cent
* and Jains 4 million or 0.4 per cent.
* “Others” numbered 6.6 million or 0.6 per cent.
Christians provided education at all levels to other religious groups without prosyletisation. According to Tahir Mahmoud, an Indian Muslim journalist, “The 2.3 per cent Christians in the Indian population cater to 20 per cent of all primary education in India, 10 per cent of all the literacy and community health care, 25 per cent of all existing care of destitute and orphans, 30 per cent of all the handicapped, lepers and AIDS patients etc”.
According to the National Human Rights Commission, as on 30th June 2004, there were 3,32,112 prisoners in Indian jails out of which 2,39,146 were under trial prisoners. That’s more than 70 per cent.
India’s jails hold a disproportionate number of the country’s minority Muslims, a sign of discrimination and alienation from the Hindu majority.
Prison statistics of Indian Jails can be seen from National Crime Record Bureau, here
Hindu upper caste men, who constitute just eight per cent of the total population of India, hold over 70 per cent of the key posts across newsrooms in the country.
The so-called twice-born Hindu castes dominate 85 per cent key posts despite constituting just 16 per cent of the total population, while the intermediary castes a represent meager three per cent.
The Hindu Other Backward Class groups, who are 34 per cent of the total population, have a share of just four per cent in the Indian newsrooms.
Muslims, who constitute about 13 per cent of the population, control just 4 per cent top posts while Christians and Sikhs have a slightly better representation.
But the worst scenario emerges in the case of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) : Based on CSDS study, 2006. Ref : The Hindu, June 05, 2006
India’s subordinate courts have a backlog of over 22 million cases while the 21 high courts and the Supreme Court have 3.5 million and 32,000 pending cases (2006)
There were 13 judges for every million people. Merely 7.8% Muslim employees working in Judicial sector of 12 high-Muslim population states surveyed by Sachar Panel.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, India has the highest number of street children in the world.
There are no exact numbers, but conservative estimates suggest that about 18 million children live and labor in the streets of India’s urban centers.
Mumbai, Delhi and Calcutta each have an estimated street-children population of over 100,000.
The level of child malnutrition in India is among the highest in the world, higher even than some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, says the report ‘Extent of Chronic Hunger and Malnutrition in India’ by the UN’s special rapporteur on the right to food (2006).
Australia earned about 500 million Australian dollars from the export of educational services to India, when 93% of Indians never progress beyond secondary school!
Nearly nine out of 10 pregnant women aged between 15 and 49 years suffer from malnutrition and about half of all children (47%) under-five suffer from underweight and 21 percent of the populations are undernourished.
India alone has more undernourished people (204 million) than all of sub-Saharan Africa combined.
Nearly 20 percent of women dying in childbirth around the globe are Indians.
Six out of every 10 births take place at home and untrained people attend more than half of them. 44 per cent of the Indian girls were married before they reached the age of 18.
It added, 16 per cent of girls in the age group 15-19 years were already mothers or expecting their first child and that pregnancy is the leading cause of mortality in this age group.
According to the 2001 census, female literacy in India is 54.16 per cent against male literacy of 75.85 per cent.
Most of the working women remain outside the organised sector: A mere 2.3 per cent women are administrators and managers, and 20.5 per cent professional and technical workers.
Women to men ratio was feared to reach 20:80 by the year 2020 as female fetus killing is rampant.
Ten million girls have been killed by their parents in India in the past 20 years, either before they were born or immediately after, told Indian Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury to Reuters.
According to the 2001 census, the national sex ratio was 933 girls to 1,000 boys, while in the worst-affected northern state of Punjab, it was 798 girls to 1,000 boys. The availability of ultrasound sex-determination tests leads to such mass killings in India.
Out of the 593 districts in India, 378 or 62.5 % are affected by human trafficking. In 2006, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sponsored study by Shakti Vahini, found that domestic violence, illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, unsafe migration and child marriage are the major reasons for the increasing rate of illegal human trafficking.
95 % of the women in Madhya Pradesh in commercial sex are due to family traditions. So are 51.79 percent in Bihar,’ said the study.
While 43 percent of the total women trafficked are minors, 44 percent of the women are into flesh trade due to poverty. Of the total women who are into sex work in the country, 60 % are from the lower and backward class, which indicates the pathetic living condition of the communities.
In Madhya Pradesh, a political bastion of Hindu right wing party, 96.7 % of the women sex workers are from the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
There are an estimated 40 million Hindu widows in India, the least fortunate of them shunned and stripped of the life they lived when they were married.
