The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has threatened to hold a protest in front of the Kajang prison if its leader P Uthayakumar, who has been imprisoned, is not taken for his medical appointment on Aug 1.

HRP setapak police brutality victims w S Thiagarajan HRP CEC (in orange)More than 500 people, led by Uthayakumar's wife S Indra Devi, may camp in front of the prison if the prison authorities do not comply, Hindraf secretary-general S Thiagarajan (seated, centre) told a press conference today.

The incarcerated leader has appointment with a neurosurgeon at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) on that date for his prolapsed disc.

Uthayakumar has already missed a July 18 appointment at the same hospital as a result of his imprisonment last month.

He was on June 5 jailed for two-and-a-half years after being found guilty of making seditious statements in 2007.

Indra, who was also present, could not say how far she would go with her protests, but stressed that she would not give up until Uthayakumar is taken to the hospital for his treatment.
Threat of being put in 'a dark room'
"I'm not asking them to release him. I'm just asking them to give him the medical attention due to him," Indra said, breaking out in tears.

She said she dreaded the possibility of Uthayakumar being put in a "dark room" and or that his right to make weekly telephone calls be taken away.
S Indra Devi"I get to see him once a month and I get to speak to him once a week. I hope they don't take those privileges away," Indra (left) added.

Uthayakumar has allegedly been threatened by prison authorities that he will be put in a dark room if he continues spilling the beans on the kind of treatment he has been getting in prison.

The Hindraf leader has reportedly has been complaining about back pains as a result a prolapsed disc and is also suffering a swollen leg. He is seeking proper treatment, but the prison doctor had told Uthayakumar that he has "no power" to refer him to a hospital.

Indra said the prison authorities were still giving him painkillers for his back pain, but she had asked him to stop taking the medication as it could aggravate his diabetes.

"I don't want my husband to have to go through dialysis while in prison," she said.

She also complained that Uthayakumar was still being made to use a dipper for both toiletry and food purposes.

She said that the dipper, which in the prison cell, is used for his toiletry purposes but is also used to serve him with porridge three times a week.

"Diabetes patients are very prone to getting infection. This is not hygienic," she said.

Indra also said that though she was allowed to speak to Uthayakumar 15 minutes every Wednesday morning, the time was reduced to 10 minutes the last time he called.