Hindu Gymkhana to be handed over to Hindu community: Sassi Palejo

Source : The News.com


Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism, Sassi Palejo, has declared that the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) will be shifted from the premises of the Hindu Gymkhana. The historical site will then be handed over to the Hindu community as it was a hub for the minority community.

She said that the Jinnah Courts Hostel, Karachi, will also be vacated by the Rangers and this historical building would be preserved as a cultural heritage site.

The provincial minister said this while talking to a delegation of the Pakistan Film and TV Journalists Association (PFTJA) on Thursday who called on the minister at her office. The delegation comprised of President, PFTJA, Abdul Wasee Qureshi; General Secretary, Athar Jawed Soofi; and other members of the association Qaiser Masood Jaffery and Zeeshan Siddiqi.

She said that there was no doubt that the Napa had been serving its cause to a great extent, and personalities such as Zia Mohiuddin, Talat Hussain and Rahat Kazmi were working hard for the promotion of performing arts.

However, she said, this place belonged to the Hindu Gymkhana and the Hindu community was a peaceful one and the government would have the site vacated by Napa and hand it over to the minority community so that they could take part in their cultural activities.

She said the Napa would be shifted to another place as the government did not want to create a conflict with the Presidency.

Sassi Palejo said that steps were being taken to vacate the Jinnah Courts Hostel of the Rangers. The minister said that India made all efforts to promote its culture across the globe, and assured that the PPP government would also take steps to reconsider the cultural policy of the country to promote Pakistani culture in the world.

She claimed that there was massive corruption in the culture and tourism department and the government was taking steps to investigate this corruption. She assured that stern action would be taken against the corrupt officials that were found guilty.

Palejo said that the government was planning to introduce a policy to connect all libraries, including Liaquat National Library, through the internet and that all the libraries would be equipped with DVD and VCD facilities as well as other modern equipment.

She said that the government would also build a museum and cultural complex each at Sehwan Sharif and Bhit Shah.

S'gor: All, but Hindraf leader, sworn in...

Source : M'Kini

All Selangor state assemblypersons were sworn in today at the state’s Dewan Undangan Negeri in Shah Alam with the exception of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader and Kota Alam Shah state assemblyperson K Manoharan.

Manoharan is currently undergoing a two-year detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

To compensate for his absence, newly appointed Dewan Undangan Negeri Speaker Teng Chang Khim said Manoharan’s detention will not affect his formal appointment.

"There has been a precedent where the swearing in process was brought to the Kamunting detention camp so there should not be a problem with doing it for Manoharan," explained Teng to reporters after the swearing in ceremony for the 55 representatives.

Manoharan was arrested on Dec 13 with four others shortly after the Nov 25 rally organised by Hindraf which drew some 30,000 people to the streets.

His detention however does not legally affect his position as a state representative as there are no written laws to stipulate that an ISA detainee cannot continue to perform his or her duties while being detained.

Teng then elaborated by referring to a case in 1978 where two DAP elected MPs Chan Kok Kit (Sungai Besi) and Chian Cheng Kai (Batu Gajah) were both sworn in as MPs while serving their ISA detention. Both Chan and Chian were accused of disrupting national security.

Mano to swear in only when ready

There was a different opinion on the same matter however coming from Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.

Manoharan will only swear in once he is ready, said Khalid. Asked what he meant by this, he replied that Manoharan "will be sworn in as Adun (state assemblyperson) in the Dewan."

Continuing, Khalid said Pakatan Rakyat has and will continue to push for Manoharan’s ISA charged to be dropped so that he can serve his constituents but conceded that the matter was beyond the state’s jurisdiction.

"This matter is a federal level matter and there is only so much we can do as to only try and urge the federal government to drop the charges against Manoharan," he said.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail told the country's highest court three weeks ago that the five activists should not be released as they are a threat to national security.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar has said that Manoharan could be sworn in before the state Speaker at the Kamunting detention centre as this has been done in the past.

Cooperation with ex-BN leaders

On another matter, Khalid said that his government would not dismiss the possibility of working with former BN state leaders for the sake of the state's development and future.

Khalid however said the decision would depend on the state executive councillors, whether they would need the services of the individuals concerned.

"It depends on them, but we hope for strong cooperation among them so as to provide the best services possible, for the people.

"Change will take place as only those qualified and professional enough will be given the trust to carry out the tasks," he told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony.

He said this in response to questions if Selangor would follow the lead of Pakatan Rakyat-led Penang to appoint former BN leaders to serve the state government.

HINDRAF takes it's case to UN

Source : Indianknight402 Blog

The Hindu Rights Action Force is urging the United Nations to appoint a special rapporteur to specifically look into the plight of the Indian community in Malaysia.

The request was made by Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy in a letter written to the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights which is based in Geneva, Switzerland on April 17.

“The Malaysian ethnic Indian has no other choice but to seek redress and solutions at the doorsteps of the United Nations,” he said in the letter, a copy of which was made available to Malaysiakini.

“On behalf of all those oppressed, suppressed and marginalised ethnic Indian community I formally request that you exercise all powers conferred upon you to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Affecting the community,” he added.

In his letter, Waythamoorthy - presently based in London following a government crackdown on Hindraf leaders - gave examples of various issues in which the members of the community were sidelined as a result of government policies.

“The majority Indian community who belonged to the plantation sectors become internally displaced persons when their traditional plantation land is acquired by government for purposes of development and their very social living lifestyle are disrupted.

