Ethnic Indians In Malaysia Go On Hunger Strike To Protest Leaders' Detention

Five detained ethnic Indian activists began a hunger strike Monday to protest their imprisonment and the alleged discrimination faced by Indians in predominantly Muslim Malaysia. Supporters of the five jailed members of the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf, joined the hunger strike at two different temples, said one of the detainees' lawyers, N. Surendran.

Hindraf has demanded an end to government policies that marginalize Indians and the release of the five men, who are being held under a law allowing indefinite detention without trial. The men were arrested after organizing a mass rally on Nov. 25. Among those joining the hunger strike was V. Raidu, a brother of one of the detained activists.

"They do it inside (the detention center). We do it outside," he said. "We are planning to do it for five days, one day for each member. Raidu said he and about 10 other supporters were planning to take only water but no food for five days while staying at one of the temples outside the capital, Kuala Lumpur. It was not immediately clear how many people started the hunger strike at the other temple.

About 20,000 Indians took part in the November protest that demanded racial equality in this multiethnic country, where Muslim Malays make up 60 percent of the 27 million people.

Ethnic Chinese are the second largest group, comprising 25 percent of the population, while ethnic Indians, most of whom are Hindus, make up 8 percent.

R.S. Thanenthiran, a Hindraf coordinator, said Hindus at a temple in the northern town of Ipoh had also joined the strike.

Indians have complained about the destruction of their temples by authorities and affirmative action policies, designed to bring the Malays on par with the wealthier Chinese, but deny Indians job, business and education opportunities.

On Sunday Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi addressed about 10,000 Indians at a government-organized rally, promising his administration would eradicate poverty by 2010. He also said the Indian religious festival of Thaipusam on Wednesday would be a public holiday in more states in an apparent bid to appease Indian concerns.

But Hindraf supporters said the government is skirting the real issue of Indian marginalization. The prime minister "is just giving bones to his dog to keep him tame," said one supporter who declined to be named. (PR-Inside.com)

***** I have grave doubts if a hunger strike will be effective in a country like Malaysia. If the authorities had been more accountable or at least conscionable, then it might work, but here the response of the kerajaan would be, "if they want to fast and die that's their problem. Less headache for us lah brudder."
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