Author: Arun Anand
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: June 12, 2006
Hindu groups in Malaysia allege that the Government
is demolishing temples and have appealed to Indian rights groups and the UN
to help protect their heritage. According to the Hindu groups, the latest
instance was that of a 107-year-old place of worship that was razed last month
in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The demolition has triggered angry reactions
from Hindus in the Muslim-dominated country.
"At least one temple is being demolished
by the authorities every three weeks in an unlawful and indiscriminate fashion,
at the federal, state and local levels," said PW Moorthy, chairman of
Hindu Rights Action Force, a coalition of about 50 groups.
Apart from Government-order demolition of
temples, there is at least instance were hoodlums are known to have attacked
a place revered by the Hindus - like in Kedah.
"Most of these temples are over a century
old and have existed even before we got independence. And they have the cheek
to deem these temples illegal," a furious Moorthy said from Kuala Lumpur.
"We hope the international community
will come to our rescue and act accordingly and urgently in the general interest
of the public to protect the ethnic Hindu minority community in Malaysia,"
he added.
According to rights activists, the latest
incident involved demolition of the 60-year-old Muniswara temple near Jalan
Ayer Madu in Setapak, northeast of Kuala Lumpur, June 8.
"We have received reports here that five
devotees were arrested and one of them was injured as they tried to stop the
demolition," said Rajesh Gogna, convener of the Federation of Human Rights
Organisations of India (FOHROI).
The FOHROI is an India-based human rights
group that takes up cases of human rights violations of people of Indian origin
living outside India.
"This is gross violation of human rights,"
he said.
"FOHROI has already submitted a memorandum
to the Malyasian High Commission in New Delhi protesting against the demolition
of temples in Malaysia. We have been assured that the issue will be looked
into. We are in touch with the Hindu groups of Malaysia. So far the situation
doesn't look too good for them there," he said.
Targeted
Hindu Rights Action Force says five temples
have been razed or torched in Malaysia recently
* Sri Ayyanar Sathiswary Alayam at Jalan Davies
- Demolished on February 22, its idols buried at the site
* Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Temple at Pantai
- Demolished on April 17 by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall
* Sri Kaliamman temple in Midlands Estate,
Seksyen 7 - Demolished on May 9 by the Shah Alam City Hall
* Sri Balakrishan Muniswarer Temple in Setapak
- Partly demolished and threatened with further demolition notice on May 14
by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall
* Gangai Muthu Karumariaman Temple in PMR
Batu Buntung Estate Kulim, Kedah - Torched by unknown criminals on May 15
IANS
