We refer to the report titled "We will act on report against IGP, says police"(9/4/01) Based on our 108 page Memorandum to Suhakam dated 30/3/01 and titled "Tiada perlindungan polis untuk masyarakat India di Kg Lindungan dan kawasan persekitarannya". We would like to clarify that the said tragedy was not racial clashes as made out to be.

It was a case of a very small group of Malays (from outside Kg Medan and their local collaborators) who attacked any and every Indian in the area and it's surroundings, resulting in six people being brutally massacred and about 50 others injured, many seriously.

It may be interesting to note that only the poor, illiterate and uneducated working class Indians (not the middle class) were attacked and that too in an enclosed area where the only access road is through Jalan Kelang Lama.

What took our police force four days to restore law and order in that area and up to ten days in the surrounding areas when they have succeeded in dispersing 40,000 people within four hours in the reformasi demonstrations?

And when people were grievously hurt and murdered not a single shot was fired let alone a warning shot.(The police otherwise have a track record of shooting dead 1.3 persons a week)

Though it is more than one month now the "real culprits" who actually attacked and injured (many seriously) the totally innocent Indians who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time are yet to be charged.

As of date only some of the 300 over detainees were charged. That too, only for unlawful assembly and for possessing dangerous weapons. Not a single individual has been charged for causing grevious bodily harm, manslaughter or murder (except for one) as of date. Justice delayed is justice denied.

It is obvious that this is a national tragedy and the public policy in a serious racial attack as this should be of utmost urgency.

Why haven't the "real attackers and the real murderers " been charged although one month has passed. But instead the supposed "strong and brave" Indians who(were believed) would defend the innocent Indians (in the absence of police protection)were quick to be banished without putting them to trial.

We have via our letter dated April 5 to the Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi registered our protest at this unlawful detention of 35 individuals and demanded their immediate and unconditional release on police bail or be charged in a court of law and released on court bail.

If there is "nothing to hide" then why not try them under the regular laws as opposed to banishing them. Justice must not only be done but must manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.

The wedding/funeral/catapult issues has been reported to be non-issues which triggered the said brutal racial attacks. The Indians and Malays in the area are not aware of any racial tension. If there was indeed any racial tension why then did the Malays go to the aid of some of the Indians and gave them protection against the attackers.

The police owe the Malaysian public an explanation and a true and fair account of the real reasons and these must be made public.