| Decision to drop charges against 31 well received - New Straits Times |
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KUALA LUMPUR: Indian groups welcomed the move to drop attempted murder charges against the 31 Hindraf supporters who allegedly injured a policeman during an illegal assembly on Nov 25. However, 25 of them were charged and pleaded guilty at the Shah Alam Sessions Court yesterday to illegal assembly and causing mischief. All charges against the remaining five, who are students, were withdrawn. Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Pardip Kumar Kukreja lauded the move, saying this sent the right message about Malaysia to the world. "The Indian business community is very happy with the decision by the government." Malaysian Hindu Youth Council president K. Rasa Selvan also welcomed the decision. "We thank the government for being concerned and considerate, especially since there were youth, including students, involved," he said. "We also thank the prosecutors for dropping all the charges against the students. "We also hope the prime minister will consider bringing those detained under the Internal Security Act to court and that they be given a trial." Malaysian Hindu Dharma Mamandram secretary-general S. Ramesh said he was glad the government had considered their plea. Malaysian Tamil Youth Bell Club Council president Ponniah Peramban said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was concerned and had listened attentively during a meeting on Friday. "I feel this move is one of the outcomes of that meeting. I also hope more Indian problems will be solved in the future." Abdullah had assured leaders and representatives of 14 non-governmental organisations, led by Malaysian Hindu Council chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah, during a two-hour meeting at his office that the plight of the Indian community would be looked into and addressed accordingly. MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the move showed Abdullah's sensitivity and responsibility as a prime minister for all races. "We are very grateful to him for asking the attorney-general (Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail) to consider the appeal made by the accused's parents and family members. This has now brought about a much-welcomed decision "The MIC deeply appreciates the prime minister's move in lightening the burden of the families of those who were detained," he said in a statement. Several groups, including the MIC, had appealed to the attorney-general to drop the attempted murder charges against the 31. Some of the accused's parents had also made emotional pleas for their release. On Saturday, Abdullah urged the attorney-general to consider the parents' appeal. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz welcomed the attorney-general's decision. "I'm happy that the charges were dropped. We are not against Indians or after their blood but we are against any extremists, regardless of race," he said in the parliament lobby yesterday. The MCA also welcomed the decision. "The party reiterates its stand against illegal gatherings and street demonstrations and rejects accusations of Indian ethnic cleansing, as well as attempts to use foreign governmental bodies in our domestic affairs. "MCA wishes to reiterate that no race should be left out of mainstream economic development and that poverty eradication be carried out irrespective of race," it said in a statement. Source: New Straits Times - December 18, 2007
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Quote of the Day
Hinduism...gave itself no name, because it set itself no sectarian limits; it claimed no universal adhesion, asserted no sole infallible dogma, set up no single narrow path or gate of salvation; it was less a creed or cult than a continuously enlarging tradition of the God ward endeavor of the human spirit. An immense many-sided and many staged provision for a spiritual self-building and self-finding, it had some right to speak of itself by the only name it knew, the eternal religion, Santana Dharma...
Sri Aurobindo |