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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Malaysian police break up rally | Malaysian police break up rally |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Malaysian police have clashed with ethnic Indian protesters in Kuala Lumpur, the country's capital. | Malaysian police have clashed with ethnic Indian protesters in Kuala Lumpur, the country's capital. |
| Tear gas and water cannon were used to disperse a crowd of over 5,000 people as they rallied outside the British High Commission. | Tear gas and water cannon were used to disperse a crowd of over 5,000 people as they rallied outside the British High Commission. |
| The protesters are calling for reparations from the UK for sending Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers a century ago. | The protesters are calling for reparations from the UK for sending Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers a century ago. |
| The activists also demand measures to improve the living standards of Hindus. | The activists also demand measures to improve the living standards of Hindus. |
| At least 5,000 ethnic Indian men gathered outside Kuala Lumpur's famous Petronas Towers, carrying Malaysian flags and placards. | At least 5,000 ethnic Indian men gathered outside Kuala Lumpur's famous Petronas Towers, carrying Malaysian flags and placards. |
| Some demonstrators were beaten and bundled into police vans, as tear gas and water cannon were fired into the crowd, according to the Associated Press news agency. | Some demonstrators were beaten and bundled into police vans, as tear gas and water cannon were fired into the crowd, according to the Associated Press news agency. |
| Unfair treatment | Unfair treatment |
| Organisers had pledged that the demonstration would be peaceful, but Malaysian authorities nevertheless banned it, fearing that it could inflame racial tensions. | Organisers had pledged that the demonstration would be peaceful, but Malaysian authorities nevertheless banned it, fearing that it could inflame racial tensions. |
| Indians are treated like third-class citizens M. Kulasegaran, Opposition politician | |
| The ostensible aim of the rally was to call on the British government to pay $4 trillion (£2 trillion) in compensation to the two million ethnic Indians in Malaysia whose ancestors were taken to the country as indentured labourers in the 19th century. | The ostensible aim of the rally was to call on the British government to pay $4 trillion (£2 trillion) in compensation to the two million ethnic Indians in Malaysia whose ancestors were taken to the country as indentured labourers in the 19th century. |
| But the BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur says the real goal of the demonstrators is to highlight what they see as the unfair treatment of minority Indians in Malaysia. | But the BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur says the real goal of the demonstrators is to highlight what they see as the unfair treatment of minority Indians in Malaysia. |
| Ethnic Indians - mainly Hindus - form one of Malaysia's largest minority groups. | Ethnic Indians - mainly Hindus - form one of Malaysia's largest minority groups. |
| Activists say that many Hindus live in poverty, partly because of policies granting jobs and economic advantages to the ethnic Malay Muslim majority. | Activists say that many Hindus live in poverty, partly because of policies granting jobs and economic advantages to the ethnic Malay Muslim majority. |
| "Indians are treated like third-class citizens. The community has been suffering in silence for decades," said opposition politician M. Kulasegaran. | "Indians are treated like third-class citizens. The community has been suffering in silence for decades," said opposition politician M. Kulasegaran. |
| The government has rejected claims of unfair discrimination. | The government has rejected claims of unfair discrimination. |
| In advance of the rally, three leading members of the group behind the protest - the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) - were arrested. | In advance of the rally, three leading members of the group behind the protest - the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) - were arrested. |
| The three men were later charged with making seditious comments - and could face up to three years in jail if convicted. | The three men were later charged with making seditious comments - and could face up to three years in jail if convicted. |