5 Hindraf leaders a ‘threat to national security’

The NST, 14 December 2007

By: Alang Bendahara and Marc Lourdes

5 Hindraf leaders a ‘threat to national security’

  

(From left) P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan and T. Vasantha Kumar.

KUALA LUMPUR: Described as a threat to national security and public order, five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders were yesterday detained under the Internal Security Act.

Lawyer V. Ganabatirau who was detained in Seremban being brought to Bukit Aman yesterday.

The five were lawyers P. Uthayakumar, R. Kengadharan, V. Ganabatirau, M. Manoharan and a senior executive with Malaysia Building Society Bhd, K. Vasantha Kumar.

The four lawyers were legal advisers for Hindraf while Vasantha Kumar was the movement’s co-ordinator.

All five were picked up in simultaneous operations in Bangsar, Petaling Jaya, Pantai, Brickfields and Seremban between 12.30pm and 2.30pm yesterday, according to a police statement.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharum said the detention orders for the arrest of the five were signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also internal security minister, yesterday morning.
Johari said: “It was based on reports by police that the five were a threat to national security and public order.

“This action is necessary as they have been a menace to the public.”

He said under Section 8(1) of the Internal Security Act 1960, the five would be sent to the Kamunting detention centre in Taiping for two years.

The five were key officials of Hindraf, which organised a rally here on Nov 25 where some 10,000 Indians protested against alleged racial discrimination.

There were also clashes between police and the pro-testers several hours earlier that day when police tried to break up an illegal gathering at the Sri Subramaniam temple in Batu Caves. The protesters were also accused of damaging several vehicles.

Several policemen were attacked in both those incidents.

After the Nov 25 illegal assembly, there were similar gatherings at the courts in Shah Alam, Selayang and Kuala Lumpur when the protesters were charged with taking part in illegal assemblies.

On Tuesday night, there was a large gathering outside the Pudu prison when protesters demanded the release of Uthayakumar who was arrested earlier.

Abdullah had warned that he would invoke the ISA “without feeling guilty, without feeling sad” if Hindraf leaders and their supporters continued with their street protests, which could lead to racial unrest.

He had said he was aware of reports that Hindraf had been canvassing for support and help from terrorist groups and local gangsters.

He had also accused Hindraf of telling lies and accusing the government of cruelty and ethnic cleansing. He was referring to the memorandum sent by Hindraf to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The last time the ISA was used was in June 2006 when police nabbed 11 Darul Islam Sabah militants, who had allegedly helped organise the 2002 Bali bombings.

The 11 – six Malaysians, three Indonesians and two Filipinos – who had allegedly been smuggling firearms and ammunition into the region were arrested in Sandakan, Tawau and Klang.

There are 74 people, mostly suspected Muslim militants, in detention under the ISA.

The ISA, which was enacted in 1960, was initially intended to combat the communist threat.

Detainees can be held for 60 days without legal counsel, and preventive detention can then be renewed every two years. Most detainees are held at the Kamunting detention centre.

The five detained

P. UTHAYAKUMAR, 46

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser. Self-proclaimed human rights lawyer. He was called to the Malaysian Bar on Jan 23, 1993.

He is also legal adviser to the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee. He was charged with two counts of sedition.

His brother, P. Waytha Moorthy, was also charged with sedition and he is overseas garnering support for Hindraf.

Uthayakumar is not new to controversy. On May 20, 2004, he flew to the United Kingdom to seek temporary asylum, alleging that he was being threatened and intimidated by the police.

M. MANOHARAN, 46

An economics graduate turned lawyer, Manoharan is legal adviser to Hindraf and a self-proclaimed human rights campaigner. He is also a DAP member.

He has been in practice for 15 years. He represented Uthayakumar, Ganabatirau and Waytha Moorthy when they were charged with sedition two days before the Nov 25 rally.

He also represented the widow of Mount Everest climber M. Moorthy last year in the controversial case where the former army commando was buried according to Muslim rites.

R. KENGADHARAN, 40

Another Hindraf legal adviser. Handles civil cases at Kuala Lumpur High Court. He has his own law firm in Petaling Jaya where he was arrested yesterday.

It is learnt that police had tailed him from Shah Alam before nabbing him. He was the first to be arrested in yesterday’s operation.

V. GANABATIRAU, 34

Another Hindraf legal adviser. Ganabatirau is also adviser to the DAP Sri Muda branch in Shah Alam.

He does civil cases. His name was included in a court order banning the proposed rally on Nov 25.

K. VASANTHA KUMAR, 34

A senior executive at Malaysia Building Society Berhad, he was Hindraf’s coordinator and his name was used in the application for a police permit for the Nov 25 rally. The application was rejected.

Vasantha Kumar held a briefing for Hindraf supporters in Batu Caves, a week after the Nov 25 rally. He told them that their “struggle” would continue.

Tags: hindraf