By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : A rally in support of arrested Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) activists, supposed to take place Sunday, was thwarted by the Malaysian authorities, media reports said Monday.
Hindraf coordinator R.S. Thanenthiran blamed police roadblocks for preventing supporters from converging at the rally venue at Taiping, a major tourist destination.
“There were at least four roadblocks,” he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.
Last week, five prominent leaders of Hindraf were detained under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA).
“It was supposed to be a peaceful gathering to give moral support to the wives and children of the five detained under the ISA,” Thanenthiran said.
Taiping Assistant Commissioner Raja Musa Raja Razak said policemen had manned roadblocks at various locations since the early hours.
“The situation is under control,” he said, when the crowd that had gathered at the Kamunting Mariamman temple finally dispersed.
A SMS campaign to hold rallies to show solidarity with the detained Hindraf leaders was dismissed as ‘rumour’ by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Friday.
Hindraf has courted controversy since it organised a protest rally last month to highlight the grievances of the ethnic Indian community. The police declared it illegal and dispersed it.
Ethnic Indians constitute eight percent of the total Malaysian population of 27 million.