It’s believed that 15,000 widows live on the streets of Vrindavan, a city of about 55,000 in northern India.
India has 4 million prostitutes nationwide and 60% of the prostitutes are from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes or other backward caste.
UNAIDS says over 38% of those living with HIV in India are women.
Crime-politics nexus also influences the democracy in India. Most of the ministers in elected democratic governments are from criminal background.
They are entering into the political arena, influencing the decision-making at the highest level in their own favor and thereby increasing corruption through patron-client relationship.
The reason for this pervasive political corruption, in spite of five decades of democracy, is because we, in India, do not elect representatives but patrons.
The rich and the avaricious as well as the poor and the stricken, vote on this principle.
Lack of transparency within the bureaucracy is also another important factor responsible for promoting public corruption.
Upper caste Hindus — that is, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas — constitute less than 20 per cent of the Indian population but controls the business and civil service sector of the country.
They claim perhaps 80 per cent of the jobs in the new economy, in sectors such as software, biotechnology, and hotel management.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, only 31 per cent criminal trials are completed in less than a year. Some take even more than 10 years.
According to its study, Crime in India 2002, nearly 220,000 cases took more than 3 years to reach court, and about 25,600 exhausted 10 years before they were completed.
The term of the Liberhan Commission, formed 14 years ago to probe the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya and originally given a mandate of three months, has been extended again!
We are alarmed by the fact that even after 50 plus years of survival after independence from Britain,
* every hour 2 Dalits are assaulted,
* every day 3 Dalit women are raped,
* everyday 2 Dalits are murdered,
* everyday 2 Dalit houses are burnt down.
When it comes to Human Rights issues in India, it is not ratified the Convention against Torture, its citizens do not have the opportunity to find recourse in remedies that are available under international law.
The victims are trapped with the local Hindu caste system, which in every aspect militates against their rights.
Many victims conclude that a justice system accessible to the poor of the land does not exist at all.
The Human Development Report for 2007-08 released by the UNDP ranked India 128 out of 177 countries, working it out through measures of life expectancy, education and income.
Malaysia ranked 63 and listed at under High Human Development category.
The report found that India’s GDP per capita (purchasing power parity) is $3,452, far below Malaysia’s $10,882. Read the statistics from UNDP website
Since 1998 about 25 000 Indian farmers have committed suicide because they could not repay their debts.
These debts, however, have largely accumulated because these farmers were severely overcharged by their money-lenders asking for up to 32% of interest.
Do the ethnic Indians in Malaysia want to come back to India?
I bet none of them will come back to this sinking ship called, India.
Instead of asking for more rights they should come out of their caste system and narrowness.
Let them learn to respect their hosts, the Malaysian people who provided better opportunities than their “Shining India”.
Only such an attitude and kindness will bring them prosperity. Let them not forget the millions of impoverished Indian citizens living in their own country.
Read more about Our Shining India at here
Remember that India, as a country cannot offer you food or job.
Tamil politicians are people with Dravidian origin and they have limited say in the controle of India’s central government which is ruled by majority Aryans.
TamilNadu is the bastion of opposing imposition of north Indian rule and its Hindi language in its territories.
South Indians mostly consider English as their national language than Hindi.
This north and south division has a long history in India and will continue to go on for ages, as long as people in India continue to remain emotionally myopic, narrow minded and accepting of propaganda and social myths.
In 1965, after a 15 year gap, Hindi was declared as the solitary national language of India.
This led to violent protests in Tamil Nadu and so many deaths of Tamilians.
The Hindu nationalist movement grew up in the 1920s with the establishment of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS )
The RSS gradually established a network of local branches that met daily for training sessions on martial arts, with ideological sermons making Indian identity synonymous with Hindu culture helped along by the motto “Hindu, Hindi, Hindustan” (one people, one language, one country).
In 1996, Inspired by Hindu myths, a Marathi Hindu mafia leader called Bal Thackeray floated ‘Shiv Sena’ a political party to drive out south Indians from the industrial city of Bombay.
Shiv Sena means Army of Shiva, ( referring to Hindu King, Shivaji) succeeded in its aim with the help of Hindu militants who unleashed several communal riots in the city.
In 1991, a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber killed India’s Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ( A north Indian brahmin with aryan heritage) at an election rally outside Chennai. Those scars against Tamils are still run deep in north India, especially in a government dominated by Gandhi’s Italian-born widow Sonia.
