Hindraf 5 to remain under ISA

Rejected - Hindraf 5 to remain under ISA
Feb 26, 08 12:32pm
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today rejected the habeas corpus applications filed by five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Judge Zainal Azman Abdul Aziz told a packed courtroom that the detention order issued by the internal security minister was valid and met all the requirements under the ISA.
He said the court had taken into consideration the affidavits filed by the applicants and the affidavits filed in reply by the respondents, including the supporting affidavit by the minister.
However, he said there was nothing to show that the requirements were violated.
The judge also stated that based on previous cases, the minister could order a person to be detained under Section 8 of the ISA.
Hundreds of supporters
In their habeas corpus applications, the five stated that their detention was unlawful because of the vague grounds given for their arrest.
The five - P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, T Vasantha Kumar, V Ganabatirau and R Kenghadharan were held on Dec 13 for allegedly organising an illegal assembly on Nov 25 and for making seditious statements against the government.
Disappointed with the judgment, some 300 Hindraf supporters outside the courtroom shouted 'Valga Hindraf' (long live Hindraf) and 'Valga Makkal Sakthi' (long live people's power).
The detainees' counsels Karpal Singh and his son Gobind Singh Deo told the crowd that an appeal would be filed with the Federal Court tomorrow.
Gobind said while they respected the court's decision, they were not happy with it and vowed to fight for justice till the end.
No 60-day investigation
Karpal said the court threw out the defence argument that the detention was unlawful because there had been no 60-day investigation period beforehand.
"I think their detention has far-reaching consequences. You are placing dictatorial powers in the hands of the internal security minister," he said.
Hindraf infuriated the government by mounting a mass rally last November alleging discrimination against minority ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
Hindraf members immediately condemned the decision and vowed to punish the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in March 8 general elections.
"We are clearly disappointed with the ruling. On the 100th day of detention (on March 22), Hindraf will organise a worldwide protest," P Waythamoorthy, a brother of one of the detainees, told AFP from London.
Hindraf coordinator R Thanenthiran said many Indian Malaysians would cast protest vote in the polls, which are expected to reduce the government's large majority.
"We will teach the Prime Minister Adullah Ahmad Badawi a lesson in the election. We will reject his government," he said.

P.S. We have no choice rather than to reject 2/3 BN majority ,now they are very arrogant towards the Indian, must vote opposition no matter what, to save our leaders , now they can extend ISA as they wish and to punish our leaders of conscience , what fault they has made, they had only open our eyes for the truth.Please my brothers and sister please support this protest vote campaign.