Hindraf should not become Umno's fool

 Hindraf should not become Umno's fool 

Author / Source: S Thayaparan / Malaysiakini.com (published on 16 Apr)

"Honestly, if you're given the choice between Armageddon or tea, you don't say 'what kind of tea?"

- Neil Gaiman

The question is why Hindraf should wait until April 18 to see which alliance comes to the altar. My answer is they should not. They should not wait hat in hand to see which disingenuous group comes a-calling but send out a message to their grassroots that they should vote as their conscience dictates.

Staying out of the elections is an unacceptable choice. As Rabindranath Tagore says, "You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water."

Hindraf's national adviser N Ganesan said, "We don't owe allegiance to any political party in the country, we owe allegiance to the people we represent," and I support this one hundred percent and would add "that most political parties have shown no allegiance to the people they claim to represent".

However, there is no way Umno would ever endorse the blueprint because by doing so, it would repudiate the racial power-sharing formula and the so-called social contract they jealously guard. In addition, always remember this election is a referendum on the decades-long Umno watch.

At this moment, Umno and BN, despite what Pakatan Rakyat partisans think, are playing the political game far more shrewdly than Pakatan. Caretaker PM Najib Razak is going out cash in hand to every major and minor sub-ethnic group to shore up support for his regime. His job depends on not whether his party wins but by the margin of victory.

Pakatan obviously realises that his cash handouts are gaining traction, which is why it made an about-turn and said that cash handouts would not end if they come into power after Pakatan and their supporters spent months decrying the horrid nature of Umno-BN's "money politics".

Right-thinking Malaysians have come to expect these kinds of reversals from Pakatan. This is why after months of acrimony, the DAP suddenly comes up with the Galang Patah declaration which predictably includes many points raised by the Hindraf blueprint. This of course follows a dodgy script when it comes to dealings with Hindraf. Remember the whole Indraf fiasco?

Political expediency

I have no idea on what basis DAP MP Charles Santiago (left) thinks that Pakatan is "not at war with Hindraf" since by the actions of their supporters and comments like"childish", the tone is anything but civil. However, Hindraf too has been politically inept in dealing with Pakatan. Calling Indian representatives of Pakatan "mandores" is a war cry in itself. Therefore, there is plenty of blame to go around.

By the way, there is nothing "childish" in the response of Hindraf to the Galang Patah declaration in the context of the "plagiarism" charges, unless of course you consider Nurul Izzah accusation of plagiarism on BN's manifesto childish?

However as Kua Kia Soong alluded in his article, concerning Hindraf's blueprint "Or could it be that incorporating Hindraf's proposals would pose a threat to the jostling for seats among the Indian leaders in Pakatan? If this realpolitik is indeed one of the reasons for the Pakatan-Hindraf fallout, it is a let-down of serious proportions for all Malaysians who hope for change in GE13."

I have heard much the same from Malay and Chinese representatives in Pakatan. Unfortunately, political expediency nearly always trumps commitment to principles or as Kua describes this phenomenon as "wise after the event". But then again, Pakatan is not the only player in this game.

Umno-BN has been playing this game for far too long. All these cash handouts to various communities are to split whatever cohesiveness Pakatan has tenuously cobbled together. If the question is supporting the devil you know versus the devil you do not, then the answer is simple.

You support the devil you do not simply because the devil you know through the MIC is the reason why the disenfranchised of the Indian community is in the state they are in now.

Pakatan may have been derelict in fulfilling whatever promise they made to the disenfranchised of the Indian community but the fact remains that the plight of these people are a direct result of the decades-long Umno hegemony through the MIC and the apathy of most Malaysians.

How damaging would it be to the Indian community if because of the inaction of Hindraf, the MIC gains a foothold again in BN? How damaging would it be, if honest politicians like Sungai Siput MP D Jeyakumar, who benefitted from the Hindraf wave and has shown honest support for the Hindraf cause, loses to an MIC candidate ?

There is no way that BN would replace the MIC. If they were serious about Hindraf, they would have dropped MIC a long time ago, but the reason they do not is that they realise that Hindraf would not be the running dogs, content to sit in their kennels until commanded to address the Indian community.

Moreover, as far as Pakatan is concerned, they assume that the Hindraf does not command the Indian vote because if they did, they would be upon you like bees on honey. The last thing I want for Hindraf, when after the slaying of the MIC beast, is to be the means in which it is reanimated again. This could happen if by some insane outcome Hindraf throws its support behind BN.

Race still matters

Hindraf has done much to be proud of. The movement is a constant reminder that race is still a factor in this election even though the rhetoric of Pakatan and BN with their Bangsa Malaysia and 1Malaysia kool aid is a lie that is propagated as truth or worse reality.

Hindraf has managed to induce BN to recognise the plight of the disenfranchised Indians by doing what they do best, enticing the electorate with "goodies" as evidenced in their manifesto.

Concerning Pakatan, the Galang Patah declaration is evidence no matter how hard revisionists claim otherwise, that Hindraf forced their hand in this issue. What needs to be done as a political social entity not beholden to any political party, is to see that these words from both alliances translate into action.

Hindraf cannot endorse BN and Umno because their record speaks for itself. They will not commit to the blueprint because it would mean the end of the culture of privilege that favours that Malays and they do not intend to extend said privilege to disenfranchised Indians.

And even if they did, it would be because they want another handout class to act as a buffer against those recalcitrant Pakatan Malays and the Chinese community. This is one political honey trap that should be avoided at all costs.

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Indians suffered 56 years of internal colonisation!

  Indians suffered 56 years of  

  internal colonisation!  

Author / Source: Joe Fernandez / http://borneoherald.blogspot.com

The departure of the British administrators from Malaya in 1957, ostensibly giving independence to the country, meant nothing to the Indian Nation.

Indians soon found that they had exchanged one colonial master for another, from the British to the Malay-speaking communities drawn from the Bugis, Javanese, Minang, Acehnese, Arab Muslims and Indian Muslims, among others. This was the Malay Nation, a people without territory in Singapore, Malaya, south Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and South Africa.

From the scourge of external colonisation, Indians have been experiencing internal colonisation since 1957, a crime under international law. Incidentally, it was internal colonisation by Khartoum which eventually led to South Sudan breaking away from Sudan with the blessing of the UN Security Council.

On that score alone, internal colonisation, Umno/BN is the sworn eternal and mortal enemies of the Indian Nation in Malaysia. It's neither possible to forgive nor forget what Umno/BN has done to the Indians.

It's not possible for Indians to do business, purely on moral grounds, with this evil coalition which has squatted on Indians more than half a century.

