Hindraf 5, I Am Very Sorry...

by via orangewaves.blogspot.com

To P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabathirau, T. Vasanthakumar and your families,

I am sorry that I am part of a majority of Malaysian Indians who have shown our ingratitude to your sacrifices. I am sorry that you have lost almost everything in your struggles for our nandri-katta community. You have lost your freedom. Some of you have lost your health. Your children have lost their beloved fathers. Your wives have lost their husbands. Your parents have lost their sons. Your families have lost their income. Some of you have even lost your homes.

For what I ask you?

You stood up against the atrocities committed against Malaysian Indians - discriminations against our temples and religion, our youths murdered in police custody, our dead who are snatched from families, the eviction of our people from greedy estates...You brought 30 000 of the community together on November 25 2007 in a massive show of unity and dignity. We gained some respect that day. For many of us, like myself, it was the first day we felt proud to call ourselves Malaysian Indians.

Yet, I have noticed how the fire has dwindled into a blurry flame since your unlawful detention under ISA. All because the government had used threats, intimidation and lies to label you as terrorists, and your supporters as extremists. Hindraf is nothing but a shadow of what it used to be under your leaderships and your strength of characters. The fierce shouts of "Makkal Sakthi" is nothing but a slogan nowadays.

Yesterday, M. Saravanan of MIC walked out of an annual dinner, because he was not given a seat at the table of his soon-to-be-forgotten president. His supporters staged a walk out. Shish!! This is what we are left with...so called Indian advocates who care more for power and hierarchy then the issues facing the community. Meanwhile, Badawi has suddenly announced some "good news" for Tamil Schools; and MIC is taking the credit, as if it was their very own struggles that turned the deaf Badawi around...as if the 30000 people brought together by you onto the streets of Kuala Lumpur had no impact on the sudden show of "interest" by the government for the Indians.

Many have used your sacrifices to gain some benefits for themselves. MIC is using your initiatives to gain some leverage with the government. The Pakatan Rakyat party has used the awareness your brought to the Indian community to gain the votes of the community, thus propelling many of their candidates into Parliament. Indian bloggers have used your struggles to bring to light issues which were hidden beforehand, and some of us have gained some popularity. Meanwhile, many Indians on the streets of Malaysia have used your name, Hindraf, to stick their chest out, and lift their heads proudly, for the first time.

But what about you, and your families? What have you gained out of this? NOTHING. Where are all these people who have used parts of you now? Where are they in the time of need for your family? You struggled for our families, yet very few have stepped forward for your families...do you think after this, anyone else will want to take up your mantle to fight for justice for this thankless community? They have seen the lack of support for your families by the very community you have given your lives for. Do you think families of others would even consider supporting such causes in the future?

To all Malaysian Indians who happen to read this article. Shame on us. We have betrayed the bravest souls that have ever dared to speak up for us, in the history of our existence in this country. We do not need Badawi, Hamidah, Khairy Jamaluddin, Khir Toyo, Jamaluddin Jarjis, Mahathir and Samy to bring this community down to its knees. We can do it all by our selfish, ignorant, middle-class lethargy!