Nearly three hundred ethnic Indian sup****ters with flowers in their
hands, of a Hindu rights group defying a ban today tried hold a rally
near Parliament house in lieu thereof gathered in Independence
Square in downtown Kuala Lumpur for their demand to more rights for
the minority community.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admits that Public protests and
anger within the Indian community possibly have an impact on how the
government fares in the general elections.
To contain the protest the Malaysian police Saturday fired tear gas
and chemical laced water cannons to disperse ethnic Indians gathered
in the capital city,Kuala Lumpur.
"It is an embarrassing attack on the Indian community and on people
who just wanted to hand over flowers to the prime minister," said
R.Thanenthiran, one of the rally organisers.
Police said it detained at least 20 sup****ters of the non-governmental
Hindu Rights Force (Hindraf) which organized the "illegal" rally, days
after announcing plans that its members would march to the Parliament
house along with a group of children led by the organisation's chief
Wayathamoorthy's five-year-old daughter Vvaishnnavi.
Hindraf member and lawyer N Surendran, however, claimed that at least
60 people, including two leaders of the organisation, have been
detained in a police crackdown since late last night.
Police had earlier refused a permit for the gathering to Hindraf for
holding the rally outside Parliament blocking their way with
barricades along main roads leading to the building.Ethnic Indians
are marginalised in terms of education, wealth and op****tunities.
Notwithstanding the ban, some 300 people managed to gather at a nearby
building shouting "Long Live Hindraf" and "We want our rights."
Vvishnnavi wanted to present roses to Premier Abdullah Badawi and had
last month written a letter to him urging him to be present at the
Parliament house to receive the Valentine flowers from her and other
children.
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