Date:08/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/08/stories/2007120860861500.htm

International

Hindraf never established links with LTTE, says Uthayakumar

P.S. Suryanarayana

There is possibility that Internal Security Act will be invoked: Hindraf leader
He has challenged Attorney-General and police chief to produce evidence

SINGAPORE: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Friday ordered the police to “monitor” the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) “closely.”

A few hours earlier, Hindraf leader and legal adviser P. Uthayakumar said the group had never established any link with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. He told The Hindu over telephone from Kuala Lumpur that the “baseless” allegation was first made by Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail in a sessions court at Shah Alam on Wednesday.

The case related to the detention of 31 ethnic Indians on the charge of attempting to murder a police official in front of a temple on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur a few hours before the Hindraf organised a mass protest rally there on November 25. All the accused, followers and sympathisers of this group, were refused bail pending trial.

Mr. Uthayakumar said he strongly “objected” to the Attorney-General’s remarks in the court and, thereafter, judge Azimah Omar “expunged” the allegations.

However, Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan said in a statement on Thursday that investigations revealed “signs” that the Hindraf “has been actively canvassing for support and assistance from terrorist groups.”

‘Produce proof’

Mr. Uthayakumar said he had now written to Mr. Patail and Mr. Hassan challenging them to “produce evidence.”

Asked whether the Malaysian authorities brought charges against any Hindraf leader for organising the rally against “marginalisation” of the ethnic Indian minority, Mr. Uthayakurmar said “nothing” of that nature was initiated.

However, many protesters were being proceeded against.

As for his letter to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, alleging “ethnic cleansing” of Malaysian Indians, no legal case was slapped on any Hindraf leader at this stage.

Mr. Uthayakumar, however, said there was a possibility that the Internal Security Act, with its provision for detention without trial, would be invoked on the basis of the allegations of links between the Hindraf and some terrorist groups.