When it comes to recording Indian history, the north of the country often ignores or overlooks events in the south. Tamils consider Vellore revolt is the first organized revolt against British in India, while Delhi officially consider it started with Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Unlike north Indian Hindus, Tamils consider Lord Rama as the villain and Ravana as the hero. In such many ways, Tamil history and politics are in contradiction with India’s official version, which is in fact authored and promoted by Aryan north. The division within India’s caste maniacs are so deep and it cannot overcome to help anyone outside their circle.
Mr. P. Waytha Moorthy, the Chairman of Hindu Right Action Force in fact is the Malaysian representative of global ‘Hindutva’ alliance called Vishva Hindu Parishat.
He also works with RSS controlled Hindu charity institutions like Hindu America Foundation and UK based SEWA International.
Both of these organizations were involved in funding anti minority riots in India.
Hiring such a hate monger and ardent admirer of Aryan Hindu supremacy to solve issues of Malaysian Indians who are basically of dravidian origin will back fire soon.
Instead, Tamil Hindus should make way for peaceful dialogue with Malay organizations and concentrate more of their efforts for caste and poverty eradication.
The thoughts of Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy should be their guide light, than the false propaganda war initiated by Hindutva and its militant mafia gang.
I stand against any discrimination of any human being in any parts of the world. But when it comes to HINDRAF outrage in Malaysia there are some questions one should ask to Hindu Rights Action Force officials?
As an Indian, I believe ethnic Indians in Malaysia, still enjoy more rights than Indian citizens who are living in their own country.
Since the living standards of Malaysia is far much higher than in India, I agree that Hindus in Malaysia need a better deal.
As a community with migrant history, the majority of Malaysian Indians are Hindus while it also includes a minuscule Muslim, Christian and Sikh presence. The so called “Indian” heritage in Malaysia cannot be limited with just the Hindu minority in Malaysia.
Unlike Malaysia, discrimination against Indian citizens in India have a multitude of factors.
One is religion and the other is the caste factor.
After the British left in August 1947, the higher caste Hindu elite, has been effectively ruling the Indian nation for the past sixty years.
According to the Indian census of 2001, the total population was 1.028 billion.
Hindus numbered 827 million or 80.5 %.
* About 25 per cent (24 million) of those Hindus belong to Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
* About 40 per cent (400 million) are “Other Backward Castes”.
* 15 per cent belonging to the three upper castes.
* Dominant group of Hindu nationalists come from the three upper castes who constitute about 10 per cent of the total Indian population but control the civil service and economy of India.
* And thus the caste system virtually leaves lower caste Hindus in India to be an oppressed minority.
Considering the media manipulation techniques, time line and nature of the Hindu outrage in Malaysia, there are many reasons to believe that HINDRAF and Uthayakumar are closely associated with the RSS, a Hindu Taliban who have already spoiled India’s social fabric with fascist propaganda and communal riots.
RSS is the Hindu-supremacist organization that has fueled a rise in anti-Dalit, anti-Muslim, anti-Christian and anti-Sikh violence.
The former ruling party, the BJP is the political arm of the RSS and helped fascism to spread across the civil, defence and educational streams of the society.
The caste system and the fact that the government machinery is basically controlled by this Hindu-centric group means that violence against victims largely goes unpunished.
The man who killed Mahatma Gandhi in January 1948 for seeking conciliation with Minorities Nathuram Vinayak Godse, at one time belonged to the RSS.
That’s part of the Sangh’s legacy. And it has not only spawned the VHP, but numerous other radical organizations backing the RSS, notably the Shiv Sena (Shiva’s Army) party of Bal Thackeray, a self-declared Hitler fan.”
In the year 2005 alone, according to National Crime Records Bureau, 1,822,602 riots were reported in India.
Since Indian community issues in Malaysia is considered as a ‘Minority vs majority’ issue, let us compare the statistics of the Indian Muslims in India itself. Unlike Malaysian Hindus, Indian Muslims have not arrived from outside.
Recently, Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee report admitted that 138 Million Muslims across India are severely under-represented in government employment, including PSUs.
Ironically, West Bengal, a communist ruled state reported 0 (zero) percent of Muslims in higher positions in its PSUs.
A Muslim child attends school for three years and four months, compared to the national average of four years.
Less than two percent of the students at the elite Indian Institute of Technology comprise of the Muslim community.
Malaysian Indians are not the original inhabitants of the country, Indian Muslims are from the same racial and ethnic groups as their compatriots. And still they face discrimination in the world’s largest democracy called India. (Ref. Indian Express, The Missing Muslims)
Let us not forget the fact that, Malaysia’s ethnic Indians are mostly from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, an impoverished land lagging with illiteracy and feudalism followed by Delhi’s north favored rule.
