Penang Watch

Over 100 protestors at Gurney Drive launched a new round of anti-ISA campaign in Penang island2 ISA detainees `looking' on quietly at the protest in their supportHow long shall the people suffer before ISA is abolished?Is this message clear to you?This is one of the weirdest arrest I had ever experienced: I joined an anti-ISA protest this morning at Gurney Drive, starting from 11.00am. By 12.00noon some cops came to order us to disperse in 5 min. Despite protests of double standards -where the same police allowed UMNO to protest without permit, the protestors dispersed and headed towards Gurney Plazza, some 500m away. After all protestors dispersed the police who assembled a few dozens of FRU shock troops in front of the Plaza and blocking the traffic in the narrow road, started to make arrests!

The 1st they approached was me. An inspector Karuna asked me to assist the police in investigating the protest. He was polite enough so I asked to go to the police station by myself at 2.00pm, after everything is over. He asked his superiors about that but the reply seems to be `no'. Then I told Karuna that I was not under arrest -so what right have they to force me to go to the police station straight away. Then the superior who stood nearby said that he will arrest me then. That was how I was arrested-for asking to go to `assist the police's investigation' at a later time.

Another guy Sathis (who told me about the was their next target: He is a blogger and was taking photos of the police force assembled. He was asked to go to the police station while taking photos-does it mean that the people are allowed to take photos of the police in their rugged uniform?

Even weirder: When the dispersed protestors heard about our arrests-they went to the Patani Rd police station to check out our conditions and to report the police's mishandling of protestors. Then 2 more were arrested just when they stepped out the police station! And 3 more arrested at the 2nd floor of the police station when some others went up there to look for us. This lots of 7 arrests made a weird experience-but the police and the political power behind them will pay a heavy price when there are strong media and public pressures descend upon them-which seems likely in the next few days!

Send to `Hell' ISA and those behind the inhumane law!

UPDATE: 5 of us had been released on police bail at 7.00pm, after our statement had been recorded. But the 2 who were arrested after making complaints against the police will be charged the next morning (Monday) under section 90 of Police Act -for causing `public nuisance'. Lau and Teh will spend a night in police lock-up before being sent to the new Magistrate Court near Dewan Sri Pinang, at 8.00am the next morning to face the charges. All 7 will have to report to the Pulau Tikus police station on May 26th (tentatively agreed to turn up at 10.00am) to find out if we will be charged for illegal assembly.

Thanks: to Ex-Exco Dr Toh Kin Woon, Exco Liew Chin Tong for dropping by the police station for saying hallo and helping out in the background. Lawyer Darshan Singh also dropped by to show concern.

Is this an appropriate response from a `caring' government to the protest?Lau Shu Shi-1 of the 7 arresteesOng BK-your web master here, was the 1st to be arrested among 7 this morning.: Others were: Teh Chun Hong,Sathis, Supramaniam,Vimal, Stanley & Lau Shu Shi.

 
Appendix:

HINDRAF MAKKAL SAKTHI PENANG. (Nation wide PROTEST)

11th May 2008

On
the 9th April 2008 Mr.P.Uthayakumar was prematurely discharged from
Taiping Hospital despite his sugar level still at 13.5 . We believe
this was deliberately done as a result of interference by the Malaysian
Police and prison authorities who were uneasy of the large presence of
HINDRAF supporters at the hospital conducting candle light vigils and
prayers for his speedy recovery. His eco cardiogram was fixed for the
28th April as the Hospital authorities “deemed” his condition not
serious enough to warrant an immediate test despite his complaints of
chest discomfort.

Upon
discharge from hospital despite request from family members to refer
him to a private hospital at their own expenses the said request was
rejected.

On
the 15th April 2008 the mother of P.Uthayakumar also submitted an
appeal to the Prime Minister to refer him to the National Heart
Institute as it is believed that Uthayakumar suffered a silent heart
attack and required immediate medical attention.

On
the 28th April 2008 upon conducting an eco cardiogram, the Taiping
Hospital doctors decided to refer Mr.Uthayakumar to the National Heart
Institute as they believed he had indeed damaged his heart muscles but
the extend of the damage could not be ascertained as there were no
cardiologists at the Taiping Hospital nor are the facilities adequate
to enable the doctors to come to a definitive conclusion on his
condition. His complaint of skin rashes and pain on the hip joints
numbness of limbs ect and request to be treated by an orthopedic and
general surgeon was ignored.

The
family members of Uthayakumar were shocked when the doctors at Taiping
could not confirm a definite date for his referral to the national
Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.

Despite
repeated requests for his appointment to be given priority, it was
plainly clear to the family members that the Hospital and prison
authorities were deliberately delaying his appointment (family members
are willing to bear the costs of private treatment).

During
the last family visit on 4th May 2008 Mr.Uthayakumar had complained of
chest pain and the family noticed his weak condition. His skin rashes
worsened and he had continued orthopedics problems. His skin rashes
are mainly due to the unhygienic condition of the cell (dirty and
filthy cell) and contaminated water supply within the cell that he uses
for his daily hygiene care.

On
the 5th May 2008 despite repeated telephone calls to the Taiping
Hospital and Prison authorities the family members were not given any
assurance that any priority to his appointment at the National Heart
Institute is being given.

I
wish to bring to your attention that Mr.Uthayakumar is deliberately
being denied immediate medical care by the Government for his
involvement in the protection of the ethnic Malaysian Indian community
in Malaysia. Denying him medical attention is intended to punish and
exert torture and cruel punishment on him.

Mr.Uthayakumar
is very ill and needs immediate medical attention especially cardiac
care. The Hospital authorities are not revealing any results of his
kidney and liver functions and we are unsure if he is really healthy.
However the family are given unfounded hope that Uthayakumar is fine.

This
is a misuse of power and he his being politically abused. It has been
more than 4 months since he was detained under the ISA, and his health
is terribly not well. HINDRAF and NGO`s in penang demand for him to be
referred to IJN immediately and be released from the ISA. Understanding
his sufferings and health problems, we are concerned of all the other
ISA detainees whom are being abused by the federal government and
police just as him. We demand for the Internal Security Act to be
abolished immediately and for all the ISA detainees to be released
without condition. HINDRAF has sent a report and memo to the Special
Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment
or Punishment
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson. HINDRAF also calls in the Pakatan Rakyat Government to act as
fast as possible to debate this matter in parliamentary and abolish the ISA.

K.Sudhagaran Stanley

For HINDRAF PENANG