Friday 15 July 2011

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PROTEST IN KUALA LUMPUR FOR CLEAN AND FAIR ELECTIONS

MASSIVE CRACKDOWN ON OPPOSITIONS

The 9 July 2011 BERSIH (Malaysian democracy movement) ‘walk for democracy’ protest will be recorded as another important date in the fight for freedom and democracy in Malaysia. It is the country’s biggest political protest in four years, in which 20,000 to 30,000 people (organisers estimated up to 50,000) participated. The majority of protesters were young people in their 20s and, for the most of them, this was their first experience of demonstrating. They gathered and marched through various places in Kuala Lumpur to demand fair and clean elections, as well democratic rights. These very determined and brave crowds defied various threats for the last three weeks from the ruling government. Meanwhile, the counter-protest planned by UMNO (United Malay National Organizations) youths only managed to attract around 500 people, mainly the ruling parties’ members. On the same day, small gatherings and demonstrations of Malaysians abroad were also held in more than 20 cities across the world including Singapore, Bangkok, London and Melbourne to support BERSIH.


Book Review : ‘Bhimayana’ – untouchability past and present

THE CONTINUING STRUGGLE AGAINST CASTE OPPRESSION
 
Bhimayana is a beautifully illustrated, simple and sometimes amusing account of one of the ugliest and cruellest features of Indian society, the Hindu caste system. There are 170 million in the most oppressed caste or Dalits, referred to as ‘untouchables’, in India today. On average, two are killed every day and three Dalit women are raped. Every hour, two Dalits are assaulted. Every day, two Dalit houses are burned down.