EXCLUSIVE:Declaration from The National Revolutionary Front BRN

Received via email

Peace, the Mercy and the Benevolence of  God be upon you

After the negotiations between the Thai government and the fighters from Patani Liberation Movement on February…

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Received via email

Peace, the Mercy and the Benevolence of  God be upon you

After the negotiations between the Thai government and the fighters from Patani Liberation Movement on February and March, so many questions have been asked by the Patani people and the general public. For this reason, we would like to ask you as international mass media to publish and broadcast the video clips which contains the answers and explanations so that the Patani people and the general public do not have to worry about or confused by the negation process.

We would like to thank you for the attention and actions to be taken concerning this matter.

Sincerely Yours,

Barisan Revolusi Nasional
(National Revolutionary Front)

Video 1
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzcehr_exclusive-declaration-from-brn-ustaz-hassan-taib_news#.UXpo67VmiSo


Caption 1
Declaration from The National Revolutionary Frontline of Malay Muslims
BRN

Caption 2
Ustaz Hassan Taib
Representative of BRN
The Speech by Ustaz Hassan Taib.
The BRN is a national revolutionary frontline for the Malay people in Patani. The BRN was founded as a national front line to unite the Malay people in Patani from every walk of life to build a line of fighters for the people of Patani. The Malay people in Patani become stronger, and we shall obtain the liberation (freedom). After that we can administrate (the country) as fairly (equally, just) as possible. So I would like to plead to all Patani people, regardless of their ethnicity, no matter if you are Malay, Chinese or Siamese, so as not to be afraid or worried about the justice (which we are going to bring about). That’s all from me. A short explanation about the struggle of the BRN which is aiming at justice, prosperity and establishment of a country (nation) of justice.

Video 2
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzcdul_exclusive-declaration-from-brn-on-patani-thai-govt-peace-talk-abdulkarim-khalib_news

Caption 1

Abdulkarim Khalib
A member of the BRN delegation on 28 March

Speech:

If we talk about the conflict in Patani, we must refer to the history. The colonization of Patani by Siamese in 1785 is the start point of the ruthless system of suppression, as well as the movements for the liberation of Patani, in order to liberate the Patani people from the suppression and troubles brought about by the Siamese colonization. We are proceeding to the genuine peace.

Caption 2:

How’s the attitude of the BRN after the negotiation (signing) on 28 February?

Answer:

Actions shall continue to be taken until the Siamese colonization system and suppression against the Patani people is put to an end.

Caption 3:

How’s the attitude of the BRN concerning the coming peace talks.
The talk shall be continued, with conditions.
First, the Siamese colonists must accept Malaysia not as a facilitator but as a moderator.
Second, the talk is between the Malay people led by the BRN and the Siamese colonists.
Third, in the talk, there must be observers from the ASEAN Countries, the OIC and NGOs.
Fourth, the Siamese colonists must unconditionally release all detained people and cancel (annul) all arrest warrants
Fifth, the Siamese colonists must acknowledge that the BRN is an organization for the liberation of Patani, not a separationist group.

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Chronology of PR-HINDRAF Meetings and Developments

August 1, 2012: HINDRAF Chair Waytha Moorthy returns to Malaysia and goes on nationwide tour to gain mandate from Indians.

August 28, 2012: Letter issued by Hindraf and personally handed…

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August 1, 2012: HINDRAF Chair Waytha Moorthy returns to Malaysia and goes on nationwide tour to gain mandate from Indians.

August 28, 2012: Letter issued by Hindraf and personally handed to both PM Dato Seri Najib and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, calling upon them to discuss approaches to permanently address the socio-economic problems of the marginalized Indians.

Sept 27, 2012: Preliminary meeting between Dato Seri Khalid, Tian Chua, Sivarasa and Saifudion Nasution. Hindraf wanted to check if there was any political will to address the Indian socio-economic problems.

Nov 1, 2012:  Meeting with DS Anwar Ibrahim, Tian Chua, Sivarasa. Hindraf Leaders presented the Hindraf 5 year Blueprint to address the socio-economic problems of the Indians. Anwar clearly agreed in principle to the plans in the Blueprint and said that he would have to consult with the other Coalition Leaders on the signing of the Blueprint, whether the 3 of them need to sign or just him. He committed to doing that in a week’s time.

