Hindraf31 - Latest Info

Hindraf 31: AG drops attempted murder charge
Soon Li Tsin Dec 17, 07 12:41pm

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail today dropped the attempted murder charge against 26 Hindraf supporters who were alleged to have gathered illegally at the Batu Caves temple in the early hours of Nov 25.

However two counts of causing mischief and illegal assembly against the 26 remain.Also dropped are all charges - for attempted murder, causing mischief and illegal assembly - against four students.In all 31 Hindraf supporters were charged with attempted murder of a policeman and they have been in remand since Dec 4 after being denied bail.

Representations were made by several Indian-based political parties, including MIC and MIC and some Indian-based non-government organisations for the attempted muder charge to be dropped against the 31.

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Hindraf 5: Supporters pray for freedom
AFP Dec 16, 07 2:03pm

Hindraf supporters today gathered near the Kamunting detention camp in Taping where the government is holding five of the movement's leaders and freed pigeons to demand their freedom.

The five leaders were detained under the country's controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) that allows for detention without trial last Thursday.

Organisers claimed that at least 2,000 activists took part in the gathering today.

These supporters held prayers in a nearby temple for their early release after police sealed the roads leading to Kamunting detention camp in the northern Perak state, rights campaigner RS Thanenthiran told AFP.

"These people are not terrorists. The government is escaping from the real issue that Indians are marginalised in Malaysia. We demand the immediate release of the detainees," he said, adding that the protest also aimed to rally support for families of the detainees.

"We released 36 pigeons - five for the ISA detainees and 31 for those in prison awaiting Monday's bail application - as a symbol of freedom for all of them," he said, noting there were no arrests despite a heavy security presence.

The 31 Indians were arrested after last month's protest outside the Batu Caves temple, north of the capital Kuala Lumpur. They face an attempted murder charge against a policeman who allegedly suffered head injuries.

Rights group Hindraf, whom Thanenthiran represents, is pushing for an end to discrimination of minority ethnic Indians in multi-racial Malaysia, which is led by the majority Muslim-Malay government.

The organistation enraged the government last month by mustering at least 30,000 people to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to highlight issues including a lack of economic opportunities and the destruction of Hindu temples. Police used tear gas, water cannon and baton charges to break up the protests.

More arrests possible

But the activists' demands seemed unlikely to be heeded as the government vowed more arrests under the ISA in order to maintain security ahead of possible elections early next year.

Mohamad Johari Baharum, deputy internal security minister told AFP that police have compiled a list of people who could be held under the ISA.

"The police have the list of names including some Hindraf members and politicians. Once they have sufficient evidence they will forward the names to the minister in charge of security.

"My advice to those who organise street protests and rumour mongers who circulate text messages -- stop it. If your don't, we will not hesitate to use the ISA," Johari said.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is the minister for internal security, is expected to call an election in the next few months.
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Who are the Hindraf 31?
Soon Li Tsin Dec 15, 07 3:41pm
Car-tinter S Sures, 18, was among those charged with attempted murder of police officer Dadi Abdul Rani during a demonstration at Batu Caves in the early hours of Nov 25, just before the mammoth Hindraf rally which rocked the city. Sures has a hole in his heart.

His mother S Viswanathan, 58, who openly wailed on hearing that her son was denied bail, said her son was not part of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) but was at the Batu Caves temple to pray for his health. When counsel GK Ganesan argued for bail for Sures, Shah Alam Sessions Judge Azimah Omar demanded to see his medical record. However, the lawyer and courts were pressed for time so the records could not be produced.

Subsequently, Sures - the youngest among the Hindraf 31 - was sent to the police lock-up. Sures is one of the 31 individuals who were denied bail on the grounds of national security reasons and the severity of the charges, which also included “causing mischief”.

Visibly distressed families broke down and cried foul over the harsh Dec 6 decision as the 31 will be incarcerated in Sungai Buloh prison for over a month until their trial begins on Jan 14 next year. Bail hearing on Monday However, the Shah Alam High Court will hear an appeal against the bail rejection decision on Monday.

Prior to this, 14 of the 31 were also charged for illegal assembly at Batu Caves at the Selayang Sessions Court on Nov 28. The 31 are accused of wounding officer Dadi during a demonstration at Batu Caves, the site of an important Hindu temple on the fringes of Kuala Lumpur.

At least 3,000 had gathered at the Batu Caves temple grounds in the early hours of Nov 25, drawing a stiff response from police who used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd and made 69 arrests. Later in the morning, more than 30,000 people gathered in the streets of Kuala Lumpur to protest against the marginalisation of ethnic Indians and the crowd again faced tear gas and water cannons.

While the focus has been on the top brass in Hindraf over the past few weeks, the 31 are in fact very ordinary people ranging from a 18-year-old boy to a 54-year-old odd-job worker.

Some are students, while a few are lorry drivers, and together they have a monthly estimated income of between RM500 to RM2,000. A number of them are expected to lose their jobs as a result of their long absence from work.

To compound their plight, some of their lawyers who are representing them, including Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar, had been arrested under the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.

Charged for attempted murder Malaysiakini compiles the list of the 31 individuals - some of whom are Hindraf members while others were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

1. SS Ganishen, 39, lorry driver.

2. K Raju, 42, driver. He is hard of hearing on one side.

3. R Sakthivel, 34, technician. In court, he told reporters that he left his bike when he passed by the Batu Caves temple to see what was happening. When he returned to his bike, the police arrested him.

4. K Ganapathy, 38, lorry driver.

5. K Sukumaran, 24, foreman.

6. S Kumaran, 25, farmer.

7. B Varatharaju, 32, foreman.

8. M Kuna Sekaran, 24, machine operator.

9. V Ganeson, 40, lorry driver.

10. L Thiyagarajan, 31, sales executive.

11. S Gunaa, 21, is a farmer. He only gets salary when there is work.

12. K Thinagaranpillay, 23, manager.

13. N Balamohan, 23, part-time worker.

14. K Gopinath, 27, store keeper.

15. R Suresh, 24, runs his own business.

16. G Suman, 20, runs his own business.

17. M Buwenthiran, 24, technician.

18. M Pushparathan, 21, technician.

19. S Tail Arasu, 26, despatch boy.

20. N Ramasamy, 43, is a driver. He is also a kidney patient. He showed his dialysis card in court but this was dismissed by judge Azimah as it did necessarily prove his health condition.

21. S Ramash Kumar, 22, student.

22. R Pushpanathan,19, despatch boy.

23. S Mugilan Dever, 20, student.

24. G Thinesh Kumar, 19, foreman.

25. T Kunalan, 28, machine operator.

26. S Sures, 18, car-tinter. He has a hole in the heart.

27. A Vasantarao, 19, student.

28. N Markandan, 54, odd-job worker.

29. K Raghu, 39, technician.

30. A Rayar, 30, had an engagement ceremony planned on Dec 7 that had to be cancelled. His occupation is unknown.

31. S Ravi, 33, lorry driver.