ID :
26537
Sat, 10/25/2008 - 19:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/26537
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Detained Hindraf supporters being quizzed
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 25 (PTI) A total of 10 supporters of a
banned Hindu rights group, detained near the Prime Minister's
office while demanding release of their five leaders, are
being quizzed for assisting "an illegal organisation" and may
face a maximum five years' imprisonment if convicted.
This was the first batch of supporters of the Hindu
Rights action Force (Hindraf) to be picked up by police on
Thursday since the group was banned by the Government on
October 15.
The ten Hindraf supporters had gone to the Prime
Minister's Office to hand over a memorandum calling for the
release of five of their leaders held under the controversial
Internal Security Act.
The ten were remanded for three days for helping an
illegal organisation, media reports said here Saturday.
Conviction under the Societies Act for assisting an illegal
organisation carries a penalty of 15,000 ringgit (1.80 lakh
rupees) and a maximum sentence of five years.
Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy's wife Shanti was
released on bail on Thursday night itself while two others
arrested supporters of the group had to be hospitalised.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the action
against the Hindraf should not be construed as a clampdown on
Indians or Hinduism, adding that it was taken "because of
their association with militancy and their extremist views,"
local media reported.
"We are very clear on this and I don't offer any
apologies for taking action in order to protect the peace,
security and harmony of the country," the minister said
commenting on the arrest of the 10 Hindraf supporters.
Referring to the status of the passport of Wayathamoorthy
who was in self-imposed exile in London, Syed Hamid said it
was the British authorities who had seized the travel document
of the ethnic Indian activist.
The minister said the Hindraf leader's passport was
seized in London upon Waythamoorthy's return from an overseas
trip and was then sent to the Malaysian High Commission.
"I have given the instruction for the passport to be
returned to him. The travel document was never cancelled. It
expires in 2010," he said.
Asked why the passport was seized, he said the British
authorities did so based on their police-to-police network
information, which showed that the activist was under
investigation and had charges levelled against him. PTI J.B.
RKM
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banned Hindu rights group, detained near the Prime Minister's
office while demanding release of their five leaders, are
being quizzed for assisting "an illegal organisation" and may
face a maximum five years' imprisonment if convicted.
This was the first batch of supporters of the Hindu
Rights action Force (Hindraf) to be picked up by police on
Thursday since the group was banned by the Government on
October 15.
The ten Hindraf supporters had gone to the Prime
Minister's Office to hand over a memorandum calling for the
release of five of their leaders held under the controversial
Internal Security Act.
The ten were remanded for three days for helping an
illegal organisation, media reports said here Saturday.
Conviction under the Societies Act for assisting an illegal
organisation carries a penalty of 15,000 ringgit (1.80 lakh
rupees) and a maximum sentence of five years.
Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy's wife Shanti was
released on bail on Thursday night itself while two others
arrested supporters of the group had to be hospitalised.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the action
against the Hindraf should not be construed as a clampdown on
Indians or Hinduism, adding that it was taken "because of
their association with militancy and their extremist views,"
local media reported.
"We are very clear on this and I don't offer any
apologies for taking action in order to protect the peace,
security and harmony of the country," the minister said
commenting on the arrest of the 10 Hindraf supporters.
Referring to the status of the passport of Wayathamoorthy
who was in self-imposed exile in London, Syed Hamid said it
was the British authorities who had seized the travel document
of the ethnic Indian activist.
The minister said the Hindraf leader's passport was
seized in London upon Waythamoorthy's return from an overseas
trip and was then sent to the Malaysian High Commission.
"I have given the instruction for the passport to be
returned to him. The travel document was never cancelled. It
expires in 2010," he said.
Asked why the passport was seized, he said the British
authorities did so based on their police-to-police network
information, which showed that the activist was under
investigation and had charges levelled against him. PTI J.B.
RKM
The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain
proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments
contained in it.
