Hindraf
should Welcome
“Gelang Patah Declaration”
to Gain More Comprehensive
Support from“Pakatan Rakyat”
Statement issued by Sahabat Rakyat Johor Working Committee
Chinese version released on 9 April 2013
Hindraf Chairman Waytha Moorthy has
been going on a 21-day Hunger Viratham (hunger strike) before the coming
General Election. He intended to draw attention of both the UMNO-dominated BN
ruling clique and Pakatan Rakyat (hereinafter referred to as the “PR”). The
highlighted issues are the long term dilemma faced by the marginalized Indian
communities and the demand of endorsing Hindraf’s “5-year Blueprint” by the
political parties.
The Hunger Viratham got a very
positive response from veteran leader of the Democratic Action Party
(DAP) Lim Kit Siang. On the 31st of March, he
solemnly issued the “Gelang Patah Declaration” (hereinafter referred to as the
“Declaration”) at the Gelang Patah Constituency in which he is contesting.
DAP’s solution to the plight of the Indians are presented in the “Declaration”.
In our views, Hindraf should welcome
this “Declaration” because (1) the 14-points declaration basically reflects the
most pressing aspirations and demands of the Indian population; (2) the
announcement was made in the form of solemn declarations by the most
authoritative and well-known senior leader Lim Kit Siang, together with most of
the Indian leaders within the party. It was announced in a Parliamentary
Constituency which has a special significance in this General Election. The
“Declaration” showed formal commitment by DAP and its release was witnessed by
the people of all ethnic groups, as well as all the groups and political
parties of the country.
Disappointing Statements by Ganesan
We the Sahabat Rakyat Johor Working
Committee has committed to support the Waytha Moorthy led Hindraf’s struggle to
liberate the Indian communities from their plight. A statement entitled “DAP's
Blueprint for Indians is a Copy of Hindraf's” published by Ganesan in the name
of the Hindraf advisor on 2nd of Apr has caught our attention.
In our opinion, DAP leaders’
acceptance of Hindraf’s most pressing demands as the main content of
“Declaration” is a positive move. According to Ganesan, that was an effort of
DAP who copied Hindraf’s “5-year Blueprint” in order to fish the Indians’
votes. This kind of rhetoric is not convincing.
The Indian communities have been
oppressed and enslaved in the past 55 years. It has been a known fact that the
root cause is the institutionalized racism rule by the UMNO-led Perikatan and
BN governments, who inherited the mantle of the British colonial power.
In his statement, Ganesan could not
wait to question the DAP Penang government for what was being done in the past
5 years. He has clearly exposed his prejudice against DAP and over-demanding
from the Penang state government.
The next day
(3 April), Ganesan released another statement entitled Hindraf Dares Kit Siang for an Open Debate. He challenged Lim Kit
Siang to openly debate the proposition that “DAP Gelang Patah Plan for the
Indians is not a sincere plan to address the problems of the Indian poor in
comprehensive and permanent ways”.
We are in the
view that Ganesan, on the other hand, should challenge the president of UMNO
and BN, Najib to debate the proposition that “Institutionalised racism ruling
by the UMNO-dominated Alliance Government and Barisan Nasional Government is
the root cause of the enduring oppressed, discrimated and marginalised
predicament of the Indian, Chinese and other ethnic minorities in our country”.
This debate willl only be educational to all ethnic communities who have been
oppressed, discriminated and marginalised for 55 years.
In an
interview by Free Malaysia Today, Ganesan emphasized the favourable outcome
from the “informal contacts” following the meeting between Hindraf and Najib.
He also looked forward a second formal meeting with Najib. It’s inevitable to
associate Ganesan’s behaviour with his strong interest of accepting the
“enlistment” by Najib.
No More Illusion Towards BN Ruling Clique
Two faces against suqiu |
At this
juncture, even if the BN ruling clique endorses Hindraf’s Blueprint or makes
any promises, it is only to fish for votes from the Indian community. In 1999,
former Prime Minister, Mahathir agreed in principle to the “Chinese Associations’
General Election Demands” (suqiu) endorsed by 2098 Chinese Associations.
However, he later kicked away the ladder after the election. Waythamoorthy and
Hindraf should take this typical incident as a lesson in their way forward.
