Just a quick post on the Orange Protest aka Hindraf Hindu rights rally. Here is the youtube video clip on Al-Jazeera.

The Hindus in Malaysia under Hindraf are making their protest known to the world that they want their rights be respected by the government. It’s a PR disaster (ala Bersih clampdown) to deny such a peaceful rally. Tear gas were shot, protesters arrested.

About 30,000 protesters were at KLCC in this rally. Go get Al-Jazeera for the real news. I have already ordered the news package in Astro because of all the current events happening in Malaysia.

Why I didn’t write about this earlier? I would have if I wasn’t too busy.

But more importantly, I believe the Hindraf has made a categorical mistake by not making their protest a more inclusive one. The issue of the demolition of the temples and the denial of their freedom to practice their faith - is not just a Hindu or Indian problem. It is actually an issue for all Malaysian citizens to defend - the freedom to practice your faith.

If they were to make their rally one to protect this fundamental right - I suspect more Malaysians will come to answer the call.

Malaysiakini report this:
20,000 Hindraf protesters rally in KLCC
Nov 25, 07 10:22am

About 20,000 protesters demonstrated under the shadows of Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Twin Towers after their efforts to petition the British High Commission was thwarted by the police with tear gas and chemical-laced water cannon. The protesters had attempted to gather outside the high commission early this morning but thousands were pushed back by the riot police to outside a two-kilometre radius of the venue.

However, the protesters later joined another crowd in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) which surged to between 10,000 and 15,000 by 9.30am. The protesters – a mix of young and old Indian Malaysians from all parts of the country - were addressed with loudhailers by Hindraf leaders, including P Uttayakumar.

In an attempt to disperse the protesters, the police fired tear gas and chemical-laced water into the defiant crowd every 10 minutes. Undeterred, the crowd retreated and then surged forward each time.

At 10.30am, the Hindraf leaders ended their speeches. But thousands of protesters continue to mill around the KLCC areas playing a cat-and-mouse game with the police water cannon.

However at 11am, the crowd has moved from KLCC to edge closer to the British High Commission. Thousands are facing off riot police at the key Jalan Ampang and Jalan Tun Razak intersection near Ampang Park.

At 1pm, after negotiations with the police, Hindraf leader P Uttayakumar gave a short speech and urged the crowd to disperse peacefully. The crowd was seen walking back down towards Jalan Sultan Ismail, away from the British High Commission.

‘This is outrageous’ Hindraf leader A Sivanesan condemned the police for turning Kuala Lumpur into a war zone.

“Things are getting out of hand. We blame the police. They have beaten women and children. This is outrageous,” he told Malaysiakini. Lawyer Haris Ibrahim, who led a 10-member Bar Council monitoring team, was stunned by the heavy-handed police action against the protesters.

“I’m not happy with the way the police are handling the crowd,’ he said.

DAP member of parliament M Kulasegaran was also upset with the crackdown. “Over the last 50 years Indian have been marginalised in this country. And we now want the same rights as enjoyed by other communities,” he told AFP. “They have no right to stop us from protesting today. This is the will of the people,” he added.

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