Manoharan: Thank the govt? We will sue them!
(Suara Keadilan) – Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan plans to file a RM100 million suit against the federal government, the Home Minister and others over his 17-month detention under the Internal Security Act.
The suit will also name the commander of the Kamunting detention centre, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General, he told reporters at the Selangor state assembly building on Monday.
There have been Umno-BN supporters who have tried to instigate trouble by criticising Manoharan and his colleagues for not thanking the government for their release from detention under the ISA, which is meant for terrorists and allows for indefinite jailing without trial.
Manoharan, who was freed on Saturday, said the detention was unlawful and had the deprived Kota Alam Sham constituents of their elected representative.
He also said he would never join Umno-BN component, the MIC, whose secretary-general S Subramaniam had invited the Hindraf leaders to join the party.
“Even when my supporters wanted to garland me after my release, I rejected it because that is a MIC culture,” said Manoharan, a lawyer-turned-politician.
“DAP runs in my blood… I was born to be in DAP. I was DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s assistant for 10 years. I don’t know about the others but this is my stand.
No to MIC, No also to govt restrictions
Manoharan and two other Hindu Rights Action Force leaders P Uthayakumar and T Vasanthakumar were released from their detention under the Internal Security Act.
The legal adviser to the now outlawed Hindraf was detained with other Indian leaders in November, 2007. He ran for the Selangor state seat in the 2008 general election while in still in detention.
Manoharan has also refused to comply with most of the conditions on a release undertaking that he and the others had been forced to sign before leaving the Kamunting Detention Centre.
Uthayakumar, defiant to the last, refused to sign at all and was finally ejected by frustrated prison officials.
Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who was with Manoharan at the press conference, said the conditions the government tried to impose on the Hindraf leaders were not legally binding.
“Don’t play with us, we know the law,” said Teng.