Nov 7, 2012: Datuk Seri Nazri, Minister in PM’s Department issues open invitation on behalf of Government to Hindraf to meet the PM.

Nov 8, 2012: Hindraf Chair Waytha issues statement: “We are not too enthusiastic with the PM’s invitation as we fear it will be used by BN to gain mileage as the election is near. However, if Najib is sincere in meeting Hindraf, he should first lift the ban on the movement and then we will talk.”

Nov 20, 2012: Meeting with Sivarasa and Tian Chua.  Hindraf Leaders presented Pakatan Leaders with a plan for an electoral strategy which would result in a win-win situation. Pakatan Leaders said that a conference would need to be held with other coalition members on the electoral pact and committed to calling such a conference in early December 2012.

Nov 25th, 2012: Hindraf unveils Blueprint to the Public.

Jan 17, 2013: Meeting with Dato Mustafa Ali of PAS, Tian Chua of Pakatan, Antony Loke of DAP. Hindraf presented their proposal for a tie up for the forthcoming elections and attempted to focus the meeting on the Hindraf Blueprint, but obviously after two and a half months several of the members had not read the blueprint. Pakatan Leaders said they still needed time among themselves before they can agree to Hindraf on any matter concerning the Blueprint and the electoral pact. 1) Mr. Ganesan laid out that the process of coming to an agreement between Hindraf and Pakatan on the matter of an electoral pact was taking far too long. The process started at the end of August 2012 and after almost 5 months this was the first time all the Pakatan Leaders were meeting with Hindraf. He stressed that continuing delay to this process will prove to be counter -productive.

2) Mr. Sambulingam outlined the various methods and impact of Barisan Nasional’s wooing of the Indian electorate. He stressed that unless this was checked he warned there could be a significant negative effect to PR in GE13. He added that if there was not to be a partnership, then that needs to be clearly established soon so Hindraf and Pakatan can move on.

Another meeting was to be called after the Pakatan coalition has had the time to discuss among themselves. This was decided to be on the 6th of Feb 2013.

Jan 26, 2013: BN Government lifts ban on Hindraf.

Feb 6, 2013: Meeting with Dato Mustafa Ali of PAS, Tian Chua of Pakatan, Antony Loke of DAP.  Pakatan Leaders wanted to focus the meeting on the number of seats they offered to Hindraf assignees to contest in direct fight with BN. Hindraf refocused the meeting on the Blueprint and that if the Blueprint was agreed to, the seats issue was less contentious as this was HIndraf priority. The Pakatan Leaders felt than, that this was outside their mandate and that this would require to be decided by the Manifesto Committee. The ball kept getting kicked around. Another meeting was set with the manifesto committee to discuss. On PR leader’s inquiry, Waytha informed that if the PM asks for a meet, Hindraf will oblige.

Feb 8, 2013:  Meeting with Nurul Izzah of PKR, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad of PAS and Ong Kian Ming of DAP.  After delving into the Blueprint it was clear that this group only had the mandate for including elements of the Blueprint into PR manifesto and not to review the Blueprint with the objective of endorsing the Blueprint. Meeting was called off seeing that there was not the right mandate.

Feb 18, 2013: Hindraf issues email to Anwar Ibrahim and all PR leaders ‘loosening up’ our conditions for the endorsement, stating that the since it was quite obvious that PR were not willing to sign the Blueprint agreement in a ‘legal agreement format’, Hindraf were willing to take a middle position by just asking for a MOU between the Head of the Pakatan Coalition and the Head of Hindraf to get over the current impasse.

Feb 26, 2013: PR launches their Election Manifesto which mentions all races but Indians.

March 11, 2013: As all efforts with both BN and PR fail, Hindraf Chair begins fast. He states: “The purpose (of the hunger strike) is for them (BN and Pakatan) to acknowledge that the human rights of Indian (Malaysians) have been violated.

“Both have to sign it (the blueprint). If both do not sign it, they don’t respect human rights,”

March, 2nd week, 2013: Hindraf is made aware that their long standing application for registration (made in 2007) of Hindraf has been approved by the Government dated March 8, 2013.

March 22, 2013: Hindraf receives invitation to meet up with PM.

March 25, 2013: Hindraf leaders meet PM at Putrajaya.

March 28, 2013: PR Election Manifesto Chairman Dr Dzulkefly meets  Hindraf Election Strategist Dr Paraman to convey PR terms of agreeing to endorse the Blueprint.

