The police have arrested three key leaders behind the Hindu Rights Action Force
(Hindraf) - lawyers P Uthayakumar, P Waythamoorthy and V Ganapathy Rao, just as
the movement is preparing for a mass rally this Sunday.
Waythamoorthy, who is Hindraf chairperson, informed Malaysiakini of his
arrest via SMS (Short Messaging Service).
According to the lawyer, he was arrested at the Shah Alam toll plaza at about
3pm and was taken to the Selangor police headquarters in Shah Alam.
Ganapathy was arrested around the same time at the police headquarters where he
had gone to see Hindraf’s legal adviser and Waythamoorthy’s brother, Uthayakumar.
Uthayakumar was picked up at his office in Kuala Lumpur under the Sedition Act
this morning.
The three are expected to be taken to the Klang Sessions Court where they will
be charged with sedition.
“If I am charged, I don’t want to be bailed out as a matter of protest,”
Waythamoorthy told Malaysiakini in a SMS, adding that the Indian
community should be able to handle the Sunday rally on their own.
The arrests come ahead of a Hindraf-organised mass rally slated for this weekend
outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
First to be arrested
Uthayakumar was arrested at his legal firm in Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur at about
10.30am, said the lawyer’s employee K Vasan.
“He was arrested under the Sedition Act. Five police officers from IPK Shah Alam
picked him up,” he said.
On Monday, the police had raided Uthayakumar’s law office in Kuala Lumpur with a
warrant, in search of a publication deemed to be seditious in content.
Five police officers conducted a search of his office, while about 10 officers
searched another office operated by his brother and Hindraf chairperson
Waythamoorthy in Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
While the police left Uthayakumar’s office empty handed, they were said to have
seized certain documents from Wathyamoorthy's office.
The brothers are key activists in the planning of a mass rally on Sunday, which
has been banned by the police.
The rally is organised by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), in which
Uthayakumar serves as legal adviser.
Hindraf plans to gather 10,000 Indians to hand a memorandum addressed to the
Queen of England to support a class-action suit against Her Majesty’s government
for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for
150 years.
A total of US$4 trillion (RM14 trillion) is being sought for US$2 million for
every Indian residing in Malaysia.
Restraining order
Prior to the arrest, the police had gone to Uthayakumar's house in Bangsar to
serve him with a restraining order against participating in the rally.
The order, obtained from the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court, restrains
Uthayakumar, Waythamoorthy, lawyers M Mahonaran, Ganapathy, R Kengadharan and
all Hindraf supporters from participating in the gathering, on grounds that the
rally could endanger the public.
When contacted, Manoharan said he too has been served with the order which
prevents him and the others from going to the British High Commission for seven
days beginning on Nov 22.
“The notice was served on me at 7.50am today. The order was made under Section
98 of the Criminal Procedure Code by the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court,” he
said.
Section 98 grants the court powers to issue an immediate order in urgent cases
of potential nuisance.
According to Manoharan, the application for the restraining order was made by
the Cheras police station and served on him by officers from police headquarters
in Kuala Lumpur.
He said he will be making the necessary application to set aside the court
order.
Manoharan was one of four lawyers - the others being Uthayakumar, Waythamoorthy
and S Ganabathi Rao - arrested in Kampung Rimba Jaya in Padang Jawa, near Shah
Alam, during a fracas surrounding the demolition of a century-old Hindu temple
on Oct 31. They were later released.
What's the real reason for this Uthayakumar? written by Jeffrey John,
Friday, November 23 2007 02:55 pm
Wern't you the one not too long ago seeking asylum from the Queen because you feared for your life being threatened in Malaysia?
Is this a fresh avenue?
Jeffrey John
Assist in legal representation written by Kuna Nadasen,
Friday, November 23 2007 04:20 pm
Can the Human Rights Committee look into this on a urgent basis and to assist in the legal representation.
Kuna Nadasen
Uthayakamar's suit against England written by Alex Tan Ken Seng,
Friday, November 23 2007 04:22 pm
The proposed class-action suit reminds me of a book by American Stephen Grasse entitled "The evil empire - 101 ways that England ruined the world". At the end of the book, the author tries to quantify in monetary terms how much England owes the rest of the world.
Alex Tan Ken Seng
Released on bail written by MBW,
Friday, November 23 2007 06:35 pm
Hindraf leaders P. Uthayakumar, P. Waythamoorthy and S. Ganapathy Rao arrested today have been charged at Klang Sessions Court under the Sedition Act. They are released on RM800 bail each; case set for mention on Monday.
MBW
Assist in legal representation written by Edmund Bon,
Friday, November 23 2007 09:09 pm
Dear Kuna Nadasen
The Human Rights Committee is definitely prepared to assist in representation if required to do so.
We understand that the accused already have a team representing them as evidenced when 3 of them were charged for sedition today. On short notice, our Complaints and Intervention Strike-Force Chair, Amer Hamzah proceeded to the Klang court to hold a watching brief on behalf of the Bar Council and to provide any assistance required. We also decided that we will be monitoring the proposed rally by Hindraf this Sunday.
We will continue to follow developments. If there are any other suggestions on what we ought to undertake, kindly let us know.
Thank you.
Edmund Bon Chair, Human Rights Committee
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Circular No 020/2012: My Professional Indemnity Insurance Workshop (22 Mar 2012)
Wern't you the one not too long ago seeking asylum from the Queen because you feared for your life being threatened in Malaysia?
Is this a fresh avenue?
Jeffrey John