hindraf press statement – police viloates article 10; police state in the making

HINDRAF

135-3 JALAN TOMAN 7

KEMAYAN SQUARE

70200 SEREMBAN

NEGERI SEMBILAN

13TH MAY 2008-05-11

 
PRESS STATEMENT 12th MAY 2008

 
RE: MALAYSIAN POLICE VIOLATES ARTICLE 10 FEDERAL CONSTITUTION MALAYSIA DEGENERATING INTO A POLICE STATE

HINDRAF DEMANDS P.UTHAYAKUMAR BE GIVEN URGENT MEDICAL   TREATMENT AND ISA ABOLISHED.

HINDRAF condemns the conduct of the Malaysian Royal Police Force for acting above the constitution in arresting peaceful protesters who had gathered at Jalan Gurney Penang to protest the denial of fair and urgent medical treatment to P.Uthayakumar.
 
Protesters had dispersed after about 40 minutes when certain individuals were particularly targeted in the arrest in particular bloggers and a member of Penang Watch. The bloggers were filming the unlawful conduct of the Police when they were arrested and their films confiscated.

Concerned citizens from Suaram and other Human Rights bodies who witnessed this unlawful act had themselves arrested for lodging Police reports against the Police. It is disturbing to note the Police getting intimidated with Police reports lodged by members of the public and the trumped up charges against them for lodging police reports.
 
The act of arresting them is clearly high handed and intended to instil fear on the people not to question the conduct and authority of the police. Malaysia is a democratic country and the arrogant attitude of the Police coupled with the sanction of the Inspector General of Police on most occasions is definitely degenerating Malaysia into a Police State.
 
HINDRAF warns the Government that the people could not continuously be fooled into believing the propaganda advocated by the Police. The Police are losing credibility and confidence of the people and we hold the Inspector General of Police responsible for this gross violation of the  legitimate right of its citizens to hold peaceful protests in accordance to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.   
 
HINDRAF calls upon the Government to take heed of the grouses of the rakyat and immediately refer Mr.P.Uthayakumar to the National Heart Institute and take positive steps to table an act of Parliament to abolish the Internal Security Act.
 
HINDRAF expresses its greatest gratitude to supporters, Human Rights Organizations/activists and Parliamentarians who had attended the peaceful protests organised nationwide.

 
P.Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

Currently in London