The traditional Hindu caste system compelled caste minorities to move even to Sri Lanka, where they are now in war with their own hosts, Sinhalese.
Do Tamil community in Malaysia want to do the same rebellion to their own host in Malaysia, the Malays?
Now, Indian workers form the third largest foreign work force in Malaysia, with 140,000 of them seeking out a living there.
Most of this migrant workers are the relatives of ethnic Indians who comprise 7% of Malaysia’s population of around 24 million.
By falsely claiming of “Ethnic cleansing against Hindus in Malaysia” , HINDRAF officials are working against the interests of India’s peaceful migrant community around the world.
Every year, more than 1 million Indian citizens leave their country to build better life.
Indians form about half of the 2.6 million expatriate workers in the United Arab Emirates’ private sector.
Migrated Hindus from India constitutes 1 million or 0.4 per cent of US population now. They have built around 1,000 Hindu temples throughout the US.
Now, what makes people move out of India?
Here are some Indian facts:
* India accounts for 40 per cent of the world’s poor and its fiscal deficit is one of the highest in the world.
* Almost half of Indian women are still illiterate;
* About 40 million primary school-age children are not in school.
* India ranks way down at 96 among 119 developing countries included in the Global Hunger Index (GHI). [Ref: IFPRI Country Report on India
* In India, 16 percent of the population still remains and live with out having sustainable access to improved water resources
* and there is a probability at birth for 15.3 percent of the population of not surviving to the age of 40.
* 34.7 percent of the Indian population live with an income below $ 1 a day and 79.9 percent below $ 2 a day.
* According to the India’s planning commission report 26.1 percent of the populations live below the poverty line.
* About 20 per cent, or 200 million, are religious minorities.
* Muslims constitute 138 million or 13.4 per cent,
* Christians 24 million or 2.3 per cent,
* Sikhs 19 million or 2 per cent,
* Buddhists 8 million or 0.8 per cent
* and Jains 4 million or 0.4 per cent.
* “Others” numbered 6.6 million or 0.6 per cent.
Christians provided education at all levels to other religious groups without prosyletisation. According to Tahir Mahmoud, an Indian Muslim journalist, “The 2.3 per cent Christians in the Indian population cater to 20 per cent of all primary education in India, 10 per cent of all the literacy and community health care, 25 per cent of all existing care of destitute and orphans, 30 per cent of all the handicapped, lepers and AIDS patients etc”.
According to the National Human Rights Commission, as on 30th June 2004, there were 3,32,112 prisoners in Indian jails out of which 2,39,146 were under trial prisoners. That’s more than 70 per cent.
India’s jails hold a disproportionate number of the country’s minority Muslims, a sign of discrimination and alienation from the Hindu majority.
Prison statistics of Indian Jails can be seen from National Crime Record Bureau, here
Hindu upper caste men, who constitute just eight per cent of the total population of India, hold over 70 per cent of the key posts across newsrooms in the country.
The so-called twice-born Hindu castes dominate 85 per cent key posts despite constituting just 16 per cent of the total population, while the intermediary castes a represent meager three per cent.
The Hindu Other Backward Class groups, who are 34 per cent of the total population, have a share of just four per cent in the Indian newsrooms.
Muslims, who constitute about 13 per cent of the population, control just 4 per cent top posts while Christians and Sikhs have a slightly better representation.
But the worst scenario emerges in the case of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) : Based on CSDS study, 2006. Ref : The Hindu, June 05, 2006
India’s subordinate courts have a backlog of over 22 million cases while the 21 high courts and the Supreme Court have 3.5 million and 32,000 pending cases (2006)
There were 13 judges for every million people. Merely 7.8% Muslim employees working in Judicial sector of 12 high-Muslim population states surveyed by Sachar Panel.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, India has the highest number of street children in the world.
There are no exact numbers, but conservative estimates suggest that about 18 million children live and labor in the streets of India’s urban centers.
Mumbai, Delhi and Calcutta each have an estimated street-children population of over 100,000.
The level of child malnutrition in India is among the highest in the world, higher even than some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, says the report ‘Extent of Chronic Hunger and Malnutrition in India’ by the UN’s special rapporteur on the right to food (2006).
Australia earned about 500 million Australian dollars from the export of educational services to India, when 93% of Indians never progress beyond secondary school!
Nearly nine out of 10 pregnant women aged between 15 and 49 years suffer from malnutrition and about half of all children (47%) under-five suffer from underweight and 21 percent of the populations are undernourished.
