_______________
Media Conference (2)         
by Lim Kit Siang  
__________________

(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): The promise by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to look into the plight of the Indian community after meeting with 14 Indian NGOs yesterday is proof of the legitimacy of the grievances of long-standing political, economic, educational, social, cultural and religious marginalization of the Malaysian Indians and the Nov. 25 Hindraf gathering of 30,000 people despite groundless Hindraf allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Malaysian Indians.

It is also proof of the complete irrelevance of the MIC as the Barisan Nasional component party for the Indians and the utter failure of Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu after over 28 years as the MIC President and sole Indian Cabinet Minister to the extent that he had been reduced to the pathetic role of a silent observer and note-taker at the meeting yesterday.

The question that Samy Vellu and all MIC leaders have to answer is why they are so articulate in their declaration that the Hindraf allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide are baseless and irresponsible but yet so cowardly and dumb in not daring to declare that the grievances of Malaysian Indians at their long-standing marginalization as equal and rightful citizens of Malaysia is a real and genuine one � and that the 30,000 Malaysian Indians from all over the country who responded to the Hindraf rally on Nov. 25 was a cry of desperation to the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional Government for attention and action to end their marginalization and not a gathering riot or turmoil over the baseless allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

It has been reported that an appeal had been made to the Prime Minister at the meeting yesterday that the five Hindraf leaders and activists, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan and T. Vasantha Kumar should be released from detention under the Internal Security Act and charged in court if they are guilty of any offences against the law.

There was also the call for the release of the 31 persons charged with the offense of �attempted murder� of a policeman at Batu Caves on 25th November 2007 and who had been denied bail.

The Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail is guilty of selective and malicious prosecution in charging the 31 persons, and he has said that there is an ongoing manhunt for at least another 30 persons for the same offence of �attempted murder�.

All the 31 should not only be released immediately from the Sungai Buloh Prison where they had been detained since the denial of bail, but the ridiculous charges of �attempted murder� against the 31 should be dropped and the manhunt for another 30 under the same charge of �attempted murder� cancelled.

Is Samy Vellu and MIC leaders prepared represent in Cabinet and Parliament the sentiments not only of Malaysian Indians but all Malaysians, firstly, that the Hindraf Five should be released immediately from detention under the ISA and be charged in court for any offence to allow an open trial to be held where they could defend themselves against any charges against them; and secondly, that the ridiculous charge of �attempted murder� against the 31 and the manhunt for another 30 should be dropped immediately.
 

(15/12/2007)