Hindus protest destruction of their temples by government
- From: pluto <pluto@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 10:22:27 +0800
26 May, 2006
MALAYSIA
Hindus protest destruction of their temples by government
A group of protesters gathered outside the capital?s town hall to call on the
government to stop the demolition of Hindu temples. ?We are not asking for a
place to play billiards, but for a place to pray?.
Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/SCMP) ? Malaysia?s Hindu minority yesterday, 25 May, held
a rare protest against the demolition of its temples, ordered by the government.
Around 50 believers gathered outside the town hall of Kuala Lumpur and
threatened to file a civil suit against the government and local councils for
?destruction of private property?.
The demonstrators prepared placards that said: ?Demolishing temples is
criminal?. During the protest, they chanted prayers to the Hindu god of
destruction, Shiva, and smashed a coconut as a sacrificial offering.
The activists who organized the protest said hundreds of Hindu houses of worship
have been destroyed in the past 15 years, thanks to the growing "Islamisation"
of Malaysia. Such accusations are rare in a country that takes long-standing
pride in its ?inter-racial harmony? and its ?attention towards minorities?.
About 60% of Malaysia's 26 million people are Malay Muslims. Chinese, most of
them Buddhist or Christian, represent about 25% of the reminder, and ethnic
Indians - mostly Hindus - make up 10%.
The protesters said: ?The government?s pride is unjustified?. P.Uthayakumar, the
lawyer representing the group, said: ?At least seven Hindu houses of worship
have been torn down since late February. We are not asking for a club to play
billiards. We are not asking for a prostitution centre. We are asking for our
temples to pray.? Kamal Pasha Jamal, the capital?s police chief, and other
government officials contacted, refused to comment about the accusations.
The protesters were turned away by the police who refused to accept the regular
petition presented by the lawyer. Public security officials said: ?It cannot be
regular, because the demolished temples were build illegally on public land.?
http://www.asianews.it
See also
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http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=1961
09/9/2004 MALAYSIA - Catholic bishops oppose Islamic state
http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=1447
04/28/2005 MALAYSIA - Two Christians arrested for ?proselytising?
http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=3168
01/13/2006 MALAYSIA - Malaysia, Abdullah freezes Islamic bill
http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5115
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-pluto
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