Authorities adopt soft approach on Hindraf

After antagonising the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for three years, the authorities today adopted a soft approach to the movement’s activities to commemorate the third anniversary of its mass rally against the alleged state marginalisation of the Indian community.

At the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) Twin Towers, a group of Hindraf supporters held a quiet seated protest near the entrance of the building without interference from the group of 20 police personnel nearby.

During the same event held last year, the group was shooed away from the main entrance of the building and was forced to gather under the sun only to be later drenched by rain.

They were later told to disperse by the police on the grounds that they were participating in an illegal assembly, prompting them to split into groups of four.

Over at Putrajaya, Hindraf’s five-member delegation succeeded in officially handing over a memorandum containing the movement’s 18-point demands to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) this morning.

The document was received by the Prime Minister’s assistant secretary Asrul Apendi Abdullah, who stamped a copy of the document as  acknowledge of receipt.

During the same attempt last year, they were ignored and the document was eventually left at the building's gate.

‘Aide promised us’

Selangor Hindraf coordinator K Selvam, who led the delegation, said he and his entourage were ushered into the lobby of the PMO security checkpoint and were not even subjected to the normal practice of metal detector screening.

“This person came to us and said he was the prime minister’s assistant secretary. He said he will make sure the memorandum is handed over to the prime minister,” said Selvam when contacted.

He added that he was surprised at the courtesy extended by the premier’s office, in contrast to the cold treatment received by similar delegations over the past three years, but still doubts that the premier will actually read the document.

Other than the 18-point demand, drafted in 2007, the memorandum also repeats Hindraf’s demand for a dialogue with the premier to help resolve problems faced by the Indian community.

As of 12.30pm, there were a total of 30 Hindraf supporters, including four women, participating in the gathering at  the KLCC.

The group is conducting an 18-hour ‘hunger strike’ which will end at 3pm today.

Clad in Hindraf’s trademark saffron colour shirts, the group occasionally chanted “Long live Hindraf” and “We want our rights”, drawing stares from passers-by and occasional encouragements.

Nov 25 a ‘sacred date’

At 12.15pm, Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah arrived at the KLCC but paid no heed to the group and proceeded to the entrance.

One participant, M Ramesh, a cattle rearer, said he and several friends took leave to participate in the gathering.

“November 25 is tarikh keramat (sacred date) for us,” said Ramesh, in reference to the mass rally that shook the national capital on Nov 25, 2007 and brought more political awareness to the Indian community.

An estimated 30,000 ethnic Indians took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in an attempt to accompany Hindraf leaders to the British High Commission to hand over a petition to Queen Elizabeth II.

Hindraf was petitioning the British Queen to appoint a Queens Counsel to represent the movement in its suit against the British government for failing to protect the community’s interest during negotiations for then-Malaya’s independence.

The harsh crackdown during the rally, subsequent prosecution of participants and the detention of five key Hindraf figures under the Internal Security Act (ISA), provided the impetus of a massive swing in ethnic Indian vote against the ruling BN coalition.