The terms were:

No Empowered Ministry. No mention of budgetary allocations. No Hindraf leadership to the Blueprint. No mention of ‘Indian’ in Blueprint document. No mention of quotas for Indians. Terms such as ‘equitable’ and ‘equal’ to be replaced with ‘needs basis’. No mention of new residential schools to be built for Indians and to remove the request for 10,000 places per year for DEW for skills training program in all Government skills development institutions. Only then will PR Presidential Council consider endorsing the Blueprint.

After hectic negotiations and deep discussions within the leadership, Hindraf took a humble decision to agree to PR’s demands, as it would serve for the greater good of the marginalized Indians. It was evident that PR was basically flexing its muscles to only consider to endorse the Blueprint, with Hindraf clearly out of the picture altogether.

This was conveyed to the PR Election Manifesto Chairman by phone who insisted that DAP’s Election Strategist Dr Ong Kian Ming (who was also part of the PR’s Election Manifesto Committee) was also informed. However Dr Ong Kian Ming, when contacted, insisted that this was to be given in writing even before any meeting takes place.

March 29, 2013: Hindraf National Advisor issues an email to all PR leaders stating that PR terms as conveyed by the PR Election Manifesto Committee as ‘constructive’ and that Hindraf sees no major divergences that cannot be worked out. Mr. Ganesan requests for the resumption of discussions as soon as possible as Mr. Waytha was already on his 20th day of fast.

March 31, 2013: DAP does an about turn and issues the Gelang Patah Declaration in a clear attempt to nullify the Blueprint. It was a unilateral decision which had no PKR or PAS support to back it up. PR then halts all further negotiations with Hindraf.

March 31, 2013: Mr. Waytha ends 21 day fast after collapsing and needing hospitalization.

April 2, 2013: Mr. Ganesan’s call for an open debate to Mr. Lim Kit Siang on the Blueprint- Gelang Patah fiasco goes unheeded.

April 5th to 17th, 2013: BN begins focused discussion with Hindraf regarding the Blueprint and MOU.

April 13, 2013: Hindraf issues press statement that door is still open to both PR and BN to endorse the Blueprint and will be closed on April 18.

April 13, 14, 15: Dr Dzulkefly informs that PR leaders were willing to meet Hindraf leaders but no such meeting ever takes place. 

On April 15, Hindraf leaders were told to come to PKR HQ for a meeting with Anwar Ibrahim and Husam Musa at 1700 Hrs but on reaching there they were told that Anwar had already ‘left’!

April 17, 2013: Hindraf and BN reach an agreement on the Blueprint.

April 18, 2013: PM apologizes to Indian community and historic MOU is signed in front of 1000 Hindraf supporters in KL.

Key issues of MOU:
1. To bring progress to displaced former estate workers

1.1. To raise the income of the former estate workers

• Those who qualify for it are all the Indian Malaysians whose family income is lower than RM3000.
• To double their family income by 2020.
• A committee of experts will conduct research and decide on various programmes, policies and allocation of finance.
• The committee of experts will submit its Indian-centred coordinated plans to the government by Oct 31, 2013.
• The government will accept in total the plans, policies and financial allocations as recommended by the committee of experts.

1.2. House ownership programme for former estate workers

• Those Indian Malaysians whose monthly family income is not above RM3000 will qualify.
• This will be done by 2018 in areas where the displaced workers are concentrated. The department or the ministry will provide the necessary finance and allocate 100,000 national standard grade houses.
• To relocate in housing projects which are complete with facilities such as temples, burial grounds, community halls and playgrounds with the view to protecting socio-cultural aspects and preventing the growth of squatter areas in towns.

1.3. Retraining and alternative skills training for former young estate workers.

• The purpose of this programme - which requires great effort - is to bring out the hidden talents of Indian youth and change them into skilled and useful citizens for constructive action.
• Discover the hidden talents of the youths and provide them with the necessary prerequisites to undertake vocational training and have them admitted into the 176 Giat Mara centres and 78 community colleges to obtain proper skills training.
• After the training, based on their capability, they will be employed in the government and government-linked companies.
• To those who wish to start small scale businesses, support will be given through the Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun) loan scheme.
• For this purpose, RM20 million will be allocated annually.