Indians must seize the moral high ground and reject Umno/BN completely

The last General Election, the 12th, was a watershed for Indians when the makkal sakthi – people power in Tamil – wave generated by Hindraf Makkal Sakthi unleashed a political tsunami and installed Opposition Governments, formed by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), in five states in Malaya and handed it Kuala Lumpur.

Alas, PR did little to roll back the policies institutionalized by 56 years of internal colonisation under Umno and its running dogs, the Barisan Nasional (BN). Neither is the Opposition making any attempts this time to woo the Indians despite 85 per cent of them voting against the BN in 2008. PR belabours under the delusion that Indians would automatically vote for them, having broken with BN the last time.

This 13th GE, Indians are in a league all by themselves, having not even one ethnic-majority seat in any legislature, despite nearly a million of them on the electoral rolls.

The community must seize the moral high ground and have nothing to do with the BN which, as the last GE proved, doesn't really need Indian votes to keep Putrajaya. Umno is more concerned about denying Indian votes to the Opposition and in return has offered the prospect of throwing some crumbs directly at the community instead of routing these through their political mandores in MIC and PPP. PR meanwhile has enthusiastically embraced the political mandore system being abandoned by Umno/BN.

PKR, the glue that holds Dap and Pas together in PR, was formed by the losing side after the proverbial falling out of thieves in Umno. Its aim is to replace Umno in the Federal Government.

New faces can be given the benefit of the doubt

Dap meanwhile has done a good job of wooing the urban and Chinese voters away from BN, on the verge of collapse on the eve of the GE.

Umno can no longer afford to give BN the seats where the Malays form the single biggest community but still less than 50 per cent. PR is set to sweep these seats from BN and Umno thinks it will have a better chance than its lapdog to retain the Malay voters.

Indians, having burnt their bridges with PR in the aftermath of 2008, have no reason to worry about the fate of the Opposition Alliance no matter what's in store for them. It's for the non-Indian urban and Chinese voters to save PR as their best vehicle to bring them to power in Putrajaya.

Indians must walk a lonely path in politics, even one that involves a spell in the cold or wilderness.

The community can give new faces, making their electoral debut in the 13th GE, the benefit of the doubt provided they endorse the Hindraf Blueprint. If both BN and PR candidates in a particular seat endorse the Blueprint, it's for the voters in that locality to decide among themselves which candidate appears more credible.

On balance, it would be difficult for Indians to endorse BN new faces given the ugly history of the coalition.

Alternatively, they can root for a 3rd candidate if there's one in the fray, provided the Blueprint is endorsed.

Not in Indian interest to see PR fail and crumble

If Hindraf fields candidates, probably under one common symbol and flag, Indians should naturally vote for this NGO as it offers them the best hope for the future. Indians decide in 67 parliamentary seats, and the related state seats, in Malaya. It's likely that Hindraf, win or lose, will garner more Indian votes than BN and PR combined and especially from among the underclass.

Hindraf and the new faces aside, Indians should vote against all incumbents. They can do this, not by abstaining or boycotting, but spoiling the ballots in protest against their marginalisation and disenfranchisement. Hopefully, there will be one million spoilt ballots to earn a place in world history and focus the attention of the international community and the UN on the plight of the Indian Nation in Malaysia.

Abstaining has been mentioned as a weapon so that the winners will know why they won i.e. the Indians didn't vote against them. The losers will know why they lost i.e. the Indians didn't vote for them.

If the last GE is any guide, the winners in this case would be the BN and PR the losers. It's the PR which needs Indian votes, not the BN.

Does the Indian community really want to see PR losing all its states? That would only strengthen Umno/BN, the sworn enemies of the Indian Nation, and make it all the more difficult to remove this scourge which has been plaguing the nation the last half century and more.

Ketuanan Melayu the great barrier to Indian advancement

Or should it take the position that the enemy (PR) of my enemy (Umno/BN) is my friend even if not so friendly.

Is it really in the Indian interest to see the return of BN stronger than ever or would it be more strategic to keep giving PR the chances that it obviously doesn't deserve but only until the ruling coalition has been driven out from Putrajaya? The only reason that Umno/BN is being respectful towards the Indians is because of the presence of PR. If PR is no longer around, Umno/BN will ignore the Indians once more like before 2008.

Some would say that there's method in madness if the Indians turn to the Opposition once again after having installed PR in Putrajaya. The odds are against the opposition peacefully assuming power in Malaysia as there are no free and fair elections in the country and it may be virtually impossible to overthrow BN through the ballot box.

Indians can have no part in Government unless and until the Sapu Bersih deviations and distortions of Article 153 in the Federal Constitution and the NEP are ended; the issue of statelessness dealt with; anti non-Malay minorities administrative laws be scrapped; Islam kept in its proper perspective as per Article 3 of the Federal Constitution which doesn't mention any official religion; the intrusion of Syariah and the Syariah Courts into civil law ended; forced and bogus conversions to Islam be outlawed; the bogus conversion of non-Muslims to Islam upon marring Muslims be outlawed; and Muslims be allowed to leave Islam without the sanction of the Syariah Court.

That's unlikely to happen as long as Umno continues its policy of ketuanan Melayu (Malay political domination and supremacy) -- a sick combination of Apartheid, Nazism, and Fascism, Communism, Political Islam and the caste system which allows no upward social mobility – driven by racism, prejudice and opportunism.

Now is not the time to play the devil's advocate. Hindraf Makkal Sakthi must announce its unconditional support for PR come the 13th GE although it has vowed No Free Votes.

It's more important for Indians at this stage to think about punishing, and even destroying Umno and BN, than to worry about what they can get out of a PR Government in Putrajaya.

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推介《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》这首歌 Perkenalkan lagu "Buangkan BN ke Tong Sampah" （更新：马来文歌唱版）

推介《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》这首歌

Perkenalkan lagu "Buangkan BN ke Tong Sampah"

（4月20日上午11时55分增加马来文歌唱版）

【编者按语】《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》这首歌，是人民之友部落格编辑部邀请一名年轻时尚音乐人作曲，由人民之友在吴连兴指导下，发挥集体智慧而共同完成的作品。

这首歌的推出，是柔佛州人民之友工委会继《柔州非政府组织第13届大选告人民书》的发表，以及漫画《把国阵抛弃到历史垃圾堆中》的推出之后，而做出的另一项努力和贡献。

这首歌的内容，就是表达马来西亚各族人民经历了55年种族压迫和霸权统治之后，首次向巫统主导的国阵统治阵营发动的全面大决战，面对群众斗争浪潮出现一股“不分敌友”、“只等招安”的逆流，而发出"认清敌人，认清朋友，不要再存幻想，不要再受欺骗，把国阵抛到垃圾堆里"的呼声。

