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A leadership crisis has erupted in the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) with its top brass hurling accusations at each other while the movement’s chairperson-in-exile expresses surprise.
Yesterday, the five detained Hindraf leaders denied they had appointed RS Thanendran to take over the reins in their absence.
In a two-page statement, P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, V Ganabatirau, R Kenghadharan and T Vasantha Kumar said that they did not place Thanendran in charge.
The five are currently being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak.
They said Thanendran should not assume the "self-proclaimed acting leadership of Hindraf" and that the statements he has made to the media do not represent the movement.
They also demanded that Thanendran return the funds that have been collected for Hindraf. "He is not to associate or align Hindraf with any political parties," they stressed.
Thanendran was appointed
However, Hindraf chairperson and Uthayakumar’s brother Waythamoorthy was surprised to learn of this latest development.
The lawyer, who is currently in London, does not believe that his brother would have signed the document.
"Are you sure they have all signed the statement?" he asked when contacted today.
Waythamoorthy said he appointed a 10-member interim committee to run the day- to-day affairs of Hindraf and Thanendran is the movement’s national coordinator.
"I believe this is a ploy by irresponsible individuals to tarnish the image of Thanendran," he added.
‘Bought over by BN’
Meanwhile, Thanendran alleged that four of the five Hindraf leaders under detention have been ‘bought over’ by Barisan Nasional.
"Waythamoorthy is the Hindraf chairperson, who is still alive. He is the right person to speak and they (the Hindraf 5) have no right to speak. They are supporters just like me," he told Malaysiakini.
He also claimed that Uthayakumar’s signature on the statement was forged.
"There is a split in Hindraf because the four have been bought over by BN to attack Hindraf during the general election to win back Indian votes.
"We have heard rumours that they will be released early," he said, adding that he has not collected funds on behalf of Hindraf.
This is not the first time that there has been speculations of a split within Hindraf.
Last month, Vasantha was said to have lodged a police report against Uthayakumar while under detention but this was later denied.
The five, four of whom are lawyers, were detained in December shortly after staging a street protest which drew some 30,000 people to the streets.
YennaMike Says : I'm not surprised to see this statement at all, i knew it will appear before the Election. Just few things that my simple mind queries...
a) Well why the leaders didn't make the statement themselves (not via third party)...?
b) Similar statement was made before but later denied by the leaders, again another conspiracy...?
c) We have a lying PM and corrupted Goverment, how long would it take to prepare a statement and forge a signature...?
d) Does anyone read the concept of divide and rule...?
e) Who would you trust, someone who is in the prison risking his life and future fighting for our cause or some who is running around spraying chemical water and tear gas trying to destroy that same cause...?
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