Ganesan’s
action of pointing his struggle against Lim Kit Siang and DAP, but not against
Najib and UMNO-dominated BN government is a very deceiving act. DAP or Pakatan
Rakyat is not the culprit of the enduring institutionalized racial
discrimination in our country. They are not the main object or target of
struggle of the populace today. In the few state governments ruled by PR, PR
has just yet fulfilled their promises on the issue of basic rights of the Indian
community or on Kampung Buah Pala in Penang in the past 5 short years. The
broad masses, including the Indian community should hold DAP and PR accountable
for their promises when they come into power.
Support Hindraf’s
Demand to Voice their Aspirations in the Parliament
Waytha Moorthy has been brave and
firmly called on the government to repeal Article 153 of the Federal
Constitution. This is a struggle for equal rights and interests of the Indian
communities as well as the other minorities.
There is yet any democratic political
party or political leader dare to express support to this just demand from
Hindraf, given the possibility of losing the Malay votes or risk of being
legally attacked. Therefore, the spirit of Waytha Moorthy to almost lay down
his life for justice is very rare and highly commendable. His effort
should be continued until the genuine equality among ethnic groups is achieved.
To this end, we hope Lim Kit Siang
and DAP will make room for Waytha Moorthy to contest on behalf of Hindraf on a
DAP ticket in a parliamentary seat with significant proportion of Indian
voters. This is indeed similar to allow Wong Tuck as a representative from
Himpunan Hijau contesting in Bentong constituency. It will pave the way for
Waytha Moorthy as the representative of the marginalized Indian communities, to
voice the aspirations of repealing Article 153 and demanding for equality among
ethnic groups in the Parliament.
Meanwhile, Waytha Moorthy could, via
DAP’s inner channel, suggest to add on points that Hindraf wishes to highlight
but not covered in “Declaration”. Although DAP consists of Indian members and
leaders as well, they are only minorities in the party, that’s why DAP is
always regarded as a Chinese-ethnic-community-based party, representing the
interests of the urban petty bourgeoisie. By putting forward “Declaration”
decisively, Lim Kit Siang is allowing DAP to breakthrough its limitation as a
Chinese-based party, to unequivocally represent the interests of the Indian
ethnic community as well. “Declaration” is no doubt a breakthrough with great
significance, regardless from the perspective of ethnic party politics or
democratic human rights movement. Hindraf should support and work hand in hand
to strengthen the democratic front of Indian and Chinese-based democratic
political parties and organizations, and to dump BN into the dustbin of
history.
Hindraf should Maintain "Non-partisan"
Political Position
The "non-partisan"
political position upheld by Waytha Moorthy, Hindraf's chair, is in line with
the interests of the broad masses, especially the Indian ethnic community. From
present situation, it seems like there is a joint attempt from the
internal and external, to deliberately equate Human Rights Party (HRP) with
Hindraf, and to equate Uthayakumar's opinion with Waytha's or
Hindraf's. This is to create doubt of the masses about the political
position of Hindraf, hoping to split Hindraf and thereby weaken the
influence of Hindraf's "non-partisan" political assertion. We are of
the view that, Waytha Moorthy, as Hindraf's Chair, should respond to the
following points at his soonest:
(1) Articulate Hindraf's political
position on GE13, mainly on how we treat the besieged Barisan Nasional and
Pakatan Rakyat, the government-in-waiting, and also how we treat the Gelang
Patah Declaration by Lim Kit Siang DAP.
(2) Articulate Hindraf's
position on HRP, mainly to clarify the relationship between Hindraf and HRP, to
explain whether or not statements released by Uthayakumar, the Secretary
General of HRP in the name of "De facto leader of Hindraf" represent
Hindraf's position and views. If they don’t, why does Hindraf remain silence?
We are of the view that Waytha Moorthy should uphold the "non-partisan"
political stance in order to gain wider support from the populace.
Our Hope on DAP and Hindraf
We very much hope DAP and Hindraf
will “Form a democratic front, fight for the cause of the vulnerable
communities!" Our position is embodied in the Letter from Johore NGOs
to the Johore people entitled "Unite! People of Johore, Realize 3Pressing Demands; Smash UMNO Hegemony, Form a Democratic United Front!" We
are resolute and steadfast in our stand! We are willing to act in unison with
people of all ethnic groups and democratic political parties and organisations!
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