点击此处下载《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》合唱版
点击此处下载《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》男声版
点击此处下载《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》女声版
点击此处下载《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》马来文男声版
点击此处下载《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》钢琴伴奏版
点击此处下载《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》伴奏版

点击此处下载《把国阵抛到垃圾堆里》中巫文歌词

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媒体对人民之友工委会4月9日关于《振林山宣言》声明的报导

媒体对人民之友工委会4月9日
关于《振林山宣言》声明的报导

【编者按语】工委会于2013年4月9日发表一篇题为“兴权会理应欢迎《振林山宣言》 进而争取“民联”更全面支持”的声明。隔日，分别获得《当今大马》（华文版）与《新加坡文献馆》两家华文网络媒体全文刊登。

华文平面媒体只有《星洲日报》与《东方日报》选择刊登声明里的其中两个内容：即（一）兴权会理应欢迎《振林山宣言》；（二）盼民主行动党让出一个印裔选民占不小 比例的国会议席予兴权会主席瓦达穆迪，以便他有机会以被边缘化的印裔族群代表身份，把废除《联邦宪法》153条文、要求民族平等的这个声音带进国会。

尽管工委会也将这篇声明英文译稿发送给国内所有的平面与网络英文媒体，可是，却没有一家英文报章或网站刊登有关讯息，甚至经常报道兴权会动态以及全文刊载工委会的相关声明的《自由今日大马》（FREE MALAYSIA TODAY）也是如此。这种罕见情况的发生，颇为耐人寻味。

1、《星洲日报》相关报导的扫描——

2、《东方日报》相关报导的扫描——

以下是部分华文网络媒体对有关声明的报导：

1、《当今大马》：兴权会应欢迎《振林山宣言》，争取民联支持
2、《新加坡文献馆》：柔佛州人民之友声明

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Hindraf should Welcome “Gelang Patah Declaration” to Gain More Comprehensive Support from “Pakatan Rakyat” 兴权会理应欢迎《振林山宣言》 进而争取“民联”更全面支持

     Hindraf should Welcome    

 “Gelang Patah Declaration” 

to  Gain  More  Comprehensive

Support from“Pakatan Rakyat”

兴权会理应欢迎《振林山宣言》 进而争取“民联”更全面支持 

 Statement issued by Sahabat Rakyat Johor Working Committee

Chinese version released on 9 April 2013

Hindraf Chairman Waytha Moorthy has been going on a 21-day Hunger Viratham (hunger strike) before the coming General Election. He intended to draw attention of both the UMNO-dominated BN ruling clique and Pakatan Rakyat (hereinafter referred to as the “PR”). The highlighted issues are the long term dilemma faced by the marginalized Indian communities and the demand of endorsing Hindraf’s “5-year Blueprint” by the political parties.

The Hunger Viratham got a very positive response from veteran leader of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Lim Kit Siang.  On the 31^st of March, he solemnly issued the “Gelang Patah Declaration” (hereinafter referred to as the “Declaration”) at the Gelang Patah Constituency in which he is contesting. DAP’s solution to the plight of the Indians are presented in the “Declaration”.

In our views, Hindraf should welcome this “Declaration” because (1) the 14-points declaration basically reflects the most pressing aspirations and demands of the Indian population; (2) the announcement was made in the form of solemn declarations by the most authoritative and well-known senior leader Lim Kit Siang, together with most of the Indian leaders within the party. It was announced in a Parliamentary Constituency which has a special significance in this General Election. The “Declaration” showed formal commitment by DAP and its release was witnessed by the people of all ethnic groups, as well as all the groups and political parties of the country.

Disappointing Statements by Ganesan

We the Sahabat Rakyat Johor Working Committee has committed to support the Waytha Moorthy led Hindraf’s struggle to liberate the Indian communities from their plight. A statement entitled “DAP's Blueprint for Indians is a Copy of Hindraf's” published by Ganesan in the name of the Hindraf advisor on 2^nd of Apr has caught our attention.

In our opinion, DAP leaders’ acceptance of Hindraf’s most pressing demands as the main content of “Declaration” is a positive move. According to Ganesan, that was an effort of DAP who copied Hindraf’s “5-year Blueprint” in order to fish the Indians’ votes. This kind of rhetoric is not convincing.

The Indian communities have been oppressed and enslaved in the past 55 years. It has been a known fact that the root cause is the institutionalized racism rule by the UMNO-led Perikatan and BN governments, who inherited the mantle of the British colonial power.

In his statement, Ganesan could not wait to question the DAP Penang government for what was being done in the past 5 years. He has clearly exposed his prejudice against DAP and over-demanding from the Penang state government.

The next day (3 April), Ganesan released another statement entitled Hindraf Dares Kit Siang for an Open Debate. He challenged Lim Kit Siang to openly debate the proposition that “DAP Gelang Patah Plan for the Indians is not a sincere plan to address the problems of the Indian poor in comprehensive and permanent ways”.

We are in the view that Ganesan, on the other hand, should challenge the president of UMNO and BN, Najib to debate the proposition that “Institutionalised racism ruling by the UMNO-dominated Alliance Government and Barisan Nasional Government is the root cause of the enduring oppressed, discrimated and marginalised predicament of the Indian, Chinese and other ethnic minorities in our country”. This debate willl only be educational to all ethnic communities who have been oppressed, discriminated and marginalised for 55 years.

In an interview by Free Malaysia Today, Ganesan emphasized the favourable outcome from the “informal contacts” following the meeting between Hindraf and Najib. He also looked forward a second formal meeting with Najib. It’s inevitable to associate Ganesan’s behaviour with his strong interest of accepting the “enlistment” by Najib.

No More Illusion Towards BN Ruling Clique

Two faces against suqiu

UMNO-dominated Alliance Government and Barisan Nasional Government has ruled for 56 years. All ethnic communities, especially the Indian and other ethnic minorities should realize that racial hegemonistic ruling dominated by UMNO is the root cause of the agony of all ethnic communities, in particularly the lower working class people. Therefore, we should no longer harbour any illusion about UMNO-dominated BN.

At this juncture, even if the BN ruling clique endorses Hindraf’s Blueprint or makes any promises, it is only to fish for votes from the Indian community. In 1999, former Prime Minister, Mahathir agreed in principle to the “Chinese Associations’ General Election Demands” (suqiu) endorsed by 2098 Chinese Associations. However, he later kicked away the ladder after the election. Waythamoorthy and Hindraf should take this typical incident as a lesson in their way forward.

Ganesan’s action of pointing his struggle against Lim Kit Siang and DAP, but not against Najib and UMNO-dominated BN government is a very deceiving act. DAP or Pakatan Rakyat is not the culprit of the enduring institutionalized racial discrimination in our country. They are not the main object or target of struggle of the populace today. In the few state governments ruled by PR, PR has just yet fulfilled their promises on the issue of basic rights of the Indian community or on Kampung Buah Pala in Penang in the past 5 short years. The broad masses, including the Indian community should hold DAP and PR accountable for their promises when they come into power.

