Hindraf invites UN to monitor Feb 27 rally

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has requested for observers from the United Nations (UN) to monitor its 'People's March in Solidarity Against Umno's Racism' this Sunday. The march will start from the KLCC at 9am, and end at the Dang Wangi Police station.The demonstration is to protest against Interlok, the controversial novel that Form Five students use as a compulsory literature text.Hindraf national information coordinator, S Jayathas , said that it would only be fair if the UN were to to witness how the protestors were being handled by the police.

He was speaking at the UN office in Kuala Lumpur. "The UN will see that we are running a peaceful demonstration."Jayathas added that the police have yet to reply regarding their application for a police permit submitted on Feb 11.Asked to comment on Ibrahim Ali Perkasa president lodging a police report against Hindraf today, he replied:

"Perkasa is under the Umno. If they were to report to the police, everyone pays attention and action is taken. If they were to run a demo, nothing happens, no one is arrested."When we make a police report, the response is slow. When others - like us - demonstrate, we get arrested.On Feb 13, the police detained 59 people nationwide who were travelling in Hindraf organised convoys. There have been with allegations of rough treatment by the police.

Request for UN to intervene

Jayathas has also submitted a letter urging the UN to intervene in the 'Interlok' issue. It was received by Devendran Patel, United Nation's Security Advisor for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.He explained that the book was not appropriate for use in school as it portrayed Indians negatively.The novel, by national laureate Abdullah Hussein, became a controversial issue following the ministry's decision to use the novel as a literature textbook, with several parties claiming that it contains words deemed demeaning to the Indian community.

Education Minister MuhyiddinYassin had announced on Jan 27 that the novel will remain as the textbook for the literature component of the Bahasa Malaysia subject for Form Five, but with amendments to those parts deemed offensive by the Indian community.Jayathas said he wants Unesco to intervene in this issue as it degrades the Indian and Chinese community."The book has nothing but racial slurs and it stereotypes the two races," he said, adding that the novel would only divide the peaceful Malaysian nation.Jayathas added the anti-Interlok forum is still on schedule.

"Tonight we will run the forum at the Mahamariamman Temple at Ladang Bukit Jalil near Puchong and the last day of forum is at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall tomorrow.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/156765