1.4. To maintain the temples and the burial grounds of the former estate workers

• To protect the temples and the burial grounds that were constructed by our forefathers and which stand as testimony to our history in this country from being destroyed and removed.
• All the temples, small places of worship and burial grounds in the country shall by 2018 be on lands specifically allocated and registered for this purpose.
• A division of an experts committee shall undertake a detailed research on temples, small places of worship and burial grounds and submit its recommendations on their maintenance.
• With the permission of the prime minister and acceptance by the government, a council composed of religious scholars will propose solutions to complicated problems relating to temples and the Hindu religion. This committee shall be accountable to the prime minister and the person to be appointed as the head of the new administration under the prime minister.

2. The problem of Indians without identification documents

• To those without any birth certificates, a solution is to be found through an open, sympathetic and simple plan.
• To find solutions to the problems of people without documents by accepting statutory declarations deposed by people held in high esteem by the society.
• To change red identity cards (ICs) to blue ICs through open and systematic policies.
• To find ways and means to identify those who have legally obtained their citizenship from those who have not.
• The head of the new department under the prime minister shall within three months from the date of his appointment submit his recommendations on the matters mentioned above and obtain the approval of the prime minister.

3. The plans to increase the employment and business opportunities for the Indian Malaysians

• To allocate RM500 million in order to raise the Indian Malaysians’ equity ownership to three percent.
• To confirm that the Indians get 7.5 percent of the amount that the government allocates for small business loan schemes and micro-credit schemes.
• To confirm that the Indians get 7.5 percent of all the business licenses and permits issued by the government.
• To confirm that the Indians get 7.5 percent of all the franchises granted by the government.
• To confirm that the Indians get 7.5 percent of all the contracts offered at national, state and local council levels.
• To confirm that qualified Indians get 7.5 percent of all government jobs.
• To confirm that qualified Indians get 7.5 percent of all government-linked company jobs.
• To confirm that the Indians will get, in the next five years, RM200 million from the Tekun loan scheme.
• To confirm micro-credit loan schemes for Indians in accordance with the recommendation of the expert committee.

4. To develop/increase the opportunities for education from pre-school to university

• To allocate enough funds and necessary measures for the relocation, development and construction of new buildings to make by 2020 all the Tamil schools equal to the national schools.
• To convert all the Tamil schools to fully government-aided schools.
• To set up a special fund to develop the skills of the Tamil school students.
• To confirm that 7.5 percent of places in the government universities and institutions of higher learning are for Indian students.
• To confirm that 10 percent of places in the government polytechnic colleges are for Indian students.
• To confirm that 7.5 percent of places in the present residential schools, matriculation and technical colleges are for Indian students.
• To confirm that 20 percent of the places in the proposed nine residential schools for students of all races are for Indian students.
• To confirm that 7.5 percent of scholarships from the Public Services Department (JPA), other government scholarship schemes and state scholarships are for Indian students.
• A separate RM25 million annual special education assistance scheme for Indian students through the new department that is to begin operations under the prime minister.

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Hindraf: Racism, custodial deaths for 'future deal'

The key issues relating to human rights in the Hindu Rights Action Force's (Hindraf) five-year blueprint for Indian welfare that are missing in the ‘new deal' signed with BN are…

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The key issues relating to human rights in the Hindu Rights Action Force's (Hindraf) five-year blueprint for Indian welfare that are missing in the ‘new deal' signed with BN are being put off for future discussions.

"We will continue to ask for those things in future deals," the group's national adviser N Ganesan (left) told Malaysiakini yesterday.

He had earlier mentioned that Hindraf had to concede issues relating to racism and deaths in custody during negotiations with the ruling coalition to get the concessions and promises of better economic opportunities for Indians.

The Hindraf-BN memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Indian Malaysians promises more special appointments for Indian leaders, a new division under the Prime Minister's Office, as well as increased funding for Indian welfare.

"All the plans stated above are drawn up based on Hindraf's five-year blueprint and the Barisan Nasional's election manifesto. A special division, functioning under the direct supervision of the prime minister, empowered and with funds, will implement the plans," concluded a Hindraf advertisement explaining the deal.

The advertisement appeared in last Sunday's edition of Tamil Nesan. An English language translation of the full-page paid ad was published by Malaysiakini yesterday.

Ganesan said that they posted the ads to answer queries on the contents of the MOU the rights movement signed with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last Thursday.

The public, especially Indian Malaysians, were clamouring for a peek at the document, though Ganesan said that Hindraf felt it only needed to run ads in Tamil-language newspapers to reach its target group.

