Revoke order on my brother, warns Waytha

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Waythamoorthy has given an ultimatum to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's government.

MCPX

Revoke the order on his brother and fellow Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar to appear before the Advisory Board or be prepared to face fresh street protests by supporters across the country.

London-based Waythamoorthy said the order on Uthayakumar after he was released unconditionally from the Kamunting Detention Centre was both unlawful and unconstitutional.

He called on the authorities to revoke the order with immediate effect, failing which the movement would declare 'war' on Najib's government.

He pointed out that the action of the advisory body was in ultra virus of the Federal Constitution and "was surely a threat for the re-arrest of Uthayakumar."

Waythamoorthy is on a pilgrimage tour in India to fulfill vows upon the release of his brother from detention without trial under the draconian Internal Security Act.

Following the appointment of Najib as the country's sixth premier in April, Hindraf - which has been outlawed - called for a 100-day ceasefire which would end in mid-July.

Two weeks ago, Waythamoorthy proposed a dialogue session with Najib's administration to resolve pertaining issues in connection with Hindraf’s struggle for the betterment of the much marginalised Hindu community in the country.

Waythamoorthy however, now warned that Hindraf was prepared to revoke its 100-day truce and organise mass street protests if the threat to re-arrest Uthayakumar was for real.

Don't be reckless

Speaking to Malaysiakini via the telephone, he urged the government to deploy its 'intelligence and right strategies' to resolve the woes of the Indian community.

He said the current Putrajaya administration need not resort to reckless actions like the previous administration, which reacted irrationally and erratically against Hindraf and its leaders.

Waythamoorthy pointed that at the time of Uthayakumar's release, both premier Najib and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had publicly stated that he, alongside other released detainees, no longer posed a threat to national security.

Uthayakumar was released without conditions after he refused to sign any papers to legitimate a conditional release. The other four Hindraf detainees signed those papers.

Uthayakumar, who is a lawyer, has said he would not comply with the order.

Waythamoorthy stressed that Hindraf had always argued that the movement and its leaders were never a threat to the nation's well-being and security.

He is critical against the order by the board for Uthayakumar to appear before it.

"Which legal provisions are the authorities invoking to order Uthayakumar to appear before the tribunal when the release order was signed by the home minister.

"Such an order is in violation of individual liberty and human rights enshrined under the Federal Constitution," added Waythamoorthy, who is also a lawyer.

Uthayakumar and four other Hindraf activists were detained under the ISA in Dec 2007 following an anti-government rally in Kuala Lumpur.

To return home soon

Waythamoorthy averted detention when he fled the country just before the government's crackdown on Hindraf.

He said he had gone abroad to lobby for international support for Hindraf’s cause to champion the marginalised Indian community in the country.

He is expected to return to Malaysia in a month's time to join Uthayakumar in a bid to unite and revitalise the deeply split movement.

A breakaway group from Hindraf, led by former national coordinator RS Thanenthiran, has launched a new Indian-based party, the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP).

Commenting on this, Waythamoothy wished Thanenthiran the best for his future political undertakings and expressed appreciation for all the good things the splinter group had done for the movement.

"I was in London while Uthayakumar was languishing in Kamunting. It was Thanenthiran and others who kept the Hindraf cause and spirit alive during our physical absence," he said.

Police warning

Meanwhile in another development, the deputy general of police Ismail Omar warned that appropriate action would be taken if Hindraf organises a mass rally next month.

"For us, the gathering must have police permit. If not, it will be an illegal gathering and we will take action," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He also said that the police would be taking the necessary action if Uthayakumar refuses to attend the meeting at the Kamunting detention centre tomorrow.