Support Hindraf’s Demand to Voice their Aspirations in the Parliament

Waytha Moorthy has been brave and firmly called on the government to repeal Article 153 of the Federal Constitution. This is a struggle for equal rights and interests of the Indian communities as well as the other minorities.

There is yet any democratic political party or political leader dare to express support to this just demand from Hindraf, given the possibility of losing the Malay votes or risk of being legally attacked. Therefore, the spirit of Waytha Moorthy to almost lay down his life for justice is very rare and highly commendable.  His effort should be continued until the genuine equality among ethnic groups is achieved.

To this end, we hope Lim Kit Siang and DAP will make room for Waytha Moorthy to contest on behalf of Hindraf on a DAP ticket in a parliamentary seat with significant proportion of Indian voters. This is indeed similar to allow Wong Tuck as a representative from Himpunan Hijau contesting in Bentong constituency. It will pave the way for Waytha Moorthy as the representative of the marginalized Indian communities, to voice the aspirations of repealing Article 153 and demanding for equality among ethnic groups in the Parliament.

Meanwhile, Waytha Moorthy could, via DAP’s inner channel, suggest to add on points that Hindraf wishes to highlight but not covered in “Declaration”. Although DAP consists of Indian members and leaders as well, they are only minorities in the party, that’s why DAP is always regarded as a Chinese-ethnic-community-based party, representing the interests of the urban petty bourgeoisie. By putting forward “Declaration” decisively, Lim Kit Siang is allowing DAP to breakthrough its limitation as a Chinese-based party, to unequivocally represent the interests of the Indian ethnic community as well. “Declaration” is no doubt a breakthrough with great significance, regardless from the perspective of ethnic party politics or democratic human rights movement. Hindraf should support and work hand in hand to strengthen the democratic front of Indian and Chinese-based democratic political parties and organizations, and to dump BN into the dustbin of history.

Hindraf should Maintain "Non-partisan" Political Position

The "non-partisan" political position upheld by Waytha Moorthy, Hindraf's chair, is in line with the interests of the broad masses, especially the Indian ethnic community. From present situation, it seems like there is a joint attempt from the internal and external, to deliberately equate Human Rights Party (HRP) with Hindraf, and to equate Uthayakumar's opinion with Waytha's or Hindraf's. This is to create doubt of the masses about the political position of Hindraf, hoping to split Hindraf and thereby weaken the influence of Hindraf's "non-partisan" political assertion. We are of the view that, Waytha Moorthy, as Hindraf's Chair, should respond to the following points at his soonest:

(1) Articulate Hindraf's political position on GE13, mainly on how we treat the besieged Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, the government-in-waiting, and also how we treat the Gelang Patah Declaration by Lim Kit Siang DAP.

 (2) Articulate Hindraf's position on HRP, mainly to clarify the relationship between Hindraf and HRP, to explain whether or not statements released by Uthayakumar, the Secretary General of HRP in the name of "De facto leader of Hindraf" represent Hindraf's position and views. If they don’t, why does Hindraf remain silence? We are of the view that Waytha Moorthy should uphold the "non-partisan" political stance in order to gain wider support from the populace.

Our Hope on DAP and Hindraf

We very much hope DAP and Hindraf will “Form a democratic front, fight for the cause of the vulnerable communities!" Our position is embodied in the Letter from Johore NGOs to the Johore people entitled "Unite! People of Johore, Realize 3Pressing Demands; Smash UMNO Hegemony, Form a Democratic United Front!" We are resolute and steadfast in our stand! We are willing to act in unison with people of all ethnic groups and democratic political parties and organisations!

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兴权会理应欢迎《振林山宣言》 进而争取“民联”更全面支持 Hindraf should Welcome “Gelang Patah Declaration” to Gain More Comprehensive Support from “Pakatan Rakyat”

兴权会理应欢迎《振林山宣言》

进而争取“民联”更全面支持

 Hindraf should Welcome  “Gelang Patah Declaration” 
to Gain More Comprehensive Support from “Pakatan Rakyat”

柔佛州人民之友工委会2013年4月9日声明

兴权会主席瓦达慕迪为了引起巫统主导的国阵统治集团和由3党组成、准备上台执政的人民联盟（以下简称民联）对国内长期被边缘化的印裔族群困境的关注和重视，以及对兴权会提出的《5年蓝图》的认同和承诺，在大选来临之前特别地展开了一场长达21天的绝食行动。瓦达慕迪的这项绝食行动，引起民主行动党资深领袖林吉祥非常正面的回应，特别在3月31日在他出战的振林山国会选区，庄严发表了民主行动党的解决印裔族群困境的《振林山宣言》（以下简称《宣言》）。我们认为，兴权会理应欢迎这份《宣言》，这是因为：（1）它的14点内容基本上反映了印裔族群的最迫切的愿望和诉求；（2）它以“宣言”的形式由民主行动党最具权威、尽人皆知的资深领袖林吉祥以及大部分党内印裔领袖，选择在一个今届大选具有特殊意义的国会选区庄严发布，已显示这是民主行动党在各族人民和全国党团共同见证下的正式承诺。

甘尼申的有关声明是令人失望的

我们，柔佛州人民之友工委会，作为一个一直义不容辞地关注和支持瓦达慕迪所领导的兴权会所展开的为摆脱印裔族群困境的斗争的组织，看到了甘尼申于4月2日，以兴权会顾问的名义发表了一篇题为《民主行动党为解脱印裔族群困境的蓝图是兴权会蓝图的复制品》(DAP's Blueprint for Indians is a Copy of Hindraf's)的声明。我们认为，甘尼申把民主行动党领袖们接纳兴权会的最迫切诉求（作为《宣言》的基本内容）的良好做法，硬说成是民主行动党为了骗取印裔选票而抄袭兴权会的《5年蓝图》，这种说辞是无法令人信服的。各族人民皆知印裔族群长期所处的被压迫、被奴役的困境是以巫统为主导的联盟政府和国阵政府继承英国殖民政府的衣钵而实施了55年之久的制度性种族主义统治所造成的结果。甘尼申在声明中却迫不及待质问行动党执政槟州5 年为印裔族群做了什么，无疑是暴露了自己对民主行动党的偏见以及对槟州政权的苛求。

