Hindraf slams EO detention

The movement takes the government and Umno to task for 'violating' the rights of the citizens as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf Makkal Sakti has condemned the re-arrest of six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members under the Emergency Ordinance and the police crackdown on Bersih 2.0 ahead of its July 9 rally.

Hindraf demanded that the authorities release all the detainees unconditionally.

The movement’s adviser N Ganesan said Umno’s gloves were coming off and the federal government was again showing its real self.

Citing the police clampdown on Hindraf after the Nov 25 rally in 2007, he said Umno, with the police’s help, was repeating it on Bersih and PSM.

The PSM six, including Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar, were re-arrested Saturday under Section 3(1) of the EO on suspicion of causing civil unrest by any means.

They were among 30 PSM leaders and members arrested by the police at the Sungai Dua toll plaza along the North-South Expressway on June 25.

They were originally remanded for a week to be investigated under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly waging war against the King.

The six were released from the charge on Saturday, only to be re-arrested immediately under the EO, which is normally used to detain suspected hardcore criminals for 60 days without trial.

This was the first time the draconian law had been used against political party members, especially against a sitting MP.

‘Umno is not above the law’

“July 2, 2011 is just another black day like Dec 13, 2007 when Hindraf lawyers were detained under the draconian Internal Security Act,” said Ganesan.

He slammed the Umno government for contravening the citizens’ rights guaranteed in the Federal Constitution and the Universal Declarations of Human Rights.

He pointed out that the Federal Constitution unequivocally states that every citizen had the right to freedom of speech and expression; all citizens had the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; and all citizens had the right to form associations.

“However, Umno has mocked these rights granted and guaranteed by the Constitution,” stressed the Hindraf leader.

He said Malaysia was increasingly being run against the will of the people.

Ganesan alleged that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar acted in complicity in this and many other blatant violations of the Federal Constitution against the wishes of the people.

“Brute force is being applied to simply promote and protect the interests of Umno,” he said, adding that more repressive action would be employed in the coming days.

Ganesan reminded the Umno government that it was not above the law, and should always abide by all the provisions in the Federal Constitution.

“If Umno does not take heed of this call, Umno bears responsibility for making Malaysia a lawless nation,” he said.