India alone has more undernourished people (204 million) than all of sub-Saharan Africa combined.
Nearly 20 percent of women dying in childbirth around the globe are Indians.
Six out of every 10 births take place at home and untrained people attend more than half of them. 44 per cent of the Indian girls were married before they reached the age of 18.
It added, 16 per cent of girls in the age group 15-19 years were already mothers or expecting their first child and that pregnancy is the leading cause of mortality in this age group.
According to the 2001 census, female literacy in India is 54.16 per cent against male literacy of 75.85 per cent.
Most of the working women remain outside the organised sector: A mere 2.3 per cent women are administrators and managers, and 20.5 per cent professional and technical workers.
Women to men ratio was feared to reach 20:80 by the year 2020 as female fetus killing is rampant.
Ten million girls have been killed by their parents in India in the past 20 years, either before they were born or immediately after, told Indian Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury to Reuters.
According to the 2001 census, the national sex ratio was 933 girls to 1,000 boys, while in the worst-affected northern state of Punjab, it was 798 girls to 1,000 boys. The availability of ultrasound sex-determination tests leads to such mass killings in India.
Out of the 593 districts in India, 378 or 62.5 % are affected by human trafficking. In 2006, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sponsored study by Shakti Vahini, found that domestic violence, illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, unsafe migration and child marriage are the major reasons for the increasing rate of illegal human trafficking.
95 % of the women in Madhya Pradesh in commercial sex are due to family traditions. So are 51.79 percent in Bihar,’ said the study.
While 43 percent of the total women trafficked are minors, 44 percent of the women are into flesh trade due to poverty. Of the total women who are into sex work in the country, 60 % are from the lower and backward class, which indicates the pathetic living condition of the communities.
In Madhya Pradesh, a political bastion of Hindu right wing party, 96.7 % of the women sex workers are from the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
There are an estimated 40 million Hindu widows in India, the least fortunate of them shunned and stripped of the life they lived when they were married.
It’s believed that 15,000 widows live on the streets of Vrindavan, a city of about 55,000 in northern India.
India has 4 million prostitutes nationwide and 60% of the prostitutes are from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes or other backward caste.
UNAIDS says over 38% of those living with HIV in India are women.
Crime-politics nexus also influences the democracy in India. Most of the ministers in elected democratic governments are from criminal background.
They are entering into the political arena, influencing the decision-making at the highest level in their own favor and thereby increasing corruption through patron-client relationship.
The reason for this pervasive political corruption, in spite of five decades of democracy, is because we, in India, do not elect representatives but patrons.
The rich and the avaricious as well as the poor and the stricken, vote on this principle.
Lack of transparency within the bureaucracy is also another important factor responsible for promoting public corruption.
Upper caste Hindus — that is, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas — constitute less than 20 per cent of the Indian population but controls the business and civil service sector of the country.
They claim perhaps 80 per cent of the jobs in the new economy, in sectors such as software, biotechnology, and hotel management.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, only 31 per cent criminal trials are completed in less than a year. Some take even more than 10 years.
According to its study, Crime in India 2002, nearly 220,000 cases took more than 3 years to reach court, and about 25,600 exhausted 10 years before they were completed.
The term of the Liberhan Commission, formed 14 years ago to probe the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya and originally given a mandate of three months, has been extended again!
We are alarmed by the fact that even after 50 plus years of survival after independence from Britain,
* every hour 2 Dalits are assaulted,
* every day 3 Dalit women are raped,
* everyday 2 Dalits are murdered,
* everyday 2 Dalit houses are burnt down.
When it comes to Human Rights issues in India, it is not ratified the Convention against Torture, its citizens do not have the opportunity to find recourse in remedies that are available under international law.
The victims are trapped with the local Hindu caste system, which in every aspect militates against their rights.
Many victims conclude that a justice system accessible to the poor of the land does not exist at all.
The Human Development Report for 2007-08 released by the UNDP ranked India 128 out of 177 countries, working it out through measures of life expectancy, education and income.
Malaysia ranked 63 and listed at under High Human Development category.
The report found that India’s GDP per capita (purchasing power parity) is $3,452, far below Malaysia’s $10,882. Read the statistics from UNDP website
Since 1998 about 25 000 Indian farmers have committed suicide because they could not repay their debts.
These debts, however, have largely accumulated because these farmers were severely overcharged by their money-lenders asking for up to 32% of interest.
Do the ethnic Indians in Malaysia want to come back to India?
I bet none of them will come back to this sinking ship called, India.