隔天，即4月3日，甘尼申再发表另一篇题为《兴权会挑战吉祥公开辩论》(Hindraf Dares Kit Siang for an Open Debate)的声明，公开挑战林吉祥辩论，辩题为“行动党为印裔族群提出的《振林山宣言》不是一项认真要全面永久地解决印裔族群贫困问题的方案” (DAP Gelang Patah Plan for the Indians is not a sincere plan to address the problems of the Indian poor in comprehensive and permanent ways)的课题。我们认为，甘尼申更应该向巫统与国阵主席纳吉挑战，辩论“巫统主导的联盟政府和国阵政府所实施的制度性种族主义统治才是造成我国印裔、华裔族群以及其他少数民族长期处在被压迫、被歧视、被边缘化困境的根源”的课题，对55年来一直处在被压迫、被歧视、被边缘化的各族人民，才有实际的教育意义。甘尼申接受《自由今日大马》访问，强调兴权会与纳吉会面之后的非正式接触获得正面的反馈，而一直期待与纳吉的第二次会谈。甘尼申的这种表现不免让人很自然的联想他或许更有兴趣接受纳吉的“招安”。

不应再对国阵统治集团存有幻想

我们认为，由巫统主导的联盟政府和国阵政府已经统治了56年，各族人民特别是印裔族群和其他的少数民族应该认识到，巫统主导的种族霸权统治就是各族人民特别是下层劳动人民遭遇痛苦的根源，不应再对它存有幻想。今天即使国阵统治集团签署了兴权会的《5年蓝图》或以其他方式作出什么承诺，也绝对只是为了捞取印裔族群的选票。前首相马哈迪于1999年原则上同意2098个华团联署的《华团大选诉求》，之后却“秋后算账”的典型案例，足以作为瓦达慕迪和兴权会前进道路上的“前车之鉴”。此外，甘尼申把他的斗争矛头对准林吉祥和民主行动党，而不是纳吉和巫统主导的国阵政府，是具有非常大的误导性的做法！民主行动党或者是民联，不是我国长期以来实施制度性种族歧视的罪魁祸首，不是我国各族人民现阶段的斗争对象，他们只是在过去5年的时间内，在其执政的州政权里，尚未履行他们对槟城豆蔻村或其他关乎广大印裔族群的基本权益的承诺而已。广大各族人民包括印裔族群应该监督民主行动党以及民联在执政后履行他们的承诺。

支持兴权会把心声带进国会的要求

瓦达慕迪一直以来勇敢而坚定地呼吁政府撤销《联邦宪法》第153条文，争取不仅是印裔族群，也包括其他少数民族的平等权益。目前尚未有任何民主政党和政治领袖敢冒可能失去马来选票或者是遭遇法律对付的风险而表态支持兴权会的这项正义诉求，因此瓦达慕迪的这种近乎舍身取义的精神更显得难能可贵，他的这项努力应该持续到我国实现民族真正平等为止。为此，工委会希望林吉祥以及民主行动党能够让出一个印裔选民占不小比例的国会选区，让瓦达慕迪代表兴权会在行动党旗帜下出战，如同之前让黄德代表绿色盛会出战文冬国会议席一样，让瓦达慕迪有机会以被边缘化的印裔族群代表的身份，把废除《聯邦憲法》第153条文、要求民族平等的这个声音带进国会。与此同时，瓦达慕迪也可以更好地通过民主行动党内部管道，建议补上《振林山宣言》内未有提及而兴权会坚持涵盖的内容。尽管党内有着印裔党员和领袖，但只占很小的比例，因此民主行动党一路来都被看成是一个以华裔群众为基础并基本上代表着城市小资产阶级利益的政党。林吉祥这次果断地提出《振林山宣言》，应该可以被视为林吉祥已经决定讓民主行动党突破它以华裔群众为基础的局限而旗帜鲜明地扩大到也同時代表印裔族群的利益。无论从族群政党政治，或者是从民主人权运动的角度来看，《振林山宣言》无疑是一项具有深刻意义的突破，兴权会应该支持、配合，携手壮大华印民主党团的联合阵线，把国阵抛棄到历史的垃圾堆中去。

兴权会理应保持“非党性”政治立场

兴权会主席瓦达慕迪秉持的“非党性”的政治立场，是符合广大群众特别是印裔族群的利益的。從目前出现的情况来看，似乎有人企图外呼内应，蓄意把兴权会和人权党等同起来，把乌达雅古玛的意见当作是瓦达慕迪或兴权会的意见，让人对兴权会的政治立场产生怀疑，以便达到分裂兴权会的目的，从而削弱兴权会的“非党性”政治主张的作用。我们认为，兴权会主席瓦达慕迪，理应尽快对以下幾点做出回应：（1）明确表达兴权会对今届大选的政治立场，主要是如何看待四面楚歌的国阵统治集团与准备执掌中央政权的民联阵营，以及如何对待民主行动党林吉祥的《振林山宣言》；（2）明确表达兴权会对人权党的立场，主要是说明兴权会与人权党两者之间的明确关系，说明人权党秘书长乌达雅古玛以“兴权会实权领袖”的名义发表的文告，若不是代表兴权会的立场和观点，兴权会为何默不作声不作表态？我们认为，瓦达慕迪理应秉持兴权会的“非党性”的政治立场，才能获得更广泛的支持。

我们对民主行动党和兴权会的期望

我们对民主行动党和兴权会的期望是“建立民主联合阵线，捍卫弱势群体权益！”我们的这个立场和主张，也反映在柔佛州非政府组织第13届大选告人民书《打破巫统霸权，建立民主联合阵线；团结全州人民，实现三大迫切诉求》里。我们的这个立场和主张，是坚定不移的！我们愿意与全国各族人民和民主党团共勉！

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行动党发表14点振林山宣言 誓百天解决印裔无国籍问题 DAP unveils 14-point plan for Indians

 行动党发表14点振林山宣言

誓百天解决印裔无国籍问题

DAP unveils 14-point plan for Indians

作者 / 来源： Terence Netto / 《当今大马》2013年4月1日发布

民主行动党公布14点《振林山宣言》，表明民联入主布城将实施彻底改善印裔社会经济问题的政策，其中有100天内解决没有蓝色身份证问题、建造可负担房屋及提供技职训练等。

民主行动党昨晚在振林山一家酒店公布上述宣言。该党副主席兼怡保西区国会议员古拉表示，该14点宣言是民联承诺彻底改善印裔困境的方案。

“首相纳吉掌权四年来，国阵所做的只是以专设的行动（方案）来拉拢印裔选民，而不是改善该社群的根本困境。”

“印裔的问题需要根本和长期（方案）解决，而不是仅贴上胶布式的援助。”

“如果实施我们的14点方案，就能彻底解决贫困及其衍生的问题。”


部分已列入民联纲领

出席者上述活动的有该党国会领袖林吉祥、巴生国会议员查尔斯圣地亚哥、蒲种国会议员哥宾星、雪州哥打阿南莎州议员马诺哈兰（M Manoharan）、霹雳州宋溪（Sungkai）州议员西华尼申（N. Sivanesan）等印裔领袖。

