Remain calm, Waytha tells supporters

Source : MalaysiaKini

Hindu Rights Action Force chairperson P Waythamoorthy today urged the movement’s supporters to remain calm in the face of the police swoop on five key leaders which aimed to cripple the movement.“Don’t get emotional. Let’s remain calm and continue with our struggle,” said Waythamoorthy who contacted Malaysiakini from London.

He is presently in that city to rally international support for the movement which wants the Malaysian government to stop marginalising the Indian community.His absence from Malaysia prevented him from being arrested under the Internal Security Act today. Five other Hindraf leaders, including Waythamoorthy’s brother

Uthayakumar, were detained under the tough security law todayThe five have been immediately sent to the Kamunting detention centre in Taiping, Perak, on a two-year detention without trial.“Let not anyone tell you that Hindraf is without leadership as a result of the police act today,” said Waythamoorthy, who is expected to take the helm from his detained elder brother.He added that he would continue to lead Hindraf from London to achieve their aims in bettering the plight of the Indian community“I will be issuing statements from here and will be in touch with others in Malaysia on our next step,” he said.

Protect our struggleHe also warned his supporters not to allow any political parties to hijack the movement’s struggle.“We will remain apolitical though we are politically sensitive,” said the 41-year-old lawyer.“I know there will be political parties who will try to move in after the arrest of the five key leaders today. My message to our supporters is not to let them hijack our struggle.”He added that he would be calling for a tele-conference press meeting tomorrow at Uthayakumar’s office to explain Hindraf’s next move.“Till then, please remain calm and if you want to do anything, just offer prayers for us,” he said.

Earlier today the police arrested lawyers Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau and organising secretary T Vasantha Kumar under the dreaded ISA for allegedly being a national threat.

Uthayakumar, in his last message through a video recording which he gave to Malaysiakini, also asked Hindraf supporters to continue their “just struggle”.