Open Letter to PM to release H5

Release the ISA detainees for the sake of democracy, justice and freedom.

It is very disheartening to know that Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is still holding the innocent five HINDRAF members in prison under the name of “national security”. In a true sense, the police until now, unable to provide any evidence that these people are threat to national security. The detainment actually got nothing to do with so call national security it is more looks like they (Badawi and the gang) cannot accept the mistakes they have done to Indians for past 50 years. In other words, they prefer to be in the state of denial rather than accepting the truth that the Indians were marginalized in this country under the BN’S rule. Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar stated that these five detainees has political motive behind their actions. What is wrong if they have political motive especially if it is a genuine one. What is wrong for them to voice out the Indians’ grievances whether you call it with political motive or not. How could you become a Home Minister without a political motive? If those who have political motives need to be thrown in jail, you deserve that too. Abdullah Badawi must realize that detaining the five HINDRAF members who represents the community is similar to detaining all the Indians in the country. Disrespecting them is equivalent to disrespecting the community, disrespecting the democracy and disrespecting the justice. What they did was to request justice for the marginalized Indian minority group and they were practicing their constitutional right of freedom of speech by organizing a peaceful gathering to hand over a memorandum to the British Embassy on 25th November, 08. Ahmad Badawi, if you are unable to provide solutions to their demands than you can choose not to respond. But what is the necessity for you to give them such a harsh punishment?

If you have truly repented on your past mistakes, if you had learned your lessons from the 8th March election, if you are really listening to rakyat, then you must release the ISA detainees immediately without any conditions attached. In fact, you should also apologies for your irresponsible action of arresting them and the way you treated the innocents during the peaceful gathering on 25th November, 2008. But unfortunately, you are not showing any signs of repentance. You are just adding salt to the wound. By doing this, you are just accumulating more hatred against you and your UMNO led government. Now, not only Indians hates you, in fact Malays, Chinese and others too. You can clearly see this happening around you. The respect many Indians have on you is fading away or maybe faded already. Surprisingly, even your loyalist Samy Vellu is advising you to release them. The Malays, Chinese and Indians have clearly sent their protest vote (voice) and message during the 8th March election. What type of other messages are you looking for to release them? Why delay further. This is rakyat’s voice, release them immediately. I wonder what you meant when you said that you have learned from your mistakes during the post election announcement. The five poor fellows are allowed to get rotten in the prison for unjustified reasons and so far no action has been taken to release them. Ahmad Badaw, if you are a genuine leader, then at least give them a fair trial in the court of law. Don’t treat them like this. I really wish the people, the public, the opposition and even UMNO will throw you out from all the government positions as soon as possible for the sake of democracy, justice and freedom. Thanks to those who are working towards it. As a Malaysian, I am definitely one of them.

From A True Malaysian seeking democracy.
Dated : 10th April 2004