Vwaishnavi’s 6th Birthday Wish at The Royal Palace and Parliament Lobby – Abolish ISA, Free My 5 Uncles and Pray for the Safe Return of My Father from London
Hindu Rights Action Force leader P Waythamoorthy's daughter approached parliamentarians on 21.05.08 on her birthday, requesting the government to release the five Hindraf members detained under the draconian securities law. She also wished for the safe return of her father from London. Coincidently she was six and her request for these six is very symbolic to her.
Accompanied by her mother K Shanthi and several other Hindraf delegates, Vwaishhanavi celebrated her birthday in the Parliament lobby and delivered roses to members of Parliament present. She also took the opportunity to present a cake and her birthday wish was written in a card handed to the King earlier that day at the Royal Palace. Her wish was simply for the King to grant her birthday wishes on his Birthday on 7th June 2008. Had vwaishnavi done this at the gates of Buckingham Palace and House of Commons she would have been an overnite celebrity. The western world would have seen this young HUMAN RIGHTS BABY in a different light altogether.
Surprisingly, the delegation was earlier stopped at the gates of Parliament, denying them entry. However authorities allowed them in as opposition MPs approached to welcome the delegation.
Nevertheless it is very disheartening to note that such gesture by Vwaishhanavi to celebrate her birthday at Parliament did not auger well for the Home Affairs Minister of Malaysia, who was quick to rebut on the occasion of the celebration.
The Government has failed to realize the Parliament is free to be used by the Public, provided the usage is sanctioned and kept under control. We find that such rebut by the Home Affairs Minister is uncalled for. Furthermore, if the elected representatives are free to use the Parliament as they wish, I believe we as Public who voted these elected representatives are more privileged in doing so.
When we bring our demands to the Street it is welcomed with tear gas and chemical water cannon and Police brutality. Later our Valentine Day’s gesture was also welcomed the same. Now in Parliament a child making her birthday wishes is also wrong. Even a mother’s request to ensure her son is given proper medical treatment whilst under ISA detention is not heard. If the Government of the day knows what is right for us to do, please speak up. We are ever willing to hear. Tell us what will satisfy the Government in order for us to get the 18 demands across to be implemented by the Government. We have now proven that ours is a peaceful struggle, only to ensure the plight of the 70% of the lowest strata in the Indian Community is looked into by the Government.
At the launch of Unity Month on 25.05.08, the Deputy Prime Minister in his speech said that “it was important for Malaysians to identify themselves as Bangsa Malaysia and not by their race. He said the creation of Bangsa Malaysia was not something that was unrealistic. “We just have to put it in our minds that when we look at another Malaysian, we do not identify him or her from the colour, religion or her cultural background. “The person should be just another Malaysian whose nobility, strength and character values transcend the colour of his skin,”.
If what is said to be practised, then we call upon the Government to set aside the differences and take the Indian Community plight as a Malaysian and not a race issue and accept that HINDRAF’s struggle is just another group of concerned Malaysians whose nobility, strength and character values transcend all boundaries to see a less divided Malaysia, living as truly Malaysians.
A HUMBLE HINDRAF SUPPORTER
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