检视行动党所提的14点方案，有些是民联纲领的一环，例如在执政100天内解决印裔没有蓝色身份证的问题，不过该宣言凸出了某些问题，并且加入一些新措施。

以下是《振林山宣言》的14项要点：

一、民联执政后在100天解决印裔没有蓝色身份证问题。

二、设立全国房屋委员会，以便为边缘的社群建造合适和可负担的房屋，特别是解决被迫迁的印裔种植区工人问题。

三、确保全国淡米尔学校改为政府全津贴，以及其设施与国民学校享同等水平。

四、投资技术与职业训练，提供学徒计划，以便为低收入印裔家庭学生及辍学生提供替代的教育及职业培训。

五、为低收入印裔提供工作机会，并且实施1100令吉最低薪金制，改善低收入印裔的工资。

六、在官联公司、地方议会及公共服务单位增加印裔的人数。

七、拨出土地予现有的兴都庙及墓园，如有兴都庙及墓园需搬迁，就要提供搬迁的土地。

八、为印裔小型企业提供小型贷款和经济援助，特别是以妇女、青年和家庭为主的企业。

九、设立独立警察投诉与行为不检委员会（IPCMC），以便杜绝警察扣留所死亡案。

十、设立特别基金，以便加强印裔所拥有的股权。

十一、设立委员会，检视印裔社会的都市贫困与社会问题。

十二、制定政策改善单亲妈妈的经济能力，包括购屋计划。

十三、设立寄宿学校，以招收种植区及城市贫困印裔家庭的优秀学生，或让他们就读现有的寄宿学校。

十四、废除所有不利于人民的法律，并且去除歧视。

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DAP unveils 14-point plan for Indians 行动党发表14点振林山宣言 誓百天解决印裔无国籍问题

 DAP unveils 14-point plan for Indians 

行动党发表14点振林山宣言  誓百天解决印裔无国籍问题

Author / Source: Terence Netto / Malaysiakini.com (published on 1-Apr)

The DAP has unveiled a 14-point plan, billed the ‘Gelang Patah Declaration', that is aimed at alleviating the socio-economic status of Indian Malaysians, a demographic whose vote is considered critical to the ruling BN's desire to retain power in the face of a determined attempt by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat to eject them.

The plan was announced in Johor Bahru yesterday on the heels of an often acrimonious debate between the more assertive activists of the minority community and opposition parties accused of slighting the dire needs of the Indian poor by subsuming them under the rubric of a general alleviation of the Malaysian poor.

The DAP's 14-point plan is integral to the Pakatan plan to ease the Indian plight, such as resolution of the problem of stateless within 100 days of a Pakatan takeover, but in some aspects it accentuates some features while adding newfangled ones for good measure:

1. To resolve the problem of the stateless Indians within 100 days of a Pakatan administration;

2. To establish a National Housing Board which will build decent and affordable housing for marginalised groups, especially for displaced Indian plantation workers;

3. To ensure that all national-type Tamil schools become fully-funded and the infrastructure of every single school is up to par with ‘sekolah kebangsaan' (national schools);

4. To invest in technical and vocational training coupled with apprenticeship programmes to provide an alternative education and career path for school dropouts from low-income Indian families;

5. To provide jobs and raise the wages of low-income Indians by implementing a-RM1,100 minimum wage scheme;

6. To increase the number of Indians in GLCs (government-linked companies), local councils, and public services;

7. To alienate land for existing Hindu temples and burial grounds and find replacement land for temples and burial grounds which have to be relocated;

8. To provide microcredit and other financial assistance schemes to Indian small businesses, with a special focus on women, youths and home-based business;

9. To put in place the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) and to eliminate deaths in police custody and custodial deaths;

10. To establish a special fund to promote Indian equity ownership in the country;

11. To establish a commission to address urban poverty and social problems faced by the Indian community;

12. To establish policies that could economically enable single mothers, including house ownership scheme;

13. To establish or enroll in existing residential schools outstanding Indian students from plantation and urban poor families;

14. To abolish all anti-rakyat legislation and to get rid of discrimination.

Permanent solutions

The 14-point plan was announced to a DAP gathering at a hotel in Gelang Patah that was attended by party
adviser Lim Kit Siang and senior Indian leaders led by M Kulasegaran, the Ipoh Barat MP.

Others who attended were DAP MPs Charles Santiago, Gobind Singh Deo, M Manogaran and state assemblyperson S Sivanesan.

Kulasegaran said the 14-point plan represents the commitment of the opposition to find a permanent solution to the problems faced by the Indian community.

"What the BN has done in the last four years under Prime Minister Najib Razak was to woo Indian voters with action that is ad hoc and not aimed at the deeper ailments of the community," asserted the DAP national vice-chairperson.

"Indian problems need fixes that are deeper and permanent than band-aids," remarked Kulasegaran.

"Our 14-point plan, if implemented, would root out Indian poverty root and branch," he opined.

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Perasaan Hindraf sekarang adalah :- Tidak rela ditipu oleh BN selama 55 tahun, Mengharapkan PR dapat melaksanakan reformasi sebenar 兴权会此刻的心情应是 — 不甘被国阵欺骗了55年 只望民联真正落实改革

Perasaan Hindraf sekarang adalah :-

Tidak rela ditipu oleh BN selama 55 tahun,

Mengharapkan PR dapat melaksanakan reformasi sebenar

兴权会此刻的心声应是——

不甘被国阵欺骗了55年  只望民联真正落实改革

Pengarang: Nyam Kee Han (20hb Mac 2013)

14hb Mac 2013, saya menaiki Komuter KTM seorang diri, bertolak dari Stesen UKM ke Stesen Rawang. Sebaik sahaja sampai ke Rawang, terus saya menuju ke sebuah kuil Hindu yang berdekatan. 4 hari yang lepas, saya dengan 4 orang ahli jawatankuasa Sahabat Rakyat (Yong Siew Lee, Ang Peri Shan, Choo Shinn Chei dan Chen Xin) pernah melawati kuil ini untuk menyertai upacara doa HINDRAF HUNGER VIRATHAM yang diketuai oleh pengerusi HINDRAF, Waythamoorthy. Tersentuh dengan semangat mereka, saya memutus untuk menyertai aksi mogok lapar HINDRAF selama 24 jam, sebagai tanda penghormatan kepada Waythamoorthy dan sokongan terhadap aksi mogok lapar tersebut.

