Peaceful Anti-ISA Vigil-Turned-March

The Star reports Almost 2,000 in anti-ISA gathering . The peaceful gathering was on 27 September 2008

Malaysiakini reports Anti-ISA vigil turns into peace march by Andrew Ong and Rahmah Ghazali on Sep 27, 08 8:08pm
updated 11.15pm : A candlelight vigil turned into a 1km march through downtown Kuala Lumpur, which strangely went undisturbed by the police. [VIDEOS INSIDE]
MORE
-> Police presence surprisingly light
-> Crowd dispersed at about 9pm

Malaysiakini also, generously offers some videos :
1) Anti-ISA vigil turns into peace march
2) Incident-free Hindraf Vigil
3) Anti-ISA lantern walk attracts youth

Meanwhile, Haris Ibrahim posted Peaceful birthday, dear Pete. We love you.

"Pete" refers to Raja Petra Kamarudin, who is one of the person arrested using the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA). The walk is primarily an anti-ISA march, with concentration on detained Hindraf leaders and Raja Petra (RPK).

The numbers who turned up is large. It seems that many Malaysians are unhappy with the usage of ISA.

Some participants sang "Happy Birthday to RPK" for his 58th.

Pictures and clips from the Peaceful Vigil-turned-Peaceful March to be posted at in next blog entry. (by this blogger : Sagaladoola, stay tuned...)

In the meantime, Susan Loone posted an entry titled Please join this protest for RPK, HINDRAF & other ISA detainees . It seems she has a proposal for netizens to voice out their concern on this matter.

Police Justification on Children with Roses

Malaysiakini reported 200 nabbed at rose protest by Syed Jaymal Zahiid on Feb 16, 08 11:33am
Police fired teargas and chemical-laced water cannons in a bid to disperse some 300 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters gathered for a peaceful rose handing-over ceremony at Jalan Raja Laut early this morning.
-> Road to Parliament closed.
-> Many detained at roadblocks.

Meanwhile, on my post Is "Children With Roses" a Threat to National Security? , I have made some queries on the reason the gathering was rejected. Here is the police's reply as published in The Star Online : Not so rosy for Hindraf as cops seal off 31 roads .

Accordingly, it was said that it will not be safe for the children to be at the gathering should anything unruly happen at the gathering. Hmmn, and I thought it is the job of the police to ensure nothing unruly happens at the gathering instead. That is really weird. I would like to know whether there is any child in the crowd when the tear gas and chemical-laced water cannons are being fired since this gathering is titled "children with roses".

And it was also mentioned that the police had said: “I also turned down its appeal as I see no justification in allowing the gathering.".

Now, peaceful and freedom of assembly is actually a human right. Is it the police's role to justify whether "to call for the release of certain leaders" is a good reason for a gathering? Goodness gracious. Now, how about "protests against price hike" or "calling for clean elections"? Is it police's role to actually to justify reasons of gathering is allowable? I am very surprised.

In my opinion, it is the role of the police to allow freedom to assemble with the context of protecting the people who gathered and making sure nothing unruly happens. And I thought that is their only role. Now, they can filter out according to reasons? Hmmn, strange, strange....

Is "Children With Roses" a Threat to National Security?

Malaysiakini reported :

'Guns and roses' in Parliament? by Andrew Ong on Feb 13, 08 7:16pm
A standoff between the police and Hindraf supporters near Parliament is likely this Saturday as the police have denied a permit for the movement's 'children with roses' gathering.

The police have denied a permit for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) to hold a gathering outside the Parliament building this Saturday, paving the way for a possible standoff should the movement decide to press on.
-> Cops: Stay away
-> Hindraf not backing down

From my understanding, Somebody from Some Party used to say the reason that permits for gatherings must be denied because of national security. Those participants were adults. It was found out that during several incidents, the people who rallied were peaceful but dispersed using non-peaceful means. mind-boggling indeed.

Now, this gathering is all about "children with roses". Again I repeat, I mean, they are children and there are roses. One wonders whether "children with roses" will threaten national security. That is mind-boggling too.

If that is not the case, the police has to explain themselves thoroughly on why the permit is not granted. Perhaps, if they have Someone standing behind them giving them orders to not provide a permission, that Someone has to be exposed to the public as well.

And I say it again, this is a "children with roses" (not adults with batons, tear gas and guns, or are they?) gathering.

Goodness gracious, I have said enough.

