Press Release: Will HINDRAF be banned?

Makkal Osai - 08/10/08

Malaysia Nanban - 08/10/08

The Law Maker “Dato Rajoo”- Press Release

Tamil Nesan - 08/10/08

Will HINDRAF be banned?

We condemn and deplore the campaign by certain BN newspapers and BN leaders to target Hindraf and possibly ban it as a illegal movement like the Al Arqam movement.

Such a campaign is completely uncalled for.

The government should not tolerate such a campaign and should take stern action against any organisation or individuals urging a ban of the Hindraf movement on the ground s that it is a racists movement aqnd would cause racial disturbances.

The country is populated by racial political parties and racial political organisation but these are not being fingered for action. Why then is the focus on Hindraf.

Hindraf is a legitimate movement representing the voice of the poor Indians and should be respected and accepted as such.

It should not be condemned nor banned as such an action would deprive the Indian community of a legitimate voice of dissent.

The Hindraf supporters who attended the Hari Raya rally did not thteaten anybody. They were peace loving and followed all the established rules and law.

Further they had written a letter to the PM that they are coming.

They gave a present to the PM. If they were dressed in orange, what’s wrong with that.

There were others who were also dressed in various uniforms. There were bloggers and others. Why just pick on Hindraf.

Hindraf and its supporters are really striving for inclusiveness, acceptance and recognition by the authorities as bona fide members of the diverse Malaysian family.

But unfortunately before and after Nov 25 what they have got thus far is exclusion, neglect and inequitable treatment by the government and the other classes.

Now they are being demonised as uncultured, disrespectful and even anti-Islam for trying to visit Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and give him a Hari Raya present — a teddy bear and a greeting card — and urge him to release the five Hindraf leaders in ISA detention since December 2007.

This trend is unhealthy and nothing could be far from the truth. There is an urgent need for understanding, compassion and acceptance by the authorities of Hindraf, its members and the deep-seated grievances that propel the movement.

The banning of HINDRAF was written in Utusan Malaysia the mouth piece of UMNO. I suspect tomorrows cabinet meeting would deliberate on this issue. And ha what would MIC and MCA say on the issue?.