PETALING JAYA, JUNE 3- A MIC leader and a coalition of Indian-based NGOs are mulling a street rally to protest against custodial deaths.
Speaking to FMT, WargaAman secretary-general S Barathidasan said that the idea was mooted by MIC strategy director S Vell Paari.
“We held a discussion on the matter and both WargaAman and Vell Paari agree that custodial deaths are becoming rampant and require drastic action. If we can hold rallies for political, religious and racial reasons, why not this?” he added.
Barathidasan said that WargaAman would meet with other NGOs and invite them to participate in the protest as well.
He stressed that both WargaAman and Vell Paari also wanted this to be a bi-partisan effort, with the involvement of Pakatan Rakyat politicians as well.
“Political differences must be set aside for this issue. This is also not a racial matter. It is a Malaysian issue and Malaysians of all races must come together.
“We must send a strong message to the authorities that we do not condone such violence, and the police must learn to investigate crimes as opposed to beating suspects to death,” he added.
Barathidasan said the protest wold also highlight the need to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
“This is simply disgusting. Are the lives of Indians in this country so cheap and worthless that at least one Indian should die in police custody every other day?” he asked.
“During the arrest, the detainees were in good health, after being remanded in a police lock-up, the families are informed that the detainees died of heart failure, due to illness and so on,” he added.
Barathidasan said since Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was appointed home minister, there have been a spate of custodial deaths.
“He has failed in his duty, Zahid must resign if he cannot solve this problem,” he added.
‘Why is the probe taking so long?’
Recently, the police landed in the limelight following the death N Dhamendran, 32, whose remains were found to be covered in bruises, while his ears and ankles were stapled.
Following the post-mortem report that the victim died from blunt force trauma, the police classified the case as murder, and those involved have been re-assigned to desk duties.
On Saturday, a 42-year-old former engineer P Karuna Nithi suddenly died while in police custody in Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, and bruises were found on his body.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Hindu Movement leader S Sanjay also pledged support for the protest and vowed to mobilise the people.
“This is a serious issue and all Malaysians must lend their support. We must take to the streets to seek justice,” he added.
On the same note, Sanjay said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Deparment P Waythamoorthy must resign for failing to take a stronger stand apart from asking for the policemen involved to be suspended.
“He used to make so much of noise about custodial deaths when he was on the ‘outside’ but now, when he is on the ‘inside’, he seems to have toned down,” he added.
Sanjay also criticised the police for dragging its feet in the investigation concerning Dharmendran’s death.
“Why is it taking the police so long to investigate? Why don’t the police beat up the cops involved to extract a confession… Isn’t that their stand procedure,” he said.
Why the double standard?
Contacted later, Vell Paari said he was disappointed with the authorities and therefore decided to push for the protest.
“Custodial deaths are becoming a constant event. They are always followed by a big hue and cry… Then all is forgotten until another death happens. Is there no respect for life?
“Our government can grief for Palestinians, can demand the United Nations to intervene and even risk death by sending ships with aid through the Israeli naval blockade. But it can’t seem to do or feel the same for our citizens who die in custody. Why this double standard?
“In what way is the grief of the mothers of those custodial death victims different to the cries of the mothers of Palestinian victims?” he asked.
Vell Paari said that it was the Hindraf rally that changed the government’s attitude towards the community.
“So if it takes another rally to bring about the setting up of IPCMC, so be it. I have spoken to WargaAman to coordinate this rally and I would support and work with them,” he added.
Commenting on Zahid’s statement that the police must not be demoralised, Vell Paari said: “The demoralised can be ‘re-moralised’ but can a life lost be returned, Mr Minister?”
The MIC leader also reiterated his stand that those involved in Dhamendran’s case must be suspended and arrested pending investigation.
On the same note, he questioned if outside parties, with an interest in the respective cases, were influencing these policemen to mete out violence on the victims.
