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Wednesday 28 November 2007

Tribute to the protestors

The last couple of weeks Malaysia has been in the limelight for all the 'right' reasons. Staging peaceful protests to get desperate message across to the government. The Hindraf and the Bersih rally showed just what it took to come out and voice out displeasures. Forget the fact that the government prevented these protests from taking place. Forget the fact that the police used force, tear-gas, water cannon with chemical substances on innocent people who protested peacefully. Forget the fact that the Government made an utter fool out of themselves by trying to shut the people up.

It is finally right because for once after a long time, these incidents that took place during the protest received wide international media coverage. The truth were reported by AlJazeera, BBC, Reuters, Malaysia Kini and many local blogs. Of course, one cant depend on getting information from reading the mainstream media.

The latest Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally is definitely a day to remember for all Indians. This is indeed a wake-up call for the Government. The Indians have been marginalised for a little too long. We, Indians deserve to have our grievances resolved. Gang activity among the Indians are symptoms of a disenfranchised community. How long is this to go on? I am amazed as to how the Government can keep shoving these issues under the carpet and keep thinking that the Indians or for that matter Malaysians will keep mum about how they are treated.

I am therefore thankful that Bersih and Hindraf rally took place. I wasnt there but I salute those who were. To me they are heroes. How long do they expect the rakyat to stay quiet and oppressed? Surely, they realise that there will come a time when the rakyat will stand up for their rights. Well, if they still havent, let me assure the Government that the time has come. And its only the beginning.

The Government better listen or face the consequences of having to manage a chaotic society. And lying through the media isnt going to help either. I am sure I speak on behalf of many decent Malaysians who are disgusted with the Government's lies through the media. It is an insult to our intelligence! Please for heaven sake, wake up! The rakyat is not stupid.

While the world watches the dignity and courage of the Malaysian Indians protesting their social plight and how the Government is slowly destroying places of worship, I dare say this is only the beginning. Its going to be a tough battle but it will be done. Peacefully...

As the great Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi said "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent".

And to the heroes who made it to the Hindraf rally despite police road blocks days before the rally, here is what Mahatma Gandhi once said "Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from an indomitable will".



Al-Jazeera - Ethnic Indians protest in Malaysia
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G-a...

2 comments:

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

hi suba,

great posting.

as we discussed over lunch just now...i am so sad that at this stage in our development, there are among my countrymen and women - the poor and marginalised.

but you know what i think of uthayakumar's memo.

my sentiments for that aside, i hope the government of the day realises how serious things have become! they should act now and rectify all the weaknesses in our system.

take care...

holytounge said...

hi,nice posting.goodday........