Hindraf leader summoned by SB
S PathmawathyPublished: Jul 7, 2009 11:13 AM | Updated: Jul 7, 2009 11:20 AM
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader T Vasanthakumar is perplexed as to why he has been summoned by the police special branch to attend an 'interview' session tomorrow.
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader T Vasanthakumar is perplexed as to why he has been summoned by the police special branch to attend an 'interview' session tomorrow.
However, the former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee told Malaysiakini that he will not attend and is prepared to face the consequences.
According to the letter which was sent to him yesterday by the Kajang district police headquarters, the interview session is being held to review his release.
"I have instructed my lawyer to attend the proceedings. I believe it is related to me breaching the conditions of my release, if they are unhappy they can arrest me and put me back in prison," he added.
Vasanthakumar, who was among the five Hindraf leaders detained in 2007 shortly after a massive street protest on Nov 25, also claimed that the special branch had lodged a whopping 21 police reports against him since his release in April.
"I was informed about this by a special branch officer. The reports concern the breaching of the release conditions," he said.
The Hindraf leader - who claimed that he had little choice but to ink the release papers - said he was slapped with a total of 15 conditions, which among others, restrict his movement and participation with any non-governmental organisation.
"They said if I wanted to see my family, I have to sign. What choice did I have?" he asked.
"But as far as I am concerned the conditions are null and void because it is against the Federal Constitution, which is the highest law of the land," he said.
Diversifying the struggle
Meanwhile, Vasanthakumar also played down the differences between the five Hindraf leaders.
The movement's most recognisable face, P Uthayakumar, had previously labelled Vasanthakumar as a 'special branch spy'.
However, Vasanthakumar said the Hindraf struggle has diversified.
"Why not we, the five of us, using different strategies, using different formulas and mechanisms come together on the same route," he added.
Furthermore, Vasanthakumar said he is looking into forming a non-governmental organisation for the benefit of the Indian community together with fellow Hindraf leader and ex-ISA detainee V Ganabatirau.
"We are not dividing the struggle, we are just diversifying, the platform of the politics has now changed... we are taking different paths but have not lost sight of the original struggle.
"At the end, we will be together, it may not be in a month or a year or sometime in the near future but the day will come," he said.
However, the former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee told Malaysiakini that he will not attend and is prepared to face the consequences.
According to the letter which was sent to him yesterday by the Kajang district police headquarters, the interview session is being held to review his release."I have instructed my lawyer to attend the proceedings. I believe it is related to me breaching the conditions of my release, if they are unhappy they can arrest me and put me back in prison," he added.
Vasanthakumar, who was among the five Hindraf leaders detained in 2007 shortly after a massive street protest on Nov 25, also claimed that the special branch had lodged a whopping 21 police reports against him since his release in April.
"I was informed about this by a special branch officer. The reports concern the breaching of the release conditions," he said.
The Hindraf leader - who claimed that he had little choice but to ink the release papers - said he was slapped with a total of 15 conditions, which among others, restrict his movement and participation with any non-governmental organisation.
"They said if I wanted to see my family, I have to sign. What choice did I have?" he asked.
"But as far as I am concerned the conditions are null and void because it is against the Federal Constitution, which is the highest law of the land," he said.
Diversifying the struggle
Meanwhile, Vasanthakumar also played down the differences between the five Hindraf leaders.
The movement's most recognisable face, P Uthayakumar, had previously labelled Vasanthakumar as a 'special branch spy'.However, Vasanthakumar said the Hindraf struggle has diversified.
"Why not we, the five of us, using different strategies, using different formulas and mechanisms come together on the same route," he added.
Furthermore, Vasanthakumar said he is looking into forming a non-governmental organisation for the benefit of the Indian community together with fellow Hindraf leader and ex-ISA detainee V Ganabatirau.
"We are not dividing the struggle, we are just diversifying, the platform of the politics has now changed... we are taking different paths but have not lost sight of the original struggle.
"At the end, we will be together, it may not be in a month or a year or sometime in the near future but the day will come," he said.
View Comments0