Update 15 Feb 2008 1.45 a.m.
zorro-unmasked posted two entries with more details on this up-and-coming gathering :
1) ITS FINAL. ITS GONNA BE GUNS N ROSES THIS SATURDAY!
2) LIVING ON A PRAYER......THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE LEFT....

Similary, people from the overseas are said to be participating in the gatherings :

Malaysia
Date : 16th February 2008 (Saturday)
Venue : Parliament House Kuala Lumpur
Address: Jalan Parlimen, 50680, Kuala Lumpur
Time : 11.00 am

London
Date : 16th February 2008
Venue: High Commission of Malaysia, London
Address: Malaysian High Commission 45-46 Belgrave Square London
Time: 10am

Los Angeles USA
Date: February 16, 2008
Venue: In front of Consulate General of Malaysia, Los Angeles
Address: 550 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071)
Time: 10am - 2pm

New York USA
Date : 16th February 2008 (Saturday)
Venue : Malaysian Consulate General of New York
Address: -313 East, 43rd Street, NY, NY 10017 Nearest Subway – Grand Central
Time : 11.00 am - 1pm

Some Minister says people support use of ISA ?

(Picture from Mob's Crib : ISA: Crime Against Humanity)

That is an article that I chanced upon in Malaysia Today : in their News and Commentaries section.

Goodness gracious, father in heaven.

A random search throughout Blogsearch : Hindraf+ISA revealed that almost all bloggers condemn the usage of the draconian act. We all know these bloggers are mostly Malaysian people. Reading Google search : Hindraf+ISA will produce identical results of disapproval from the public.

I have a substantial number of Malay friends, in and out of the net who said they may not fully agree with Hindraf's actions but ISA is beyond them. They cannot tolerate the invocation of an act with detention without trial on suspects.

When one is faced with issues and dissent, one should not keep Digging in the Heels of an uncomfortable Shoe. If there are people who thought the imprisonment would make the public more restful, it would be wrong. It will possibly garner more sympathy for the Hindraf cause. What is being done, in my opinion is removing the symptom without curing the root of the issue which is to address the dissatisfaction of the rally participants. If there is indeed hoodwink, I would say, in this era of Information Age and education, it is almost impossible to confuse thousands of people to march for a false cause. There must be some reality to some points in what is being mentioned and the government should do the right thing in looking into it.

Think about it.

Besides, that would make these names famous worldwide. ISA places attention to people who got it. Now, it is easier for them and those who suppor them to further their cause. Currently Malaysiakini reports "Charge them in court: Indian groups tell PM at special meet"


HINDRAF 5: R Kengadharan, P Uthayakumar, K Vasantha Kumar, V Ganabatirau and M Manoharan

Is there any Operasi Lalang ?

Abdullah is Strong and Powerful? Yes. Nice? No. I am scared, living in an atmosphere of fear again. Don't believe me, read this:

The Star:
Police said they have detained all five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) under Section 8 (1) of the Internal Security Act.

The five are P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and Vasantha Kumar. They were picked up at various locations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban.

They will be detained for two years.

Meanwhile, ironically, I could not access Malaysiakini for news. Jelas.info had expressed disgust over the usage of a draconian and inhumane act against those people. After all, if you can prove them wrong, why not do it in court? Let the public see what is happening. Let the citizens of Malaysia see the evidences reveal. Why is it necessary to imprison someone for two years before a judgement from a trial in the court?

Mr. Nice Guy? Well, you can now see how nice he is now. I must admit that I am wrong about him. He is not a weak man.

I feel sorry for the Indians and Hindraf. Indeed, a sad day for Malaysia "human rights". Arrests abundant and ISA usage during these few days before and after the International Human Rights Day. The public is no longer safe. As for the part on freedom, Malaysians will know how to judge on the current events.

HINDRAF Rally of the Marginalised (Videos and Pics)

Malaysiakini reported 30,000 Hindraf protesters rally in KLCC

WE WANT OUR RIGHTS ! ( Picture from BMahendran.com )

Big crowd around the area( Picture from BMahendran.com )

Malaysiakini further reported of A Gandhi-inspired mass civil disobedience :
Hindraf legal advisor P Uthayakumar, has declared the movement’s rally today “a success” despite not being able to hand a petition to the British High Commission.

-> Petition 'not main objective'
-> Crowd defiant and persistent
-> 400 protesters detained

For at least five times, the crowd would run at each 'water canon charge', only to defiantly claim back their original positions and chanting "We want justice!" in both Tamil and English.

