In Defense of Thanenthiran

Now almost everyday, we can see Thanenthiran of Makkal Sakthi Party got bashed up by outlawed Hindraf / PAHAM, MIC, Bolger’s columns, PAKATAN RAKYAT and everyone who fears they got something to loss from Thanenthiran’s political move.

But who is Thanenthiran in the first place? He was the National Coordinator of HINDRAF. The man who led HINDRAF for more than 514 days when the Chairman Wathymoorty ran to London and the Secretary General Regu ran to India. The rest of the committee members went ‘underground’. The four HINDRAF Legal Counsel plus the then National Coordinator Vasantkumar got arrested under ISA Act. Thanenthiran who was the most trusted Lieutenant of Utayahkumar was asked to ensure the light and spirit of HINDRAF lives on until Utayah comes back to lead the movement again.

So he was the “brave heart “who stood the ground when the rest went hiding or got impounded. He was the man who got kicked, beaten, dragged, arrested and detained in full public view when he fought for the rights of ISA detainees and public especially Indians. He was the man who said ‘Syed Albar bodoh’ in the parliament lobby even when he knows about the dangers of him getting arrested is imminent .He was the man who marches to the police stations to protest and got sprayed with chemicals. Because of his continue ‘harassment’ there was change in UMNO leadership. He was the reason that HINDRAF‘s name stood until now.

So my question is where the civil society and all the critics were when he was championing the rights of the public or when he was arrested? When Thanenthiran and team were fighting in the frontline, who supported them? I know for a fact that they were using they own funds. When he was traveling all around Malaysia, galvanizing support for Indians cause and then for PAKATAN’s in general election; who cared about him and his team? When he slept by the road side in his car, why nobody commented? He and his team work selflessly.

And isn’t seeing the prime minister and telling him the predicament of Indian was the reason for the all the rallies. So what is so wrong in Thanenthiran meeting the PM and got something done for Indians? What if Prime Minister Badawi has agreed to meet Thanenthiran then? Should he have said no? Then why have the memorandum? Surely you want to discuss about it with the person in authority. The argument that Utayah should be allowed to discuss with government is without merit. Any government clearly does not what to discuss with detainees. It is against government policy and Utayah have yet to come clean with public fund his girlfriend is holding under her name. I see the government is doing something for Indians directly after Makkal Sakti was formed. For example, the Indian IC problems are looked into seriously. This is the same issue that Thanenthiran was working on.

On the other hand what have PAKATAN done so far, other that putting some Indian faces in their goverment departments and destroying the last Indian heritage village. What about policies changes. Why not the problems of IC looked into? Whenever you ask them why you didn’t do it, they kept on saying we will do upon getting the federal government. When are you gone get the federal? 16 September? What about state level, surely you can do something at state level. But even at this level there were many hanky pankys as highlighted by ex PAKATAN’s Councilor a Thiru. PAKATAN should prove itself at state level first before it asks for federal.

When a close friend of mine meet Thanenthiran and asked about allegations that he have take money from the public; Thanenthiran asked the person that have given the money to him to come forward and prove it.

Some alleged that he is causing Indians to split by having Makkal Sakthi but did they forgot that it was Thanenthiran who ask all the five HINDRAF ISA ex detainees to take over the leadership of Makkal Sakthi , a legal political platform and that he is willing to step aside. Why didn’t they take up the offer? Ego? Indians were united during 25th rally because they all agreed to work as a team but when Wathymoorty and his brother Utayah decided to hijack HINDRAF from the committee then when things get splitting. The HINDRAF fund should have been held in trust under the supervision of a committee but when it goes under one persons name and supervised by family members that when credibility goes flying.

Recently Vasantkumar said that Thanenthiran have hijacked HINDRAF. Which HINDRAF? HINDRAF Enterprise is still his and two female comrades whom HINDRAF’s Wathy and Vasantkumar left to die in the battlefield. They not only have lost their jobs but have suffered humiliations and lost contact with their family members. And their rights have yet to be defended by Vasantkumar and brothers Wathy and Utayah. More that two years now they are yet to be visited by these heroes of HINDRAF. And Vasant, isn’t your wife who were begging like a beggar for money from the public and to the PM for your release? And it is you who have hijacked HINDRAF from the real HINDRAF under Ramaji. So shut your b…… mouth.

The new Hindraf / PAHAM lead by brothers Utayah and Wathy were among the vocal critics of Thanenthiran. Ironically they can join hands with MIC in many issues like Buah Pala and bashing up Thanenthiran. But Thanenthiran, a former fellow comrade seems to be their arca enemy for working with government for the betterment of Indians. Why? Have Hindraf / PAHAM joined PAKATAN or do they have some sort of pact with MIC?

The MIC’s attack against Thanenthiran is also because they were worried that after all the attempts and Tsunami to unseat Samy Velu (who still holding on to the power); he may finally been bought down by Thanenthiran through his cooperation with the government.

Thanenthiran have repeatedly asked people to give him a chance to prove himself. If he can’t deliver then he will without saying ‘close shop’ himself.

Give the man a chance.

Sivalan Murugan