Waytha Moorthy, the founder of HINDRAF, gave an enlightening presentation on the various violations minorities, especially the Malaysian Indians and Hindus face on daily basis.  Mr. Moorthy's tour to the US was sponsored by Hindu American Foundation,  an advocacy group providing a progressive Hindu American voice.  The Foundation interacts with and educates leaders in public policy, academia, media, and the public at large about Hinduism and global issues concerning Hindus, such as religious liberty, the misportrayal of Hinduism, hate speech, hate crimes, and human rights. By promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism, HAF stands firmly against hate, discrimination, defamation and terror. 

The event opened with a prayer by Dr. Mona Khaitan. It was followed by a introduction to HAF activities by Pawan Deshpande , a key member of HAF. Pawan introduced the speaker and moderator the QA. Lalit Kaul, a member of the audience interviewed the speaker. We have attached the interview here.

Interview with Mr. Waytha Moorthy at MIT, Cambridge on April 9, 2011

Mr. Moorthy, What motivated you to take the courageous step of standing up against the authorities in Malaysia?

There are various violations that the people, especially the Malaysian Indians and Hindus face on daily basis. But because the people were so fearful of the authorities and because the fear had suppressed their natural feelings towards justice, every human being have an in-built natural feeling for human rights, but the fear has suppressed that feeling and I fear that if I don’t do something about it then these people will be permanently slaves in the country. That is my biggest fear. And thus I had no choice but to do something about it.

How many of your generations have been living in Malaysia?

5 generations. 5^th generation is in schools right now.

Do you feel all your five generations have gone through the same trauma or is it recent phenomenon?

All five generations have gone through the same trauma. It is just that it was not highlighted in the media. Due to the fear, people would not talk to anyone about it. Everyone was suffering the same trauma and thus there was no point talking to anyone.

I understand your passport was revoked and you had to take asylum in UK. How do you feel to be persecuted in your own country and then as a result live in-exile?

Personally I feel that Malaysia has humiliated me. I feel that I am the first one in Malaysian history whose passport was revoked. I feel they have insulted me. They have insulted my intelligence, my human rights work. I will not leave them alone. I will seek justice, not only for myself but for the whole Hindu minority community. I take it as a blessing in disguise because it has created more commitment from my side for the cause.

Were your born there and do you still have family there in Malaysia?

Yes, I was born there. I have my mother, brothers, and sisters there. I was separated from my wife and child for more than two years.

My brother is also involved in this cause. He was in jail for 2 years under Internal Security act, which is detention without trial. He is free now and is carrying on with his human rights work.

Do you family your family is getting persecuted more because of your work and the visibility you have?

I understand the HINDRAF organization that you founded in Malaysia is banned in Malaysia. Is it still banned?

Yes, I am forming it in UK as well. The legal formalities should be complete soon.

I understand you have an unusual and bold step of suing the British government for leaving minorities unprotected in Malaysia. On what basis are you suing the British government?

I believe that the British government was negligent in not protecting our human rights. When British gave the constitution to Malaysia, it had to have clauses to protect fundamental rights of everyone including minorities. A constitution has to suit a particular country. Knowing pretty well, the situation in Malaysia, British government should have ensured our rights were protected.

It was filed in UK courts but the case is currently not active. Due to our arrests after the huge protest rally in Malaysia, the case lapsed. But I am working on it again to get it reactivated.

Well, they have to make a ruling. I think British court is more independent. I believe they will give justice to us. I have confidence that they will give us a good hearing. I have ample evidence to prove that the British government was negligent when they formulated the Malaysian constitution.

If the case does not progress in UK courts, do you intend to take it all the way to International Court of Justice?

If we take it to International Court of Justice, it would not be a matter of compensation. It will have a different angle. But we may have a possible action in the European Court of Justice. British was a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights, in which they assured the European Convention that the principles enshrined in that convention will be applicable in all the countries they were ruling at one time. So it applied to Malaysia as well. But when they left Malaysia, they did not apply these principles to Malaysian constitution. Had they applied all those principles, the constitution would have guaranteed equal rights to all.

Have you presented your case to UNHRC (UN Human Rights Commission) as well? If yes, what has been their response?

Yes, we have presented our case to UNHRC as well. In UNHRC’s annual review of Human Rights in various countries, Hindu temple demolitions in Malaysia have been reported.

US State Department also issues an annual report on Human Rights. Have they covered these violations in their report?

Not really. Only in year 2006, they mentioned about one Hindu temple demolition.

Hindus in UK are generally supportive. They helped me to organize number of briefings in the UK parliament and also raise awareness among the Hindu community. They have invited me to their functions and given space for me to speak.

Have you gotten any response from US policy makers or Think-tanks during your visits to US?

I have not contacted any Think-Tanks yet. I have met US department officials several times and informed them about our human rights violations but I am not aware of any action (if any) they have taken. Now that I am working with HAF and they are providing the assistance, we can hopefully follow up and pursue our case more vigorously.

What do you see as future of Hindus in Malaysia in next 5, 10, 20 years?

Very bad. Situation is going to be very bad. %age of the Hindu population is coming down drastically. At present, we are about 7.5% and I believe it will come down to 4%. Also, out of about 23,000 temples that are still left, all are at risk. Within 20 years, the elite Hindu population, which is about 10% of the Hindu population, will migrate to western countries and the situation will become worse for the remaining.

Are other minority groups in Malaysia raising this issue as well?

No. Not to my knowledge. As I said earlier, it is fear that is making people stay quiet. No one wants to get into any trouble with the government.

Do you intend any chapters of HINDRAF here in US or do you intend to just partner with HAF?

I am here to reach out to my fellow brothers and sisters in US. I request you all to help us raise the awareness of our human rights violations. Help us contact human rights organizations, think-tanks, research bodies, and media so that we can spread our message. I cannot do it alone. If our Hindu brethren in US can help me reach out to all the key agencies, including the civil rights movement leaders in US that would greatly help. What we are doing is not just a Hindu issue. It is a minorities’ human rights issue. And all support from US Hindus will go a long way.

Lalit Koul
lalitkoul@yahoo.com

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