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About 400 were reportedly arrested at the rally today in Kuala Lumpur organised by Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), a non-governmental organisation fighting for the rights of the Indian minority in Malaysia.

There were also scores of reports that many suffered injuries due to violent crackdown of the rally by the police. At least 200 tear gas canisters were shot into the unarmed and peaceful crowds at various parts of the city.

There were rumors of two deaths as a result of the police violent crackdown. However, the news is still unverifiable.

It was estimated that about 20,000 participated in the rally.

Those arrested are reported to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK Kuala Lumpur) and the Police Training Centre (Pusat Latihan Polis, Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur. As of 4pm, 24 names of those confirmed to be detained at Pulapol have been obtained. They are:

Nya Prakasam
Polan Isamy
Shanmuganathan A/L Kalimuthu (aged 29)
Jivan Chilayah
Komala
Ramesh A/L Rajen (aged 26)
Palanisamy A/L Munasamy (aged 47)
Sangkar A/L Supramaniam B. (Penang)
Kumar (Seremban)
Saravanan Doraisamy (Nibong Tebal)
Vilaman Ravi (Penang)
Thanabalan (Jawi, Penang)
Subramaniam (Kajang)
Sivakumar (Kajang)
Selvarajoo A/L Viramuthu (Shah Alam)
Murugan A/L Sokan (Teluk Panglima Garang, Selangor)
Francis A/L Kurus (Ampang)
Robert (Ampang)
Palanisamy (Nibong Tebal)
Nagan (Kulim)
Indran A/L Pasupathi (Kedah)
Ramesh Rao A/L Simanaido (Ipoh)
Ravin A/L Mahalingam
Kumaran Shanmugan

SUARAM has also documented two names of those injured by the police. They are Ravin A/L Mahalingam and Kumaran Shanmugan (both aged 22). The two were sent to General Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

The HINDRAF rally was organised to submit a memorandum to the British High Commission to demand for compensation for bringing the Indians to Malaya about 150 years ago during the colonial time.

Article 10 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia guarantees the right to freedom of assembly and expression. However, the draconian Police Act circumvents the right by requiring a permit to be applied from the police for a gathering that is more than three people. The decision of the police is final and cannot be challenged in court.

The permit application was rejected by the police and the rally was pronounced by the government as illegal.

SUARAM condemns the government for not allowing HINDRAF supporters to exercise the Constitutional rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. We deplore the highhandedness and the excessive force used by the police, including the chemical laced water canons and the tear gas on unarmed and peaceful protestors.

We demand that the police officers who inflicted injuries on the protestors be booked to justice. We call for all the detainees to be released unconditionally and immediately.

Actions needed

Please send your protest to the various Malaysian authorities for clamping down the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression of Malaysians. The excessive use of force and police brutality cannot be tolerated and should be condemned as well.

Your protest letters should be sent to the following:

Prime Minister¡¯s Office Malaysia
Perdana Putra Building
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62505 Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan,
Malaysia.
Tel: 03 8888 8000
Fax: 03 8888 3444

Ketua Polis Malaysia (Inspector-General of Police)
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,
50560 Bukit Aman,
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-22626015
Fax: 03-22725613
IGP: Tan Sri Musa Hassan

Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police HQ)
Polis Diraja Malaysia
Jalan Hang Tuah
51100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21460522, 03-2485522
Fax: 03-20726786

Cc:

Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM)

Tingkat 29, Menara Tun Razak

Jalan Raja Laut 50350

Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-26125600
Fax: 03-26125620
Chaiman: Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman

SAMPLE LETTER

25 November 2007

Tan Sri Musa Hassan
Inspector-General of Police
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman
50560 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603 2262 6222
Fax: +603 2273 9602
Dear Sir,

Re: About 400 arrested in violent crackdown on HINDRAF rally

We are writing to you to register our strongest condemnation and protest against the arrests citizens who were participating in an assembly organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), a non-governmental organisation fighting for the rights of the Indian minority in Malaysia. About 400 were reported to have been arrested by the police.

We further deplore the police’s use of violence, including teargas and chemical-laced water at the crowd in KLCC since this morning.

Those arrested are reported to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police Headquarters (IPK Kuala Lumpur) and the Police Training Centre (Pusat Latihan Polis, Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur. Some of those detained are believed to be injured and in urgent need of medical assistance.

The arrests of demonstrators and the use of force by the police are gross violations of Malaysian citizens¡¯ basic right to assemble peaceably which is guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

We demand that police officers who inflicted injuries on the protestors be booked to justice. We call for all the detainees to be released unconditionally and immediately.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely yours,

[Name]