"That is the segment we are focusing on, I don't think we have to do anything further," he said.
According to the ad, Hindraf had negotiated at least three more special committees for Indians affairs under the ambit of the PMO.

• A committee of experts for Indian-centric plans, where the government will accept in total the plans, policies and financial allocations drawn up.

• A council composed of religious scholars for issues related to temples and the Hindu religion.

• An ‘Indian affairs department' under the PMO to be headed by an Indian representative.

Currently BN already has a special department for Indian affairs under the PMO, headed by incumbent Minister in the Prime Minister's Department G Palanivel from MIC.

It is not clear if the new division will be in addition to Palanivel's unit, or Hindraf's appointee is meant to displace the MIC representatives in the PMO when it comes to Indian affairs.

Seeking 7.5pct of the economic pie

Other than appointments and special departments, the NGO is also demanding that the Indian Malaysians, who make up roughly 7.5 percent of population, be given the same percentage or more of the economic pie, as well as other opportunities.

The MOU mainly focused on remedies in four main areas, which are; providing relief for displaced estate workers, as well as more economic opportunities, educational opportunities and help for stateless person or Malaysian-born Indians without identification papers.

Hindraf had announced that with the signing of the MOU, they are throwing their weight as well as their support behind PM Najib and the BN coalition, citing they had already given Pakatan Rakyat the same chance to sign a binding accord with them, but claimed that they were ignored by the opposition pact.

Before this, the Indian rights pressure group had gone to town with their five-year blueprint for Indian welfare, promising an electoral pact with any side that endorses their blueprint in total and sign an agreement with them "in a binding way".

Pakatan had expressed support for several of the points mentioned in Hindraf blueprint adding many of the same concerns were already addressed by their manifesto, but refused to adopt the document in toto, causing Hindraf to renounce all support for the opposition pact, electing to accept Najib's partial adoption of the blueprint in the ‘new deal' MOU instead.

When asked about BN-friendly candidates, Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Noordin - both of whom have disparaged non-Muslims - Ganesan declined to comment.

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Why We Support BN? Hindraf (Tamil)

Uthaya's Hindraf 'sacks' Waythamoorthy

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) faction led by its founding leader P Uthayakumar has sacked his younger brother and current Hindraf splinter ‘chief’ P Waythamoorthy from the movement.

The…

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The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) faction led by its founding leader P Uthayakumar has sacked his younger brother and current Hindraf splinter ‘chief’ P Waythamoorthy from the movement.

The decision was made during Hindraf's supreme council meeting on April 25, Uthayakumar told a press conference today in Kuala Lumpur.

Uthayakumar earlier claimed that his brother, who has now pledged support for BN, had hijacked the movement from him.

However, his sacking will have no legal implications as Waythamoorthy’s (left in photo, in orange) faction is the one that had managed to receive official recognition from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on March 8.
"We feel that Waytha has deviated far away from Hindraf's original 18-point demands. The original Hindraf demands were never about pledging free votes to either BN or Pakatan Rakyat," Uthayakumar told reporters.

Will continue to use the Hindraf name

However, he admitted that Waythamoorthy's Hindraf will continue being recognised as the registered Hindraf organisation.

"If I joined hands with (BN chairperson) Najib Abdul Razak, I could get the same (registration). I could have chosen the easy way out, but I didn't," he added.

However, he insisted that he would continue using the Hindraf name despite the possibility of being sued by the 'legitimate' Hindraf for the usage of its name.

"I developed this movement and its people. If they want to sue, let the courts decide," he said.

He, however, believed that Waythamoorthy, being his "disciple", would not against his "guru".

Waythamoorthy, his brother further claimed, was never a supreme council member and claimed the latter "ran away" when authorities clamped down on Hindraf after the November 2007 rally.

Uthayakumar (left) added the sacking announcement had to be made as he's spending more time disassociating himself from Waythamoorthy's actions whilst speaking to disgruntled Indians, than on focussing on the real issues such as uplifting the Indian poor.

He is currently campaigning as an Independent for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat in Selangor as well as for the Sri Andalas state seat under it.

Meanwhile, Uthayakumar reiterated his belief that he would be able to garner Chinese votes on top of Indian votes to be able to win the Kota Raja seat.

He said this is based on the evidence that the rental expenditure for his operations centre is being borne by a local Chinese man.

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