Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR943
2008-10-24 09:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
POLICE ARREST 11 HINDRAF SUPPORTERS AT PM'S OFFICE
how-toVZCZCXRO3190 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0943 2980955 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 240955Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1822 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0507 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0814 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000943
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM MY
SUBJECT: POLICE ARREST 11 HINDRAF SUPPORTERS AT PM'S OFFICE
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 913 -- GOM BANS HINDRAF
B. KUALA LUMPUR 810 -- UPROAR OVER ISA
UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000943
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM MY
SUBJECT: POLICE ARREST 11 HINDRAF SUPPORTERS AT PM'S OFFICE
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 913 -- GOM BANS HINDRAF
B. KUALA LUMPUR 810 -- UPROAR OVER ISA
1. (SBU) Police arrested 11 Hindu Rights Action Force
(HINDRAF) supporters, including K. Shanti, wife of defacto
exiled HINDRAF Chairman Waytha Moorthy and brother to HINDRAF
leader P. Uthayakumar, on October 23 while the group
attempted to deliver a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah
Badawi's office in the administrative capital Putrajaya. The
letter, written by Waytha Moorthy's six-year old daughter,
asked for the release of five HINDRAF leaders, detained
without trial under Internal Security Act since December
2007. The supporters sought the release of HINDRAF leaders
prior to Deepavali, a major Hindu religious holiday held this
year on October 27. Police indicated they detained the group
under the Societies Act for illegal assembly. According to
the act, which the Home Ministry also used on October 15 to
ban HINDRAF, public assemblies larger than five persons
require a police permit. Per our sources close to the scene,
the 11 supporters avoided displaying any identification as
HINDRAF members due to concern over arrest for association
with an illegal organization.
2. (SBU) According to media reports, police offered to
release Shanti late on October 23 so she could take home her
six-year-old daughter, P. Vwaishhnnavi, rather than spend the
night in jail, but Shanti refused the offer out of solidarity
with the other 10 detainees. On the morning of October 24,
police released Shanti on police bail, and brought the
remaining 10 HINDRAF supporters before a magistrate. Court
proceedings moved slowly on October 24, in part because the
police did not allow the detainees to have access to lawyers
the night before. Police sought to remand the detainees for
two weeks while police investigated. The Magistrate instead
ordered the detainees remanded for three days, indicating
possible release the day before Deepavali. About 50 HINDRAF
supporters and family members were present outside the
courthouse, but along with journalists, were denied entry to
the proceedings.
KEITH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM MY
SUBJECT: POLICE ARREST 11 HINDRAF SUPPORTERS AT PM'S OFFICE
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 913 -- GOM BANS HINDRAF
B. KUALA LUMPUR 810 -- UPROAR OVER ISA
1. (SBU) Police arrested 11 Hindu Rights Action Force
(HINDRAF) supporters, including K. Shanti, wife of defacto
exiled HINDRAF Chairman Waytha Moorthy and brother to HINDRAF
leader P. Uthayakumar, on October 23 while the group
attempted to deliver a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah
Badawi's office in the administrative capital Putrajaya. The
letter, written by Waytha Moorthy's six-year old daughter,
asked for the release of five HINDRAF leaders, detained
without trial under Internal Security Act since December
2007. The supporters sought the release of HINDRAF leaders
prior to Deepavali, a major Hindu religious holiday held this
year on October 27. Police indicated they detained the group
under the Societies Act for illegal assembly. According to
the act, which the Home Ministry also used on October 15 to
ban HINDRAF, public assemblies larger than five persons
require a police permit. Per our sources close to the scene,
the 11 supporters avoided displaying any identification as
HINDRAF members due to concern over arrest for association
with an illegal organization.
2. (SBU) According to media reports, police offered to
release Shanti late on October 23 so she could take home her
six-year-old daughter, P. Vwaishhnnavi, rather than spend the
night in jail, but Shanti refused the offer out of solidarity
with the other 10 detainees. On the morning of October 24,
police released Shanti on police bail, and brought the
remaining 10 HINDRAF supporters before a magistrate. Court
proceedings moved slowly on October 24, in part because the
police did not allow the detainees to have access to lawyers
the night before. Police sought to remand the detainees for
two weeks while police investigated. The Magistrate instead
ordered the detainees remanded for three days, indicating
possible release the day before Deepavali. About 50 HINDRAF
supporters and family members were present outside the
courthouse, but along with journalists, were denied entry to
the proceedings.
KEITH