Tindakan mogok lapar Waythamoorthy ini adalah untuk meningkatkan kesedaran rakyat terhadap perjuangan hak dan maruah Bangsa India di Malaysia yang majoritinya hanya tinggal kain sehelai sepinggan. Beliau berharap rejim memerintah menghentikan penindasan kejam terhadap Rakyat Bangsa India di Malaysia. Beliau juga berharap kerajaan Barisan Nasional yang diketuai oleh Najib, dan Pakatan rakyat (atau bakal kerajaan) yang diketuai oleh Anwar akan memandang serius tentang kesengsaraan Bangsa India akibat daripada penindasan yang berterusan. Penyertaan saya dalam tindakan mogok lapar ini adalah kerana:-
1. Menyokong tindakan benar Hindraf yang memperjuangkan hak-hak Bangsa India yang telah diketepikan sekian lama, dan juga hak-hak bangsa minoriti lain.
2. Menyokong pendirian Hindraf yang bersifat bukan berpartisan (non-partisan) sepanjang perjuangan mereka.

Pandangan saya di atas merupakan hasil tinjauan saya, di mana saya bersama dengan rakan-rakan seperjuangan dari negeri Johor, berpeluang berbincang secara mendalam dengan Waythamoorthy dan pemimpin-pemimpin akar umbi Hindraf beberapa kali dalam masa setengah tahun yang lepas, dan agak memahami perkembangan dan perubahan Hindraf. Saya dapat merasai keteguhan dan ketabahan Waythamoorthy, dan juga keikhlasan dan kejujuran beliau.

Gerakan menentang penindasan dan perjuangan menegakkan hak dan maruah kaum India yang diketepikan dan ditindas oleh Hindraf telah “dikritik” dan “ditolak” oleh pertubuhan, parti dan individu yang dikatakan “melindungi hak asasi manusia” dan “mempertahankan hak semua bangsa”. Pandangan teras mereka adalah: Hindraf tidak patut berjuang “berasaskan sifat perkauman” (race based), sebaliknya haruslah berjuang “berasaskan keperluan” (needs based). Pendapat seperti ini tidak salah jika dilihat daripada segi gerakan sosial secara umum. Tetapi jika dilihat daripada segi hubungan antara penindasan bangsa dan bangsa yang ditindas, maka kritikan seperti ini berbaur menyembungikan atau menutupi kenyataan bahawa masalah penindasan bangsa masih merupakan masalah asas dalam masyarakat Malaysia.

Maka, tindakan HINDRAF mengemukakan tuntutan dan hasrat disifatkan suatu tindakan perkauman adalah tidak benar. Tindakan Hindraf sebenarnya serupa dengan DongZong atau Pertubuhan Cina lain yang mengemukakan hasrat dan tuntutan Bangsa Tiong Hua, mereka cuma mewakili rakyat berbangsa India di Malaysia untuk mengemukakan hasrat dan tuntutan. Persamaan kedua-dua pihak ini adalah mereka telah menonjolkan keadaan tertindas dua bangsa dan mengemukakan harapan dan tuntutan daripada perspektif bangsa tertindas masing-masing. Tindakan mereka langsung tidak berniat untuk mengkakis hak dan maruah bangsa yang lain. Apakah tindakan seperti ini salah? Kenapa mereka dituduh sebagai bersifat perkauman? Jika berbincang tentang “berasakan keperluan”, saya berpendapat bahawa masalah-masalah bangsa India di Malaysia haruslah dipandang berat oleh mereka yang membantah tindakan “berasaskan perkauman”, terutamanya Pakatan Rakyat yang telah bersedia untuk memerintah Negara ini. Ini adalah kerana jika berbanding dengan bangsa lain, masyarakat miskin berbangsa India dalam kesengsaraan ini sesungguhnya sangat memerlukan bantuan yang konkrit.

Hindraf telah membuat penyelidikan yang banyak dalam aspek masalah-masalah yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat berbangsa India. Mereka telah merangkumi masalah-masalah yang terdesak ke dalam “5 years blueprint”, dan mengemukakan cadangan-cadangan yang konkrit untuk menyelesaikan masalah buat selama-lamanya. Mereka berharap blueprint ini mendapat sokongan bertulis daripada mana-mana gabungan politik (sama ada Barisan Nasional ataupun Pakatan Rakyat). Hindraf secara terbuka berjanji akan menyokong dan berkempen untuk parti politik yang endos secara bertulis “5 years blueprint”ini. Fokus Hindraf hanya pada cara untuk membebaskan Bangsa India daripada kesengsaraan melalui saluran parti politik. Sejak “5 years blueprint”ini dikemukakan pada 25hb Disember 2012, banyak usaha telah diusahakan, setakat kini masih tidak mendapat balasan positif daripada kedua-dua PR dan BN.

Masyarakat bangsa India telah ditindas secara berterusan oleh hegemoni perkauman UMNO-BN. Mengikut percakapan Waythamoorthy, Hindraf tidak mungkin masih berkhayalan terhadap UMNO ataupun kerajaan BN. Maka, mereka hanya boleh menaruhkan harapan kepada gabungan parti pembangkang terbesar pada masa kini iaitu Pakatan Rakyat untuk menyokong dan endos “5 years blueprint” mereka. Saya berpendapat bahawa perasaan Hindraf sekarang adalah: tidak rela ditipu oleh BN selama 55 tahun, mengharapkan PR dapat melaksanakan reformasi sebenar. Walau bagaimanapun, pemimpin-pemimpin PR masih belum memberi respon yang positif, ini pasti telah mengecewakan Hindraf.

Selepas menyertai mogok lapar ini selama 24 jam, saya dapat merasai bahawa, kehidupan Bangsa India telah sampai ke jalan buntu kerana ditindas oleh sistem penindasan bersifat perkauman. Aksi mogok lapar Waythamoorthy adalah balasan Bangsa India terhadap reaksi kedua-dua PR dan BN yang tidak mengendahkan “5 years blueprint”Hindraf. Pakatan Rakyat boleh menyatukan kuasa Himpunan Hijau yang diketuai oleh Wong Tack demi kemaraan mereka ke Putrajaya, mengapa tidak Hindraf yang merupakan kuasa teras dalam membantah perkauman, malah termasuk kuasa-kuasa lain yang membantah rejim UMNO-BN seperti Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Human Rights Party (HRP), BERSIH 2.0, parti-parti politik lain , NGO-NGO dan individu-individu demokratik. Saya percaya bahawa, rakyat jelata Malaysia sangat berharap satu barisan penyatuan demokratik yang kuat dapat ditubuhkan secepat mungkin, supaya dapat menumbangkan pemerintahan hegemoni UMNO. Jadi, apa kata Pakatan Rakyat?

