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Suspend Malaysia from Commonwealth: Hindraf

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Press Trust of India London

"We will urge the 54-member Commonwealth to suspend Malaysia from its body," Malaysia-born Waytha Moorthy, founder Chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force said today.      

Moorthy, a lawyer by profession, is currently seeking asylum in the UK after the Malaysian government revoked his passport following his return from Geneva on April 21.     

 

"I was totally shocked when I was informed by the UK immigration officer at Gatwick Airport that the Malaysian government has revoked my passport, thus making me de facto stateless. The Malaysian government had intended that I be deported back to Malaysia by the British authorities so that I too could be arrested under the draconian Internal Security Act and be detained for unspecified period of time without trial and be subjected to torture and inhumane treatment for my political beliefs," Moorthy said.       

Five Hindraf members, including a newly elected lawmaker, have been in detention since December under ISA for leading unprecedented anti-government street protests in Kuala Lumpur that were brutally crushed by police drawing international flak.

Their repeated pleas for freedom have been struck down by the Malaysian judiciary.     

"I have not committed any offence or crime other than to champion the cause of the systematically marginalised, discriminated and alienated ethnic Indian community in Malaysia who remained permanently colonised despite achieving independence 51 years ago," he added.

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First Published: Jun 10 2008 | 11:30 AM IST

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