Click to play videoLondon: Hindus in Britain are throwing their weight behind Tamils in Malaysia. They want Prime Minister Gordon Brown to intervene and are demanding a fair trial for detained Hindu activists in Malaysia.
Two months after violence broke out in Malaysia during Hindu protest rally, British Hindus have lent their support to their Malaysian counterparts.
On Friday, Hindu community leaders demonstrated and handed over a petition to 10 Downing Street urging the British Government to intervene.
They want Prime Minister Gordon Brown to secure the release of five detained Hindu activists held without charge.
Jeya Wilson of HINDRAF said, “We want Gordon Brown to pressurize the Malaysian government to release the five members. It's not fair on them or families to be held without trial.”
“We feel UK government brought us there. They have a moral obligation. UK government can influence either diplomatically or impose embargo. We want them to end the racist regime,” Rajah Thavalou of HINDRAF said.
Hindus in Malaysia have been protesting against what some claim is a 'Taliban style' regime.
They say that more than 10,000 Hindu temples have been destroyed by the Government since independence.
Hindus also say they are victims of racial, religious, economic and social discrimination.
HINDRAF Lawyer P Waytha Moorthy says, “If I go back I will be arrested but its not fear that is keeping me away. We want a fair trial if we have committed a crime, then fine but be fair.”
A motion was passed in British Parliament in December urging the Malaysian government to stop further demolition of temples.
Malaysia is due for polls shortly. The two million strong Hindu community that forms around 10 per cent of the electorate will have a say in the results.
Hindus in Britain want the government to fulfill what they call is its moral obligation as for the Malaysian government, with polls due shortly, they might just have lost out on a substantial vote bank.
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