Advice from Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader to his supporters: Observe the religious holiday Deepavali with sobriety as a sign of respect and kinship with the Hindraf five who are still languishing in jail under the dreaded Internal Securities Act (ISA).

p waytha moorthy Self-exiled Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy has asked for more penance, meditation and prayer during the religious holiday on Oct 27.

"(Celebrate) without the usual festive celebration in a symbolic silent protest in favour of our five Hindraf brothers who are unjustly detained for championing equal rights, equal opportunity and freedom of speech and religion."

"For the Malaysian Indian society, the darkness still prevails as basic human rights such as equal rights, equal opportunity and freedom of speech and religion is still lacking for them," he said in a statement today.

Waythamoorthy stressed that Hindraf's only objective was to champion for equality and parity.

"We have never asked for more than what is rightfully deserved as a Malaysian citizen respecting human rights and its truthfulness," said the movement's chairperson from his base in London.

Leaders P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar were arrested shortly after Hindraf organised a mammoth rally of 30,000 people on Nov 25 on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Forever compromised

There is a warrant of arrest out for Waythamoorthy, and his self- imposed stay in London is preventing the government from executing the arrest.

While Hindraf claimed to be defending the rights of Indian Malaysians, the government labelled the movement a national threat.

"Hindraf had brought forward many issues on these aspects but it has always been sidetracked and ignored for political issues and self serving agenda.

"Hindraf believes that the Malaysian Indians are still in darkness in a country that we call our own although all efforts have been made to make this government understand," Waythamoorthy surmised.

Meanwhile Vasanthakumar has been admitted to the Taiping hospital on Saturday night after heaving a heavy fever. It is believed that he was suffereing from a vuris flu.