The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has called on MIC president S Samy Vellu to issue an apology to the families of the movement’s incarcerated leaders and the Indian community.

p waytha moorthy In a press statement today, Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy said Samy Vellu’s recent call to free the five leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) was ‘appalling’.

"He was part of the system that incarcerated those "messengers of truth" and suppressed the legitimate voice of democracy.

"Whilst the prime minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was a "gentleman" in accepting his errors and pledging to rectify his mistakes, Samy Vellu is playing politics by his regular antics now, seeking the release of the five," added the lawyer who is in self exile in London.

samy vellu pc 120308 agitated Waythamoorthy said the MIC president should tender an apology for the following reasons:

a) Failure to openly oppose the arrest of Hindraf leaders by the government openly on Dec 13.

b) Misleading the government and public that Hindraf is a threat to national security.

c) Misleading Hindraf’s struggle for his own political survival.

d) Denying the 18 demands of Hindraf as absurd and claiming that the Indians were not marginalised.

"It is plainly clear the initiative now (calling for the Hindraf five’s freedom) is to gain popularity and to repair the damage done to his reputation as an obsolete leader," he said.

Legitimate struggle

The Hindraf leaders detained under the security law are Waythamoorthy’s brother P Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau, M Manoharan, T Vasantha Kumar and R Kengadharan.

hindraf isa detainees 141207 updated The five were arrested shortly after organising a mammoth rally which drew some 30,000 Indians to the streets in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.

Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy also stressed that his brother does not want freedom brokered by Samy Vellu.

"I wish to stress Uthayakumar wouldn't want a freedom based on sympathy by Samy Vellu or anyone else.

"Freedom should come on the basis of acknowledgment that Hindraf’s struggle is legitimate and his (Uthayakumar’s) struggle is peaceful and not a threat to national security," he said.

On Sunday, Samy Vellu said he will meet with the prime minister soon to secure the release of the five detainees who are being held without trial.

The veteran politician also denied that it was a publicity stunt.