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| Southeast Asia |
| Malaysia arrests activists - Hindu activists |
| 2007-11-24 |
| Three Hindu activists in Malaysia have been charged with sedition over plans to stage a rally in the capital to air the grievances of ethnic Indians. They are seeking reparations from the UK for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers a century ago. The activists also demand measures to improve the living standards of Hindus. But the government has banned the event, saying it could inflame racial tensions. It warned that anyone trying to take part would be arrested. The three detained on Friday include the chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy, and two of his associates. Hindraf hopes to hold a demonstration outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The three men were later charged with making seditious comments - and could face up to three years in jail if convicted. The government has set up a security cordon around Kuala Lumpur, and banned the rally citing possible violence. Malaysia bans public meetings of more than five people without a police permit. Ethnic Indians - mainly Hindus - form one of Malaysia's largest minority groups. Activists say that many Hindus live in poverty, partly because of policies granting jobs and economic advantages to the ethnic Malay Muslim majority. The government has rejected claims of unfair discrimination. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #1 They are seeking reparations from the UK for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers a century ago. This is pretty nutty. Based on CIA factbook numbers, the average Malaysian is way better off than the average Indian. And there's nothing preventing these people from returning to India. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2007-11-24 19:05 |