2nd December, 2007 : Saffron Sunday
November 29, 2007
In my ‘observation of the rally’ post, I noted that I saw a lot of determined people in the rally.
Someone sent me a whole series of photos.
These say it all.
He steels himself for what is to come.
Go on, do the worst that you can do, for I walk the path of righteousness and I shall fear no evil.
The force unleashed.
Do what you will, I will not waiver from my quest for justice.
No disrespect intended to the Hindraf leadership, but these were the heroes of 25/11.
These are the fellow Malaysians whose determination and resolve for justice the rest of us must emulate.
Can we?
Brave commentators in this blog, can you?
Bobsam wrote in a comment :
What do u say, this weekend, we all light a candle for our country. MALAYSIA!
Bobsam, I say let us take it further.
I say civil society adopt the march on 25/11 by our brothers and sisters as our rallying call to end marginalisation, deprivation and neglect of any and all Malaysians.
I say we commemorate their sterling lesson of bravery and determination this Sunday, 2nd December, 2007, say round about 8.30pm, by getting our friends together and, wherever we are, lighting candles.
PM is reported to have threatened the use of the ISA.
Let us light candles this Sunday to send out a message that we will not be bullied.
Let us call 2nd December, 2007 Saffron Sunday.
November 29, 2007 at 12:47 am
hi haris,
I was reading http://www.policewatchmalaysia.com and i learned that the so called petition that was faxed to UK embassy in jln ampang was fake and false. please read on…
HINDRAF
Hindu Rights Action Force
No. 135-3-A, Jalan Toman 7,
Kemayan Square,
70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Malaysia. Tel : 06-7672995/6
Fax: 06-7672997 Email waytha@hotmail.com
MEDIA STATEMENT (1)
28-11-2007
1. HINDRAF PETITION DATED 25.11.2007 WAS NEVER FAXED TO BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION.
2. 10 MEMBER HINDRAF DELEGATION TO PRESENT PETITION AND 200, 000 SIGNATURES TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN LONDON.
3. IT’S QUEEN ELIZABETH THEY NOW WANT (HAVING FAILED TO SUBMIT THEIR MEMORANDUM TO THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION, HINDRAF HAS NOW PLEDGED TO TAKE IT DIRECTLY TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II (NST 26-11-2007 PAGE 6).
4. OCPD CHERAS HINDRAF SPOKESMAN!
We refer to the wide local print and electronic media reports today that the British High Commissioner did not receive the fax copy of our petition. To start off with at all material times the original Petition dated 25-11-2007 addressed to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was in the possession of our legal adviser Mr.P.Uthyakumar who was from 7.30a.m onwards on 25-11-2007 held back by the police warnings, the police tear gas firings and police water cannon shootings near KLCC.
Mr.P.Uthayakumar and / or any Hindraf member and / or office bearer and / or their Solicitors had never faxed the said petition to the British High Commission.
In fact on 25.11.2007 at numerous press conferences in and around KLCC from 7.30a.m onwards to the local and foreign media Mr.P.Uthayakumar had specifically stated that as the police stopped and /or profited and or and / or hindered Hindraf from delivering the said Petition and the 200, 000 over signatures to the British High Commission, Hindraf has decided that a 10 member delegation would travel and directly present the same to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London at the earliest convenience. This was also specifically mentioned by Mr.P.Uthayakumar in the live T.V interview with Al Jazeera at 5.00p.m on 25.11.2007. (visit http://www.Al Jazeera/Malaysia) Also visit the scores of other foreign reports and wire services AP, AFP, BBC, CNN, Kyodo, Malaysiakini etc.
Even the UMNO controlled New Straits Times confirmed this in their newsreport. “It’s Queen next stop, Buckingham Palace!” “Having failed to submit their memorandum to the British High Commission, Hindraf has now pledged to take it directly to Queen Elizabeth II. Hindraf legal adviser P.Uthayakumar said that they would get a second bite at the cherry when they go to London in mid-January”.
Please take note that the whole of the local print and electronic media reports never stated which Hindraf leader confirmed that the said petition was faxed to the British High Commission. This is because there was none.
The only person who confirmed on TV2 / TV3 and / or the print and electronic media that Hindraf had faxed their petition to the British High Commission was the OCPD of Cheras P/ACP Ahmad Amir Bin Mohd Hashim who is believed to have done so on the instructions of Tan Sri Musa Hassa, the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
We cannot remember issuing a Hindraf membership card to the OCPD of Cheras or the IGP and since when has the OCPD of Cheras been the spokesman for Hindraf?
This is a clear conspiracy by the UMNO controlled police and media to tarnish the good image of Hindraf with the view that Hindraf would lose the popular grassroots support it now enjoys. UMNO has been particularly taken aback by the 100,000 over people power Hindraf peaceful assembly at K.L on 25-11-2007.
