Uthayakumar says no to SB 'rehabilitation'

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar had refused to attend a rehabilitation programme organised by the police special branch on July 10.

His brother and Hindraf chairperson Waythamoorthy said Uthayakumar (left) - who has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since Dec 13 - refused under the provisos of Article 95 of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

The Article states that prisoners without charge are not subject to rehabilitation.

"Uthayakumar's detention is in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 of which Malaysia is a signatory.

"(It) specifically provides that there shall be no detention without trial, provides the right to personal liberty and fair trial and that a person is innocent until proven guilty," said Waythamoorthy.

Uthayakumar was arrested together with M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar shortly after Hindraf organised a mammoth rally on Nov 25 which saw some 30,000 people taking to the streets.

While Hindraf claims to be championing the rights of Indian Malaysians, the government however has branded it as an extremist outfit and its leaders a threat to national security.

Waythamoorthy, who is on self-imposed exile in London, said the attempt to rehabilitate Uthayakumar and his indefinite detention without trial showed that "it is a crime to champion equality and equal opportunities."

"What more to be rehabilitated after the judgment of the prime minister who has acted as judge, jury, prosecutor and executioner," he said.

'Ridiculous' move

Meanwhile, Hindraf lawyer N Surendran called the efforts to rehabilitate Uthayakumar as "ridiculous."

"Any attempt to compel him (Uthayakumar) would be illegal, unlawful and in breach of all international laws," he told Malaysiakini.

"If they dare to force him, we will be forced to take the matter to court," he stressed.

Asked if Uthayakumar’s refusal would impede the efforts to secure his release, Surendran said the former, who is a lawyer himself, was willing to face the repercussions.

"Our conditions are that he must be released unconditionally which means that he must not be obligated to attend any rehabilitation or anything of the sort," he said.