Instead of asking for more rights they should come out of their caste system and narrowness.
Let them learn to respect their hosts, the Malaysian people who provided better opportunities than their “Shining India”.
Only such an attitude and kindness will bring them prosperity. Let them not forget the millions of impoverished Indian citizens living in their own country.
Read more about Our Shining India at here
Remember that India, as a country cannot offer you food or job.
Tamil politicians are people with Dravidian origin and they have limited say in the controle of India’s central government which is ruled by majority Aryans.
TamilNadu is the bastion of opposing imposition of north Indian rule and its Hindi language in its territories.
South Indians mostly consider English as their national language than Hindi.
This north and south division has a long history in India and will continue to go on for ages, as long as people in India continue to remain emotionally myopic, narrow minded and accepting of propaganda and social myths.
In 1965, after a 15 year gap, Hindi was declared as the solitary national language of India.
This led to violent protests in Tamil Nadu and so many deaths of Tamilians.
The Hindu nationalist movement grew up in the 1920s with the establishment of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS )
The RSS gradually established a network of local branches that met daily for training sessions on martial arts, with ideological sermons making Indian identity synonymous with Hindu culture helped along by the motto “Hindu, Hindi, Hindustan” (one people, one language, one country).
In 1996, Inspired by Hindu myths, a Marathi Hindu mafia leader called Bal Thackeray floated ‘Shiv Sena’ a political party to drive out south Indians from the industrial city of Bombay.
Shiv Sena means Army of Shiva, ( referring to Hindu King, Shivaji) succeeded in its aim with the help of Hindu militants who unleashed several communal riots in the city.
In 1991, a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber killed India’s Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ( A north Indian brahmin with aryan heritage) at an election rally outside Chennai. Those scars against Tamils are still run deep in north India, especially in a government dominated by Gandhi’s Italian-born widow Sonia.
When it comes to recording Indian history, the north of the country often ignores or overlooks events in the south. Tamils consider Vellore revolt is the first organized revolt against British in India, while Delhi officially consider it started with Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Unlike north Indian Hindus, Tamils consider Lord Rama as the villain and Ravana as the hero. In such many ways, Tamil history and politics are in contradiction with India’s official version, which is in fact authored and promoted by Aryan north. The division within India’s caste maniacs are so deep and it cannot overcome to help anyone outside their circle.
Mr. P. Waytha Moorthy, the Chairman of Hindu Right Action Force in fact is the Malaysian representative of global ‘Hindutva’ alliance called Vishva Hindu Parishat.
He also works with RSS controlled Hindu charity institutions like Hindu America Foundation and UK based SEWA International.
Both of these organizations were involved in funding anti minority riots in India.
Hiring such a hate monger and ardent admirer of Aryan Hindu supremacy to solve issues of Malaysian Indians who are basically of dravidian origin will back fire soon.
Instead, Tamil Hindus should make way for peaceful dialogue with Malay organizations and concentrate more of their efforts for caste and poverty eradication.
The thoughts of Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy should be their guide light, than the false propaganda war initiated by Hindutva and its militant mafia gang.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Restaurant manager counts his losses
A RESTAURANT manager was left counting his losses after a group of men, claiming to be Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) members, thrashed his eatery and assaulted two of his workers on Monday. The reason? They were asked to pay for their meal. The manager, who only wished to be known as Thomas, said that 10 men first came to the restaurant in Jalan Tun Sambanthan on Sunday.
“Upon entering, they asked my workers to bring them food as they said that they were hurt, tired and hungry.
“Naturally, we accorded them the same respect and service given to other customers,” he said.
However, Thomas said that when the men finished their meal, one of them left the restaurant without settling his bill while the others followed suit.
“One of my workers, upon realising that the men were leaving without paying, which came up to RM89, had stopped them and asked them to pay,” he said.
The men, Thomas said, became enraged at the worker’s request and announced that they were Hindraf members.
“They claimed that as they were fi ghting for Indian rights, they should be served food without being expected to pay for it,” he said, adding that the group created a commotion. Not wishing to prolong the trouble, Thomas intervened and apologised on behalf of his worker.
“I told them that they could leave the restaurant without paying. I did not want them to create trouble and disturb my other customers,” he said.
Before the men left, one of them threatened the worker who had asked them to pay and told him to “watch out”.
“I did not expect anything further,” said Thomas. He was wrong. The group returned the following day at 7.30pm, this time in two cars — a Toyota Hilux and a Naza Ria. Thomas claimed he saw them enter the restaurant but chose not to do anything.