We would not bother lodging an official police report for the publication of this false news, sedition or criminal defamation as we do not expect the police to investigate their own crimes. In any event thousands of our police reports against the police and the UMNO controlled Malaysian government has never been investigated nor criminal prosecution ever initiated.
Thank You,
Yours Faithfully
P.Uthayakumar
Legal Adviser
November 29, 2007 at 1:17 am
I will stand beside you with my candle lighted.Just say WHERE and I’ll be there. Each state should follow suit.Call it Candlelight Sunday…(just my suggestion).
November 29, 2007 at 2:32 am
One lone lit candle will be stand vigil at my front gate this Sunday 2nd December at 8.30pm.
*Errr..bro. This is not another crowd gathering somewhere with a lit candle in hand, right? Or is it? And I hope my neighbor will not think I’ve gone deviationistic with a re-celebration of Eid Mubarak*
November 29, 2007 at 8:35 am
Bless them, I could not have stood the direct blow by the water cannon, what’s more with the stinging chemical in it.
November 29, 2007 at 8:48 am
Dear Haris,
I was there to witness these events.
One thing I m quite sure, these were one determined lot.
Never have I seen such united and peaceful Malaysian Indians in a group.
And the beauty of it, none of us uttered what would be considered a racist remark.
I spoke to many people on that day. Most were not too concerned about the memo, queen of England or any riot etc.
None of them even thought the event to have racism element, although only Indians were there. They were truly Malaysian as they chanted “ Kami warganegara Malaysia juga’.
They were there just to show their displeasure. For the same reason I was there. The police did all their might. Tear gas, chemical water etc. We ran, only to come back to the same spot.
You are right. If these numbers are translated into votes, we would be seeing change very soon.
2nd December sounds like a really good idea.
Btw, tear gas was the most painful experience of my life.
November 29, 2007 at 10:03 am
Candlelight
Tealight
All those driving HONK your HORNs
synchronise timing only for full effect
sight and sound to be seen and heard
interesting
ISA for all, Kamunting that big ar??
Civil Disobedience is a force of nature
Maybe our acclaimed leaders who purport to read esoteric titles by esoteric authors should read and understand Voltaire and Rousseau
(and Lao Tze etc etc etc of course)
November 29, 2007 at 10:17 am
Count me in as well.
Saffron Sunday it is.
November 29, 2007 at 11:02 am
.
Haris,
Any fight for humanity can never be wrong.
It has had been proven ever since the very beginning of time.
Any light for hope is what the downtroddens need.
So that they know humanity has not forsaken them.
Ahhh .. what is better than to lend them a flicker of light(hope) in the dark.
.
November 29, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Yes, I will be lighting A candle on 2nd December 2007 at 8.30 pm in JB. May this light bring hope and justice to all who are oppressed. We will make a difference in this nation. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8213565807010058204
November 29, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Haris,
I was following all the postings leading up to and after the 25/11 rally. I did not have the opportunity to make much comments as many had already stole the words out of my mouth…i mean my mind.
I was there for the rally. I had a taste of the tear gas that landed just inches away from me. I had the opportunity to be blessed by the sprinkles of the chemical laced water. No, i was not one of those taking the brunt of the water canons and the tear gas. I was not carrying any flags, posters or photos of Gandhi either. But i was there to make sure that i was counted for. I saw how the FRU shot the tear gas horizontally straight into the crowd. I saw how many got hurt and suffered injuries from this flying cannisters that hit their faces and other body parts. I saw how the police pounced on an old man who was unarmed and not resisting arrest and manhandled him. That must have been proud moment for them as they managed to show their force and power onto an elderly man that was probably old enough to be their father…and it actually took about 4-5 of them to get the job done!. I saw how the police jumped and manhandled a pregnant woman. I saw how the police dragged one guy, who also did not resist arrest, on the road for about 7 meters. I also saw how one guy who lifted the spirits of some by washing his butt with the water canon. I saw how they were worked together throwing the tear gases back at the police or by extinguishing them with bottles of water. I heard youngster walking around saying “this land also belongs to us. We are also rakyat Malaysia”. It appeared that all the thrashing by the police and FRU just gave their spirit and patriotism a boost.
I saw the observer group from The Bar. They thought you guys were human rights lawyers who have come there to support the rally and you know what happened after that. You see Haris, weather you liked it or not, you were there in person and you were their inspiration for that short period of time. God works in funny ways i say.
Another point worth taking note was it was only the ‘government’s police’ that was there to disrupt the gathering. Otherwise, there was no obvious signs of any ‘elements’ planted there to cause any racial riots as feared by many (especially after kerismuddin’s press statement asking UMNO Youth to be patient). For that i thank all our Malay brothers who allowed the indians to express their greviences towards the government without any untowardly incidences.
Anyways, end of the day, i went back home feeling proud and contented. Seeing the solidarity of the people that day was all inspiring and all that, but when i went to bed that night the question that was bugging me was, what was going to happen after this. Where do we go from here?
