Unprecedented protest by ethnic Indians hogs headline in ’07

The massive ethnic Indian rally in Malaysia against alleged marginalisation of the community, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attendance at the East Asia Summit, the violent crackdown on monks by Myanmar's military junta and a compromise deal on Climate talks in Bali kept South East Asia in global news through 2007.

The massive ethnic Indian rally in Malaysia against alleged marginalisation of the community, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s attendance at the East Asia Summit, the violent crackdown on monks by Myanmar’s military junta and a compromise deal on Climate talks in Bali kept South East Asia in global news through 2007.

Malaysians were taken by surprise when thousands of ethnic Indians gathered outside the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the world’s second tallest building, on November 25 to protest against alleged marginalisation of Indians in this Muslim-dominated country. The rally call was given by the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf), a non-governmental group.

Their plan to march to the British High Commission to submit a signed memorandum holding the British responsible for bringing the Indians to Malaya 200 years ago as indentured labourers and ethnic Indians continuing to be allegedly marginalised till today could not materialise after police opened tear gas and water cannons on the protestors.

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Subsequently, 31 protestors were held and charged with attempted murder of a policeman. Later the government put five top leaders of the Hindraf behind bars under the Internal Security Act which can detain a person for at least two years without trial. They have been charged with sedition.

Amid international pressure and criticism from rights groups, Malaysia dropped attempted murder charges against 31 ethnic Indians.

On December 17, the Malaysian Attorney-General dropped all charges against five students and brought lesser charges against 26 others who took part in the November 25 protest.