MIC says it again: Release the Hindraf 5

MIC president S Samy Velly today urged the government to release the five Hindraf leaders who were detained under the ISA last December as they no longer pose a threat to the national security.

"It's about time that they are released as they pose no danger to the security of the country.

"The government should not hold them any longer as it will prolong the Indian community's ill-feelings towards the government," said the former works minister in a statement today.

He further added that the detention without trial punishment meted out to the five Hindraf leaders did not correspond with their actions.

The five - R Kengadharan, 41, M Manoharan, 47, V Ganabatirau, 35, P Uthayakumar, 47, and K Vasantha Kumar, 35 - were arrested on Dec 13 for their role in organising a campaign to highlight the plights of the Indian community in this country.

This is not the first time MIC has called for the release of the Hindraf 5. It first made the call after the March 8 general election.

The party performed badly in the polls with many of its candidates losing their seats, including Samy Vellu who lost in his traditional stronghold Sungai Siput. Many attributed the party's woeful performance on its ineffectiveness in handling the community matters.

Chance to win back the voters

Today, Samy Vellu said that the five should be released unconditionally.

"They only voiced out the problems and the frustrations of the Indian community.

"Similarly, the MIC has also been doing the same for the past few decades ... so why detain them any longer?" he asked.

Samy Vellu said many Barisan Nasional "die-hards" among the Indian community had voted for the opposition in the last general election as they felt that the five Hindraf leaders had been detained unjustly.

"It is not because they loved the opposition or they wanted a change but rather they vented their anger on the (BN) government," he said.

He said the BN could regain their support if the five Hindraf leaders were released.

"I had asked the prime minister to release them on several occasions and also raised the matter at two BN Supreme Council meetings," he said.

He said that he would raise the matter again when he meets Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi soon.