HINDRAF has done the impossible by getting the Indians united. I think that the time has come for the indians to now join our Malay and Chinese brothers and make this a national struggle for the Rights of every Malaysian. That would be explosive.
So, Haris, do count me in for the saphron Sunday.
cheers
November 29, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I salute those who went and stood up to the threats of our government. Haris got it right. This is about human dignity. All the pictures of 25/11 have left a bitter taste in my mouth. I have been going around with a pent-up frustration that is waiting to burst. How I wish that God will answer my prayers of seeing justice in our country. I will pray unceasingly for justice. And I will also do whatever little I can to stand up for justice. I will start with lighting a candle for Saffron Sunday.
A Malaysian chinese.
peng,
Thank you.
Please help to spread the word.
November 29, 2007 at 6:32 pm
I will light my candle.
Tony,
Thank you.
Please tell friends.
Take photos and send them in with a little write-up. Will post them up.
November 29, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I will not only light my candle but inform 20 of my friends to light their candles too.
November 29, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Haris,
I will be out of town, but I will ensure that I hand out lit-candles.
I intend to ensure I have some candles lit outside my house too.
One Malaysia, many different people, come together for their country. One Malaysia.
BobSam,
If you’re lighting candles outside KL, send us photos and share with us a short note of the experience
November 29, 2007 at 11:13 pm
hi sir, will everybody light a candle for this letter?
qoute:
Hidraf threat to the British: We’re going to form a new Hindu terrorist wing in Malaysia!
Hindraf: final appeal to Queen Elizabeth II
HINDRAF
Hindu Rights Action Force
No. 135-3-A, Jalan Toman 7,
Kemayan Square,
70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Malaysia. Tel : 06-7672995/6
Fax: 06-7672997 Email waytha@hotmail.com
MEDIA STATEMENT
24-11-2007
Senior Private Secretary to Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II
Buckingham Palace 24.11.2007
London
and / or
c/o Ministry of Foreign Affiars
P.O.Box 7048,
Kampala, Uganda
Email: info@chogm2007.ug
Fax: +256-414-237310
The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA
( Courier & Fax:+44207925091
and/or
C/o Ministry of Foreign Affiars
P.O.Box 7048,
Kampala, Uganda
Email: info@chogm2007.ug
Fax: +256-414-237310
and / or
H.E.Don Mckinnon
Secretary General Commonweath
Commonwealth Secretariet
Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7747 6408
Email: info@commonwealth.int
Fax: +44(0)2078399081
and / or
C/o Ministry of Foreign Affiars
P.O.Box 7048,
Kampala, Uganda
Email: info@chogm2007.ug
Fax: +256-414-237310
Dear Sirs,
RE: 1. APPEAL TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT IN KAMPALA, UGANDA.
2. 50 YEARS OF OPPRESSION, SUPPRESSION AND MARGINALISATION OF EHNIC MINORITY INDIANS BY THE UMNO CONTROLLED MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT.
3. MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENTS’ CRACKDOWN ON PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY TO PRESENT PETITION TO H.M QUEEN ELIZABETH II ON 25/11/07.
With all due respect may we refer to the above matter and to our media statement enclosed herewith which is self explanatory. We hereby humbly appeal that your goodselves take the appropriate action accordingly
We have written one thousand over letters, memorandums, appeals, protest notes etc to the Prime Minister, Ministers Attorney General and Inspector General of Police and the other Malaysian authorities but they have neither replied to nor do they even want to even talk to us. They just go on with their oppression, suppression, marginalisation and persecution of these mere 8% ethnic Indians (95% Tamils) in Malaysian with impunity.
Our worst ‘fears’ are we do not want these Tamils to be forced into terrorism like what is happening in Sri Lanka.
On our part we are committed to a diplomatic, peaceful and legal means in our struggle for justice, democracy, the rule of law and humanity.
Thank You,
Yours Faithfully
P.Uthayakumar
Legal Adviser
013-3504711
dari http://mymassa.com/myvoice/
November 30, 2007 at 6:52 pm
[...] To quote from the The People’s Parliament:- [...]
December 1, 2007 at 10:29 am
My fellow Malaysians,
I used to tell everyone how proud I was to be Malaysian. After the recent events, I am embarassed to admit the same. Can’t the powers that be differentiate between a “demonstration” and a “peaceful gathering” ? My thoughts are that the “show of support” at the US Embassy last year, led by You Know Who was more of a demonstration. Anyway, did Dr. Rice even pay heed to the so called “petition” ? One law for KJ and Co., and one for us, is it ? Where were the teargas and water cannons then ? Oh, what short memories we Malaysians have.
Can we also pass a petition for our leaders to stop making fools of themselves in the international arena ? My overseas friends are appalled that we have voted these cretins into office. The latest gaffe being our LAw Minister warning the CM of Tamil Nadu to “mind his own business”. If this is the case, waht business do we have sending “official protests” to Myanmar, Palestine, etc. ? Can they tell our leaders to mind their own business ?
God save our land!