Hindraf: Where's the money, buddy?

Hindraf activist V Ganabatirau has accused the outlawed movement's leader P Waythamoorthy of using millions of ringgit collected from the people for his personal use while in self-imposed exile in London.

He said funds collected by the movement for the Hindraf 5 who were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) from December 2007, never reached them or their families.

"Initially funds were collected by highlighting the suffering of the so- called Hindraf 5. From Dec 13, 2007, the focus was changed to highlighting the suffering of our family members. The total collected runs into millions of ringgit," he said when asked to comment on the funds.

"My family did not receive a single sen. When questioned, Waythamoorthy,the de facto head, claimed that the funds were meant for a civil suit that was to be filed against the British government."

But the suit expired as civil matters must be pursed within three months after being filed.

"I believe that the suit was deliberately allowed to expire so that he could enjoy his exile and the good life in London.

"All our hopes vanished with Waythamoorthy when he did not pursue the suit.

"The public had high hopes. We only wanted the plight of poor and marginalised Indians here to be exposed. Not for the money," said Ganabatirau (right).

Wayathamoorthy had last week claimed in an interview with Malaysiakini that the suit was foiled by the Malaysian government and police.

But Ganabatirau rubbished the reasoning, saying that this could "never be accepted".

"Why should he go for a pilgrimage to India on Nov 27, 2007?" Ganabatirau asked, recalling the events that led the detention of five Hindraf leaders in Kamunting under the ISA.

According to Ganabatirau, Waythamoorthy (left) personally assured him that the suit would be filed.

The former lawyer also denied that Waythamoorthy was the movement's treasurer.

In fact, Hindraf was registered as an business enterprise and as such, there was no need for a treasurer, he said

Ganabatirau also said the rift in Hindraf began after the suit failed to materialise.

"Uthayakumar accused me of being a Special Branch (SB) agent because I raised the issue about the suit," he said when asked to comment on allegations that he was a government spy.

Who is the boss?

Ganabatirau said he had met Hindraf lawyer P Uthayakumar in December 2006.

He said he had actively organised forums and demonstrations together with (fellow Hindraf activist) K Vasanthakumar on temple demolitions from January to April 2007.

"Both of us played a key role in pulling in the crowds. Prior to our involvement, the crowds numbered between 20 and 30 people only."

He added that application for permission to hold the Nov 25, 2007 rally to hand over the memorandum to the British government was organised by him and Vasanthakumar.

The suit intended to claim 1 million pounds sterling for every Indian in Malaysia since independence, for displacing them from their homeland.

"Waythamoorthy contributed nothing to the movement except being named plaintiff in the suit. All the trips that he made was paid for by using money collected from the people," Ganabatirau said when asked to elaborate on the chairperson's role.

"He is a chicken. If there is a forum, he would ask me whether there were police or SB (Special Branch personnel) in the vicinity before coming to give a speech."

He also commented on RS Thanenthirran's involvement in the movement.

"Why was there no condemnation from Waythamoorthy against Thanenthirran who ‘hijacked' the term Makkal Sakthi (people power) for the party. Both Vasantha and I coined the term."

Thanenthirran has since formed Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party which made overtures to the BN government that led to the possibility of Waythamoorthy's anticipated return to Malaysia.

'Hijacked movement'

"Waythamoorthy also appointed himself as the chairperson of Hindraf and appointed Thanenthirran and S Jayathas as coordinators. Who made him the boss? There was no election. Who gave him the right to appoint and dismiss coordinators?

Ganabatirau also added that he was also against the idea of Hindraf activists visiting then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as it was Thanenthirran's way of hijacking Hindraf.

"Don't you see that he is discriminating and marginalising me and Vasanthakumar even as he speaks on the discrimination and marginalisation of the Indian community ever since we were detained?"

Now an activist, Ganabatirau further questioned Waythamoorthy's motives in blaming Pakatan Rakyat for the Kampung Buah Pala fiasco.

"Who does he want to please to ensure his safe return?"

Ganabatirau, along with Vasanthakumar, K Kenghadaran, Uthayakumar and M Manoharan, were key leaders who led 30,000 people in a protest rally against the marginalisation of the Indian community in Malaysia in November 2007.

The large scale demonstration in Kuala Lumpur led to the detention of the five under ISA.