Hindu Youth Council: Release ISA detainees
Hafiz YatimPublished: Dec 1, 2008 9:19 AM | Updated: Dec 1, 2008 10:32 AM
Delegates attending the Malaysian Hindu Youth Council annual general assembly have added to calls for the release of all those detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Delegates attending the Malaysian Hindu Youth Council annual general assembly have added to calls for the release of all those detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
This was among resolutions adopted unanimously by the 300 delegates from 150 branches - except those in Sabah - at their meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“The council wants to see all the ISA detainees including the (five leaders of) the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf 5) released unconditionally,” said president KM Rasa Selvan (right) when contacted today.
“If they are involved in any offences such as sedition or violence, then they should be charged in a court of law.”
The Hindraf 5 comprises P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadaran, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar. They were detained last December for an initial period of two years and are being held at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak.
Over the weekend, PPP president M Kayveas had warned that his party may leave the Barisan Nasional coalition if the government fails to substantially amend the draconian law in line with public aspirations.
Critics have accused the government of misusing the law - which provides for indefinite detention without trial - against political dissidents and civil society activists.
Anti-ISA protests have been stepped up in recent months, especially after the detention of popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin. He has since been released.
Other resolutions
Rasa Selvan said another resolution called on the government to create a deputy minister’s post to represent the interests of Indian Malaysians in the Youth and Sports Ministry.
“The Chinese have their own deputy minister and we feel the government should create such a post for our community, so that our problems can be addressed,” he said, explaining that many Indian youth are still involved in social problems.
A third resolution urged the Education Ministry to revert to the use of the mother tongue in teaching Science and Mathematics, rather than continue with a recent move to conduct these classes in English.
The delegates further called for an emergency motion to be presented to the United Nation to stop the atrocities against civilians in northern Sri Lanka.
“We are not supporting the Sri Lanka government or (armed separatist group) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. We’re more concerned about civilians caught in the crossfire and in attacks,” added Rasa Selvan.
This was among resolutions adopted unanimously by the 300 delegates from 150 branches - except those in Sabah - at their meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.“The council wants to see all the ISA detainees including the (five leaders of) the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf 5) released unconditionally,” said president KM Rasa Selvan (right) when contacted today.
“If they are involved in any offences such as sedition or violence, then they should be charged in a court of law.”
The Hindraf 5 comprises P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadaran, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar. They were detained last December for an initial period of two years and are being held at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak.
Over the weekend, PPP president M Kayveas had warned that his party may leave the Barisan Nasional coalition if the government fails to substantially amend the draconian law in line with public aspirations.Critics have accused the government of misusing the law - which provides for indefinite detention without trial - against political dissidents and civil society activists.
Anti-ISA protests have been stepped up in recent months, especially after the detention of popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin. He has since been released.
Other resolutions
Rasa Selvan said another resolution called on the government to create a deputy minister’s post to represent the interests of Indian Malaysians in the Youth and Sports Ministry.
“The Chinese have their own deputy minister and we feel the government should create such a post for our community, so that our problems can be addressed,” he said, explaining that many Indian youth are still involved in social problems.
A third resolution urged the Education Ministry to revert to the use of the mother tongue in teaching Science and Mathematics, rather than continue with a recent move to conduct these classes in English.The delegates further called for an emergency motion to be presented to the United Nation to stop the atrocities against civilians in northern Sri Lanka.
“We are not supporting the Sri Lanka government or (armed separatist group) Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. We’re more concerned about civilians caught in the crossfire and in attacks,” added Rasa Selvan.
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