“I didn’t want to stop them as I wanted to give them the benefi t of the doubt. It would be rude to tell them that they were not welcome.
“Again, we treated them like any other customer and served their order,” he said.
However, after finishing their food, two of the men pulled out a parang and a metal rod and stood guard at the restaurant’s front and rear entrance.
“They called for the worker who had asked them to pay the bill the day before. When they couldn’t find him, they began assaulting two other workers,” Thomas claimed.
The men broke five tables, 10 chairs and ruined the food. They then left in the cars.
Thomas said he sent the injured workers to Pantai Hospital.
One worker received 12 stitches for a slash wound on his head while the other, who was hit on his hand with the rod, needed follow-up treatment yesterday.
Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulaiman Junaidi said police received a call on the incident but by the time they arrived, the suspects had fled.
“We have yet to identify the suspects, who are believed to be in their 30s and 40s. However, our investigation showed the Naza Ria had a fake registration number,” he said.
Sulaiman said the restaurant manager had lodged a police report on the second incident but there was no report on the first incident.
The case is being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting with weapons.
“Upon entering, they asked my workers to bring them food as they said that they were hurt, tired and hungry.
“Naturally, we accorded them the same respect and service given to other customers,” he said.
However, Thomas said that when the men finished their meal, one of them left the restaurant without settling his bill while the others followed suit.
“One of my workers, upon realising that the men were leaving without paying, which came up to RM89, had stopped them and asked them to pay,” he said.
The men, Thomas said, became enraged at the worker’s request and announced that they were Hindraf members.
“They claimed that as they were fi ghting for Indian rights, they should be served food without being expected to pay for it,” he said, adding that the group created a commotion. Not wishing to prolong the trouble, Thomas intervened and apologised on behalf of his worker.
“I told them that they could leave the restaurant without paying. I did not want them to create trouble and disturb my other customers,” he said.
Before the men left, one of them threatened the worker who had asked them to pay and told him to “watch out”.
“I did not expect anything further,” said Thomas. He was wrong. The group returned the following day at 7.30pm, this time in two cars — a Toyota Hilux and a Naza Ria. Thomas claimed he saw them enter the restaurant but chose not to do anything.
“I didn’t want to stop them as I wanted to give them the benefi t of the doubt. It would be rude to tell them that they were not welcome.
“Again, we treated them like any other customer and served their order,” he said.
However, after finishing their food, two of the men pulled out a parang and a metal rod and stood guard at the restaurant’s front and rear entrance.
“They called for the worker who had asked them to pay the bill the day before. When they couldn’t find him, they began assaulting two other workers,” Thomas claimed.
The men broke five tables, 10 chairs and ruined the food. They then left in the cars.
Thomas said he sent the injured workers to Pantai Hospital.
One worker received 12 stitches for a slash wound on his head while the other, who was hit on his hand with the rod, needed follow-up treatment yesterday.
Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulaiman Junaidi said police received a call on the incident but by the time they arrived, the suspects had fled.
“We have yet to identify the suspects, who are believed to be in their 30s and 40s. However, our investigation showed the Naza Ria had a fake registration number,” he said.
Sulaiman said the restaurant manager had lodged a police report on the second incident but there was no report on the first incident.
The case is being investigated under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting with weapons.
Eatery smashed, workers beaten
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of men claiming to be Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters helped themselves to a hearty meal at a restaurant in Brickfields on two consecutive days and left without paying.
The men destroyed furniture and kitchen equipment, causing losses amounting to RM5,000.
They also slashed a worker with a parang and injured the right arm of another with an iron rod.
Numbering between eight and 10, they first turned up at the restaurant in Jalan Tun Sambanthan at about 3pm on Sunday.
They insisted that they should eat for free as they were Hindraf supporters fighting for the rights of Hindus.
The men, aged between 20 and 35, turned up again at about 7.30pm on Monday and helped themselves to the food.
They then went on a rampage, destroying 20 tables and kitchen equipment and attacked the two workers before fleeing in two vehicles.
Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Sulaiman Junaidi said one worker received 12 stitches while the other sustained a swollen arm. Both are Indian citizens.
Three customers in the restaurant at the time were unharmed.
The restaurant owner, who declined to be named, said the men claimed to be Hindraf supporters, became aggressive and refused to pay the bill.
“Food was strewn everywhere and two men guarded the front and back doors of the restaurant with a parang to threaten customers,” he said, adding that they had also assaulted the other restaurant workers.
Monday, November 26, 2007
No need for street protests
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said people should use existing forums to voice their problems and not resort to street protests.
