Hindraf trio & 13 Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees released

TAIPING, May 9 2009 — malaysianinsider

All three Hindraf leaders, M. Manoharan, K. Vasanthakumar and P. Uthayakumar, were among 13 Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees who were released from the Kamunting Detention Centre in phases today.

Manoharan, 48, the Kota Alam Shah state assemblyman, and Vasanthakumar, 36, who came out at 2.30pm, left in separate cars while Uthayakumar, 47, emerged at 2.55pm. They are now making their way to Kuala Lumpur.

Uthayakumar, a lawyer, who left in a family member's car, later stopped by the roadside to speak to the press and some 30 Hindraf supporters.

The Hindraf legal adviser, who thanked his friends and supporters but not the government (because the ISA is still in force), said he would not adhere to conditions set for his release but did not say what the conditions were.

Earlier, about 12.40pm, a group of detainees, who were released, left in an Immigration Department van while another group, which came out at 1.20pm in an unidentified van, was escorted by a number of police cars.

Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein announced the release of 13 ISA detainees, including Uthayakumar, Manoharan and Vasanthakumar.

The others released were Zulkepli Marzuki, Jeknal Adil and Admi Pindatun; two Indonesian nationals Zainun Rasyid and Aboud Ghafar Shahril, and five Filipinos Sufian Salih, Hasim Talib, Abdul Jamal Azahari, Yusof Mohd Salam and Husin Alih.

Vasanthakumar's mother R. Manomani, 62, and his sister K. Parameswari were among those waiting outside the gates of the camp since early morning.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hasan confirmed that all three Hindraf leaders were released with conditions and said that they would be back in detention should they breach the conditions.

Two Hindraf leaders, V. Ganabatirau and R. Kengadharan, were among another 13 detainees released in the first batch announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when delivering his maiden speech as Prime Minister on the night of April 3.