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My Expectations of the Hindraf's Struggle Led by Waytha Moorthy 展望瓦塔慕迪领导兴权会的斗争

My Expectations of the Hindraf's Struggle 
Led by Waytha Moorthy

展望瓦塔慕迪领导兴权会的斗争

Author: Choo Shinn Chei (Member of Sahabat Rakyat Johore Working Committee)

From left: Waytha Moorthy, Ang Pei Shan, Yong Siew Lee, Yong Siew Lee, 
Choo Shinn Chei. Back onto camera : Chen Xin.

On 10 March 2013, Yong Siew Lee, Ang Pei Shan, Chen Xin and I left Johor Bahru and headed north to a Hindu temple in Rawang. We dropped by Bangi to fetch Nyam Kee Han who furthers his Masters Degree in UKM and had lunch together in Bangi. Five of us attended a prayer ceremony for the launching of Waytha Moorthy’s Hunger Viratham in a temple in Rawang. We arrived earlier not only to show Sahabat Rakyat’s support towards Hindraf’s struggle, but also to meet and have a conversation with Waytha Moorthy before his Hunger Viratham began. We intended to have a better understanding of Hindraf’s future direction under the current circumstances. We heartily expressed our opinion on the related topics as well.

Waytha Moorthy shared with us about his several prospects of the poor Malaysian Indians’ struggle against the racist rule. In my view, some of the content brings about practical significance to the struggle of the Malaysian people against the racist rule, especially the struggle for the fundamental rights of the Indians and the other minority communities. The ideas are worthy of reference to the democratic parties, groups and individuals.

The following are my summary of his sharing:

(1) Hindraf is an NGO fighting for the rights of Indian poor through mass struggle. Hindraf intends to actively participate in the parliamentary struggle to resolve the marginalized dilemma hitherto faced by the Indian community. There is a need for Hindraf to introduce their candidates of peoples’ representatives (wakil rakyat), who have deep understanding on marginalized Indian community to the Parliament. They will call for just demands, and to put forward the core demands of Hindraf opposing institutionalized racism to the Parliament as urgent agenda. They hope to gain support internationally by lobbying governments and the masses abroad, in order to find a way out for the Indian poor in Malaysia the soonest possible.

(2) Waytha Moorthy made it very clear that Hindraf is a NGO (non-governmental organization) fighting for the rights and dignity of Indian poor, whereas Human Rights Party (HRP) is a political party for certain class or certain stratum of a society to realize their political goals. Hindraf and HRP are completely different groups which cannot be equated. Waytha Moorthy had informed media numerous times that Uthayakumar, his brother, is not the de-facto leader of Hindraf, this includes officially re-informed Free Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini few days back, but they just ignored it. They seem to create the confusion deliberately so that Hindraf will always be misunderstood and ostracized.

(3) As the 13th General Election is looming, Hindraf is very keen to work hand in hand with Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Hindraf had organized 17 official and unofficial meetings with PR’s leaders over the past few months. Nowadays Hindraf gains wide support from the Indian masses, especially in some states with high Indian population. As long as PR endorsed Hindraf’s 5-Year Blueprint in a clear binding way, Hindraf will mobilize their cadres around the country to campaign for PR and call upon the people especially the Indian community to vote for PR. In the mixed constituencies consist of significant proportion of Indian voters, Indian votes will play a decisive factor, Hindraf will definitely make contributions towards the victory of PR in the election.

(4) Waytha Moorthy requested direct response from PR on the 5-year Blueprint. He used the complete failure of Chinese organizations’ ‘Su Qiu’ (demands) in 1999 as an example to explain why Hindraf must get a binding commitment from the coming-to-power political party before the general election. In the year 1999, Mahathir, the former Prime Minister, verbally promised and endorsed the ‘Su Qiu’ before the election but then “settled old scores” after the election. Hindraf will no longer convey unconditional support to the opposition parties as what they did in 2007, especially in the current political situation which is stern, complicated and changes frequently. In fact, he would very much like to listen to the views from PR’s leaders about the 5-Year Blueprint, and is prepared to make some adjustment, but PR’s leaders have not given any official response till today, which has caused great disappointment of Hindraf towards PR’s leaders.

(5) He and his fellow leaders realized that there are only Chinese populations who rise up against the racist rule in the past that resulted in repeated failure. The Indian community is unable to fight for the fundamental rights and defend their ethnic dignity in isolation. In order to succeed, they have to unite with the other forces from the other ethnics that struggle for democratic rights and promote social reforms. Otherwise, the struggle will suffer crushing defeat. Therefore, he attaches importance to the cooperation with Sahabat Rakyat and feels grateful that we arrived at the scene to show our support to Hindraf’s struggle.

I was deeply impressed by his sincerity and full concentrations throughout the discussions. We put forward the following comments for his reference:

1. Regarding the immediate question of how to deal with BN and PR, Hindraf has to clearly demonstrate its position. The political approach to fully satisfy the aspirations and demands of the people from various ethnics is to dump BN into the dustbin of history. This is also the political call jointly released by the Sahabat Rakyat Johore Working Committee and Hindraf Johor in the "Letter from Johore NGOs to the Johore people" upon the 13th General Election, which read “Unite! Smash UMNO Hegemony, Form a Democratic United Front.” This democratic united front does not only include the three parties in Pakatan Rakyat who are confronting BN, it must also unite all the other political parties, NGOs and individuals from all walks of life who are opposed to the UMNO-BN rule.

2. The UMNO-dominated BN government has been deceiving the people of all ethnics for the past 55 years. In order to prolong their political rule, they have no other option but to continue with the trickery and deception to fish for votes. People of every ethnic, particularly the Indian communities must not harbor any illusion about BN! We would like to use the following words as our mutual encouragement with Hindraf and the Indian communities. The late Lim Lian Geok who is regarded as the “Soul of the Malaysian Chinese” once said: “equal rights are more important than life itself; I would die rather than suffer inequality.” During his 80th birthday event, he openly stated that: “Malaysia is a multi-ethnic nation. We are for multiculturalism and co-prosperity among all ethnic groups. It is all bunkum if what is said and done is against that principle!”

3. We agree with Waytha Moorthy to effectively fight for the fundamental human rights and ethnic dignity of the Indian community through mass struggle and parliamentary struggle. It would be good enough if PR leaders could allow Hindraf representatives to contest under the banner of PR in at least two (the more the better) parliamentary seats. As far as he and Hindraf persist with the non-partisan stand of a peoples’ representative organization, they will gain wide supports among the democratic parties, groups and individuals and certainly we will continue to work closely with them. If they are persistent in their stand to struggle for the rights and dignity of the Indian poor, not to entertain any illusion about the UMNO BN ruling clique, and to unite the struggle with the anti-racism forces from the other communities, it is believed that the aspirations to put forward the core demands to repeal Article 153 of the Federal Constitutions in the parliament will be materialized definitely.

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