The MIC and Government would not support street demonstrations as a way of resolving problems, he said in a statement.
The party was aware of the issues and problems confronting the Indian community “but street protest is not the answer,” he added, commenting on the Hindraf street protest yesterday.
The Works Minister said the MIC had been working “within the system” and it had proven to be successful.
“We have resolved many problems and issues through consultation and dialogues with the Government without resorting to street demonstrations,” he said.
He said issues of education, the economy and social issues had been resolved through direct consultation with the Federal, state and local governments.
“There are some matters that has to be done behind closed doors as they involved sensitive matters but the Government has always been supportive,” Samy Vellu said.
“The leadership of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been very supportive and sympathetic towards our cause,” he said.
On the Hindraf gathering, he alleged that the opposition was be-hind it.
“It is a ploy to smear the name of the Government in the eyes of the world,” he added.
Source: TheStar.com.my
Cop hurt trying to control crowd
KUALA LUMPUR: A police officer was injured when he was hit on the head with stones and broken bottles during The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) street protest yesterday.
The attack on Dang Wangi CID sub-inspector Chew Choon Peng has left him with two gashes on his head with 12 stitches.
He is also suffering from bruises on his arms, shoulders and legs.
Chew was given outpatient treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He is recuperating at his home in Cheras.
“A fellow officer was attempting to arrest a rowdy protester who was making derogatory remarks at our squad of 15 officers stationed in Jalan Hampshire.
“All hell broke loose when the protestor resisted arrest and I stepped in to help. The next thing I knew there was a sharp stinging pain on my head, and then I fell down,” he said.
He commended his colleagues for quickly controlling the situation and dragging him away from the 200-odd protesters who had begun hurling motorcycle helmets and bricks at the retreating team of policemen.
But the violence fizzled out as quickly as it had started and the protesters, too, retreated in the opposite direction towards Jalan Semarak.
Several of Chew’s colleagues were also seen limping, and others clutching their arms in pain after the short attack. They then bandaged Chew’s head as he was bleeding profusely.
The attack on Dang Wangi CID sub-inspector Chew Choon Peng has left him with two gashes on his head with 12 stitches.
He is also suffering from bruises on his arms, shoulders and legs.
Chew was given outpatient treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He is recuperating at his home in Cheras.
“A fellow officer was attempting to arrest a rowdy protester who was making derogatory remarks at our squad of 15 officers stationed in Jalan Hampshire.
“All hell broke loose when the protestor resisted arrest and I stepped in to help. The next thing I knew there was a sharp stinging pain on my head, and then I fell down,” he said.
He commended his colleagues for quickly controlling the situation and dragging him away from the 200-odd protesters who had begun hurling motorcycle helmets and bricks at the retreating team of policemen.
But the violence fizzled out as quickly as it had started and the protesters, too, retreated in the opposite direction towards Jalan Semarak.
Several of Chew’s colleagues were also seen limping, and others clutching their arms in pain after the short attack. They then bandaged Chew’s head as he was bleeding profusely.
Source: TheStar.com.my
Dato' Seri S. Samy is willing to meet HINDRAF to resolve Indian community issues
MIC President Dato' Seri S. Samy Vellu is willing to meet the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), to iron out Indian community issues and unresolved matters.
HINDRAF, a non-governmental organisation said to be aligned to an an opposition party submitted an 18 page memorandum to the Prime Minister's office last Sunday on what it alleged as the marginalisation of the Indians by the government.
Dato' Seri Samy rebutted allegations made by HINDFRA that the goverment had neglected Tamil schools.
He said of the 523 Tamil schools in the country, 180 are fully-aided schools, while the remaining were partially - aided, of which 66 schools have been rebuilt through government and private funding.
On temples being demolished, Dato' Seri Samy said only temples that were built or extended on private land whithout government approvals were demolished.
Source: http://besonline.rtm.net.my/
Don't jump to conclusions, says PM
KAMPALA (UGANDA): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged the public not to jump to conclusions and view police action against three members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as racial in nature.
"It has nothing to do with race. People should stop linking or viewing everything that happens in the country as a racial matter," he said.
He added that people should not be too quick to make such unfounded claims.
"Those who commit offences will have to face charges," Abdullah told Malaysian journalists at the end of the first day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here.
Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, said police had evidence to charge the three men for making seditious statements and speeches.
The police have been monitoring the activities of the three men and their group for a while now, he said.
"We have to take action if these people have clearly committed offences," said Abdullah, adding that the arrest and charging of the three members had no connection with the planned gathering by Hindraf outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
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