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One more fasting leader ill, says Hindraf

SINGAPORE: A fasting ethnic Indian leader in Malaysia was on Saturday night hospitalised after he took ill at the detention centre in Taiping, where he was being held without charges and trial under the Internal Security Act, according to the Hindu Rights Action Force.

M. Manoharan joined his fellow-detenu P. Uthayakumar in the same hospital, where he was admitted on Thursday. The condition of both was stable, said Hindraf National Coordinator Thanenthiran Ramankutty over the telephone from Malaysia.

Three other Hindraf leaders – V. Ganapati Rao, R. Kengadharan, and T. Vasanthakumar – are also said to be fasting in ISA-related detention, and they are alright, said Mr. Thanenthiran. Rarely does the government comment on developments in respect of those detained under the ISA.

For the second day, Hindraf supporters held a “candle light vigil” outside the hospital in Taiping, in “solidarity” with the detained leaders. The authorities did not intervene, as the “vigil” was held in a silent mode and with no posters being sported, said Mr. Thanenthiran.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Friday heard further arguments on a habeas corpus petition for the release of these five detained Hindraf leaders.

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