Fifteen Hindraf supporters launched a hunger strike on Sunday to demand the abolition of a tough security law which the government says is needed to combat terrorism, organisers said."The five-day hunger strike is to protest against the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) and to demand all detainees are freed," S. Jayathas, coordinator of the rights group Hindraf which organised the strike, told AFP.
"The hunger strike is also to demand the government end all injustices in Malaysia and stop discriminating against minority Indians."
The ISA, a relic of the British colonial era when it was used to fight a communist insurgency, allows for renewable two-year periods of detention without trial.
The government says it is a vital tool to fight terrorism, but rights groups say the law has been improperly used to silence government critics, and that detainees are mentally and physically tortured.
Rights groups say 70 people, mainly alleged Islamic militants, are being held under the ISA.
Hunger strikers to only take water
The protesters are staging their hunger strike at a small temple north of Kuala Lumpur.
Some of those taking part are relatives of five Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) leaders, who are being held under the ISA.
The five, one of whom is a state lawmaker, were arrested after enraging the government last November by mounting a mass rally alleging discrimination against Malaysia's minority ethnic Indians.
Ethnic Indians make up less than eight percent of the 27-million-strong population of the mainly Muslim Malay country.
Jayathas said the protesters would only consume water during the strike.
tunku :the ISA is still relevant and very much needed in a country like malaysia. i suggest those who are on hunger strike don't even take water, otherwise don't go on hunger strike at all.be brave enough.malaysia has never discriminate minority indians. we are better than india which is discriminating its minority and the situation has worsen especially after the recently mumbai attacked.
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4 comments:
Malaysia is far much better place than many other places around the world.we dont have to worry about terrorist attack and being blown away to bits.
i still believe ISA act is still relevant up to this day.what i dont support if ISA are being abused politically.
sebenarnya ramai yang tidak sukakan dengan Hindraf ni.mereka ni berlagak macam "gengster".malah ramai orang kaum India juga yang tidak suka mereka.
ramai yang tak nampak atau "tidak mahu nampak" yang Anwar menyokong kumpulan ini.Malaysia ni pelik skit.bila orang Melayu bercakap pasal hal orang Melayu dikata rasis tapi kaum lain tidak pula dicop sebagai rasis.
Nak buat hal sekali lagi puak2 mangkuk ni. Tak habis2, biar lantakkan sangat nak berlapar. Biar kita tengok berapa lama tahan. Kalau mogok lapar tapi biskut hentam jugak baik tak payah. Kecoh arr.
Haih, buang masa je, buang masa orang sekali jugak. Suka buat hal la hindraf ni, menyusahkan orang je. Biarkan je la mereka nak berlapar, tengok sampai bila boleh tahan. Jangan auta je lebih.
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