( Picture from Reuters )

One of the Petronas Twin Towers in the background while chemical-laced water was sprayed onto peaceful marchers. ( Picture from BMahendran.com )



( Pictures from Reuters )

This post can also be labelled as "Heavy Handed Police Force on Malaysian HINDRAF Marchers" or "HINDRAF Rally: Democracy Malaysian-Style on Poor Marginalised Indians" . The full set of the pictures can be viewed in Reuters Slideshow .

Other important pictures on the HINDRAF protest can be viewed in Belladonna's blogspot
1) HINDRAF Protest - Part 1
2) HINDRAF Protest - Part 2

There are helicopters and other aspects of the rally taken from her family's apartment.

Views of Independent Organisations
The President of Human Rights Association (HAKAM) , Malik Imtiaz Sarwar has expressed his opinions on the Personal Dignity Of HINDRAF Supporters . Malik mentioned how different the police treatment on the UMNO Youth Demonstration during Condoleeza Rice's (of USA) visit at the same vicinity of the HINDRAF rally. No heavy handed police force on the former while the latter can be seen as provided by the videos and pics on this page and other blogs.

Haris Ibrahim of the People's Parliament, who is a lawyer did not walk in the rally but as a concerned citizen, he took the role as an observer in the Bar Council team. The Bar Council is apparently upset over the force imposed on rally participants.

Videos

( Malaysiakini.tv on Youtube )


( AlJazeera Official Report on Youtube )

A Youtube user by the name of thaksan had made several recordings AlJazeera news reports at different times.
1) Hindraf report at 9am on Youtube
2) Hindraf report at 10am on Youtube
3) Hindraf report at 11.35am on Youtube
4) Hindraf rally report with Y.B. Mr. S.K. Devamany, the Member of Parliament for Cameron Highlands and current Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) Member of Central Working Committee ( Must Watch! )

Some important points from the fourth video:
Q: Why then if there is a democratic process in place, you do not allow protests to take place. These people have requested a permit but you turned it down. Why is it necessary?

A: I think the intention was wrong. I think because religion was used and religious issues are very sensitive in this part of the nation. We are a multi-religious nation and things can go out of place and emotions are flaring.

Q: Hold on a minute, you seem to be suggesting the protesters are causing the violence but in fact it was not the case. It was clearly the police that were taking the aggressive stance by firing tear gas and spraying chemicals through water cannons. They were not provoked by the protesters.

A: We have to see the type of people that came for the demonstration. I am not there but I wish that the demonstrators are matured and know how to handle themselves.

Q: Sir, what do you mean by the type of people. Are you referring to the fact that these people are of Indian ethnicity? Is that something that the government cannot accept : Indians taking to the streets?

A: No, No, I don't think so. I don't think so. The fifth prime minister has been giving tremendous allowances for openness and errh, feedbacks from the people, the press has been given freedom, legislatively freedom has been given the last four years.

Q: OK.

A: And the result of this response is because also of the openness. And I think the reactions could be instigated by one or two incidences which could have been overshot, overblown and there is a reason. A layman doesn't exactly know what is being done.


Then, I have more questions to ask the MP from MIC:
1) If it is the openness of the current governance, why aren't the protesters allowed to march?
2) If laymen do not understand "what is being done", why didn't the MPs or members explain it to the laymen and make sure they fully understand way back before the rally?
3) Dear me, are you sure it is only one or two incidences that caused such dissatisfaction? I wish the Indians good luck. I vow to all Indians to perform as suggested by Devamany, do it through the ballot boxes too.
4) Are you really sure the press and legal are really free? Hmmn.. wow... let's see the newspaper tomorrow.
5) The person is still unable to convince me with his answer on "Why the protest is illegal when the country is supposed to be practising democracy ?".

My Stand on HINDRAF rally

I read with much enthusiasm about the Hindraf Rally this Sunday (tomorrow) . Meanwhile Malaysiakini reported Three Hindraf leaders arrested for you you-know-what.

These are the details that I have found on the net :
Date: Nov 25, 2007.
Time: 7am to 11am
Place: British High Commission, 185 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

Map and Transport details kindly provided here)

The intention of the rally is to present a memorandum to the British as well as to rally against marginalisation of the minority Indian community in Malaysia.

There are in fact two views to this rally. I would like to bring atttention to two posts on the question "Shall we rally this time around?"

1) A Nay :
Haris Ibrahim, The People's Parliament -> Why I will not walk this Sunday and why the walk must not proceed.