“They are not provided adequate compensation for their contributions for the country’s economy over the last 200 years, not provided new job opportunities and training programs.

“No permanent alternative is given to resolve their housing problems and ultimately they end up as squatters in urban and remain poor, underclass and neglected.

“When their plantation land is taken they lose their land, houses, temples, schools and end up a new poor class neglected society,” he said in his letter.

UN’s fact-finding mission

Waythamoorthy also told Malaysiakini that he was invited to make a presentation on the conditions of the Malaysian Indians at the United Nations Human Rights commission in Geneva on April 17.

“The meeting served as an eye opener to the United Nations Human Rights council. It was the first time serious human rights violations on Malaysia was presented,” he said.

He said that he was given as assurance by the world body that it would seek an explanation from the Malaysian government.

“They also said they would request an invitation from Malaysia to visit for purposes of fact-finding on the issues raised,” he said.

Hindraf became prominent after raising various issues pertaining to the Indian community in this country. On Nov 25, it organised a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur in which about 30,000 people took part to show their anger against the government for failing to uplift the community.

Following that five top Hindraf leaders, including Waythamoorthy’s brother Uthayakumar, were detained under the Internal Security Act for two years for allegedly being a national threat.

Waythamoorthy left the country to India, and then to the United Kingdom, to canvass international support for Hindraf’s cause.

Uthaya's condition a mockery of human rights...!!!

A Letter by Vig via M'Kini

I refer to the letter Uthayakumar's medical condition dangerous.

I am absolutely disgusted with the blatant treachery and severely discriminating practices of prison personnel at the Kamunting detention centre - the withholding medication and the unlawful punishing of Uthayakumar is anything but sickeningly inhumane. I call upon and challenge all powers that be to press forward as well as arise to the request of all Malaysians, to attend to the suffering of Uthayakumar immediately and indefinitely.

What we have right here right now blown-up in our faces is an absolute farce in the shape of a bomb that has resulted in a mockery of human rights. Its violation simply speaks volumes of intolerable disregard to all humans alike. How can a man diagnosed with diabetes be served with food of high sugar content? Detainee, criminal or simply civilian; isn't it onus on prison officials and their venerable wardens to dispense medication at their steady disposal and mercy for anybody who has been inexorably incarcerated?

Until further notice and with not much ado, I sincerely hope my request for the Home Ministry to step-in and look into this matter would bear fruition; in the form of already overdue specialist attention of the highest class to Uthayakumar at IJN. Given the prognosis without professional observation further, the victim will definitely succumb to deadly disease for his end-organs are steadily and consistently showing aggravated symptoms of nervousness followed by vascular failure even as I write. His vision is impaired and tenacious heart as well, has weakened in its relentless beat for retribution given his efforts for the Malaysian people.

I pledge, cadge and beg the local and international community to voice and protest in light of this pathetic and execrable hegemony practiced by the detentionists; to imprison and vilify these five for stressing the grieving plight of marginalised people in Malaysia. Please do not misconstrue or misinterpret my request for my concern is not to corner or gain political mileage given that I may be mistaken for a particular race or group in this country. I also do not engage in any sort of banal or vapid discourses with terrorists outside of this sacred land. All I wish for is the sincere display of magnanimous altruism on humanitarian grounds to prevail in the wake of sickening insouciance deployed histrionically, to harm innocent prisoners of conscience.

Uthayakumar deserves utmost respect irrespective and regardless of his 'perceived' misdoing or crime. One cannot be held against herself or himself for highlighting the indiscriminate oppression of any one particular race in this country. He may have been held in captivity for standing-up and voicing-out against discriminatory and prejudicial not to mention bigoted policies and systems here yet, nobody believes this to be an excuse let alone justification enough for not affording and according him specialist medical treatment.

We know that should the law of the land and the wrath of the gods be unleashed in due course, actual criminals and the real perpetrators will be sentenced to appear and explain themselves with impunity but without exoneration, for hurting and silencing innocent people.

Until then let us hope that not a single member of the five detainees, each ironically representing a state won by the solid and transparent opposition, are surreptitiously gagged and murdered as we comfortably sleep in our warm beds. I pray for haste with forthcoming attitude by the Home Ministry to administer the best of medical aid at the sincere request of all Malaysians; to be rushed to the withered Uthayakumar.

I also hope the plain ineffectiveness and the indolent attitude mastered by certain people in power will not prevail in the deliberate wake of his weakening condition.

AWAY...

DEAR READERS AND GUEST OF YENNAMIKE,

I'LL BE AWAY FOR FEW DAYS AND WILL BE BACK ONLINE FROM MONDAY THE 21st ONWARDS. IN THE MEANTIME I WILL TRY MY BEST TO UPDATE MY BLOG DURING MY BREAK....

MANY THANKS

REGARDS

YENNAMIKE...

Tamil daily Makkal Osai's publication permit rejected...!!!

Source : M'Kini
Image : IMOL


The Home Ministry today rejected the renewal of Tamil daily Makkal Osai's publication permit, a move believed to be related to the widespread coverage given to the opposition.

Contacted this afternoon, Makkal Osai general manager S M Periasamy confirmed that the ministry had issued the letter which stated that the daily's application 'will not be considered'.

The letter did not state any reasons for the rejection.

According to Periasamy, the daily - which is closely linked to former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam - had submitted an application in July, three months ahead of the permit's expiry.

More Update Read HERE