2) An Aye:
Nat Tan, Jelas.info -> Why I will walk this Sunday

Haris has brought up some valid points saying that the rally is communal/race-based and not national based such as the BERSIH rally. There are also concerns among bloggers and commentators that SOMEBODY would try to create a scene out of this in order to make future rallies for the best interests of the nation unlawful.

Point taken, but I would like to bring to attention some of the points mentioned in Jelas.info :

Point 1:
My conclusion is this: If we were to wait for another mass rally that will take a more mature, universalistic approach to race relations while actually having an impact in calling attention to the horrific living conditions facing Indian Malaysians today, we will wait forever.

Point 2:
Let’s be honest, no other group is going to pull those numbers in defence of minority rights in Malaysia.

Point 3:
So, are we going to walk the talk about multiracialism?

Point 4:
Are we who like to quote Voltaire’s “I may disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it” actually going to do anything to defend the right to assemble?

My stand on the issue is similar to this point (Point 4) brought up by Jelas.info . After all, Hindraf has mentioned that this rally shall be a Peaceful Rally, unless of course some Agent Provocateurs appear out of SOMEBODY's (you-know-who-always-sabotages) command. Hope you catch the drift.

Let Indians voice out.

Deepavali and Bulan Syawal Destruction

Malaysiakini reported Shah Alam council blamed for bloody fracas at the Kampung Rimba Jaya, Hulu Kelang 100-years-old temple demolition. Although the internet blogs generally placed more attention in this , it should be made clear that other structures such as Surau and houses in the village were destroyed as well.

Mainstream blogger, Lulu made a transcript from the Malaysiakini article above. There are a few key points to note from the incident, taken directly from the transcript.
________________________________________________

Point 1: Throwing Stone During Prayers


Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) president A Vaithilingam said Majlis Bandar Shah Alam (MBSA) mayor Za’ba Che Rus had no control over his enforcement officers who were throwing stones into the temple while a special religious ceremony was taking place.

"How can they (MBSA personnel) attack devotees like that? No enforcement body in the world attacks people with stones,” he said."

Point 2: Unreasonable 2 Hours Notice Period
Vaithilingam also slammed Za’ba for allegedly personally telling temple authorities at 9am on Tuesday that the temple was to be demolished in the next two hours.

“What else can the innocent devotees do when given only two hours? ... " he added.

Point 3: Deepavali will be celebrated by all Hindus on Nov 8.

Point 4: MBSA Wounded Detainee, Medical Attention Not Immediate
Uthayakumar said that he witnessed one detainee who had a five-inch cut on the head while he was detained at the Section 11 Shah Alam police station.He claimed that the wound was inflicted by a MBSA enforcement officer with a parang.

Uthayakumar and three other lawyers were arrested ....
________________________________________________

What can I say? Is that an act that respect human rights? Why can't MBSA give the residents more time to pack up and leave? If Malaysiakini stated it right, I would consider 2 Hours as downright illogical judging by the amount of things they have to move out.

Malaysia was initially built as a tolerant nation that respects human rights and reasoning. What has Malaysia turn into? It seems during the administration of Pak Lah's Hadhari, negative news has become a almost daily staple for Malaysians.

Meanwhile Malay blogs, UMNO Reform and Malaywomen expressed their greatest regret and anger over such incident. It is not hard to understand the reason. These days there are more occasions to class struggle rather than racial or religious struggle.

According to Malaywomen (if he got it right), a 7-days eviction period was given to residents earlier. Still, the time for these people to move out is relatively short. It makes no sense as most people will have difficulty locating a new place to shift to within a week. Moreover, there is another mind-boggling theory to this.

Malaywomen purportedly said, "The hotshot developer who had promised to allocate a new location for the demolished temple to the Malaysian Indian community in Kampung Rimba Jaya must deliver that promise as soon as possible. Do not piss people off with insincerity and lies." If such promise had really been made then it should be immediately fulfilled.

Ironic, isn't it ? Now, who is supposed to be accountable for all this? No one is sure. There is a Malay saying that goes "Gajah Sama Gajah Berjuang, Pelanduk Mati di Tengah-tengah". Translated it means the little deer dies standing in the middle of the battle between two elephants. Such an apt description. Metaphorically, we can be sure that the residents of Kampung Rimba Jaya represents the unfortunate deer, the victim of such governance.

Raajarox provided a number of pictures on the incident...... (2 of the bunch displayed below)