Away from Home 1: The Dalits & Tribal Community

Part 1: The Scheduled Castes and Tribal Communities

Finally today, found the time to reflect on my 2 ½ months stay in Reddichavady Tamil Nadu. I cut short the trip by 15 days to join PSM’s activities (March always seems to be the busiest month for PSM).

I stayed with an NGO organisation called BLESS which is located in Reddichavady, a tiny town located between Cuddalore (pronounced as Kaddalur and not Kuddalur as both are name of places on the opposite end -important lesson if you are travelling alone by pubic transport) and Pondicherry (now, called Puducherry, a union Territory, not part of Tamil Nadu, linked by a bridge as well. Across the bridge, you will find a liquor shop apparently liquor is cheaper in Pondicherry and the liquor is the ‘bridge’ between the two territories – I suppose to sound cynical, the way my host did!). Cuddalore is considered one of the backward regions and receiving special attention from the State and Federal Government.

Pondicherry Beach (Bay of Bengal)

I took leave from work to volunteer with this organization which I learn from the website. I felt strongly about having a career break and opt for something less stressful. Thanks to my employer for giving me 3 months unpaid leave. The break was a good refresher. Happy to have learn little bit more about other people’s way of life, their concerns, challenges, happiness and their environment. Surprisingly, for someone with very little faith in religion, I was moving among the Christian circles – they were all ‘super’ wonderful people. I felt save and they took good care of me.

“Super’’, is an expressive term and it’s easily contagious. How was food? Super. How was the trip?  “Semma Super”. How are you? Super. Well, since I am feeling ‘super’, thought I should write about my experience and figure out whether it had any impact on me!

The NGO was kept repeating the word SC and BC in our discussions. I really thought it’ s an English word that I am unaware off.  The organisation has been working closely with the SC and tribal community as well as the Backward Castes (BC) since last 25 years. Within a week of my arrival, had an opportunity to help the NGO with needs assessment exercise, a requirement to write project proposal for their women empowerment activities. Only SC community were targeted in all the 10 villages we visited, located within their cluster area, Paringipettai, Keerapalayam and Cuddalore. SC means Schedules Castes @ the Dalits.

Karaimedu, 150 families, 80% houses – clay huts.

Why are they being discriminated even in 21^st century? What are their economic activities, where do they live, lifestyle, and community structure? All was partially answered during the visit. The villages are about 3 to 4 hours away (by car) from BLESS office.

Almost in all villages, female population appear to be slightly higher. My guess was because “men died of alcohol”. It’s at every corner! alcohol consumption reported high among men, 80-95%.

Education wise, almost everyone has been to school because government education is free (uniform, food, books is also provided) and it’s accessible.

Kilpoovanikuppam: 623 houses. 6000 families but no toilet facilities.

Houses – 90%  still living in huts – good thing they have land grant and government offers subsidy to build brick houses but the people could not effort the initial cost to lay foundation. Amazing,how they are able to live in such small space. At least 4-5 persons in each hut as you see in the picture. What is it like if it is very hot or heavy rain? Already the people in the coastal area suffered Thane hurricane and Tsunami.

Manjekuzhi: 100 families, ground water supply little salty, water tank frequently breaks down

Toilets – The 10 villages have about 2,828 houses, with population over 18,275 people. Only 4.5% houses has toilets. Even open toilet is a challenge because space is taken over by property developers. Lack of water especially during summer season & flush toilets are not sustainable.

70% of the villages reported poor water supply due to frequent machine/water tank damage, contaminated water and salty underground water.

Livelihood: over 90% are daily paid labourers in the agricultural sector except for one village, fishing. Almost 100% do not have own land for cultivation. In agricultural, labourers only have work for 2 months (15 days a month). Some villages have 100 days working scheme. They are paid Rps100 per day. Men, normally find alternate job in the town e.g. construction field. Only handful of workers has stable employment. Most villagers have livestock, (cow or goats), generally for household consumption.

Government policies: Protective measures, affirmative actions (e.g. quota in education, employment) and development program are in place for these community. No longer we find scavengers or grave diggers (burial arrangement) among them. Many still can’t own land and inter caste marriage remains a challenge though the government has specific welfare scheme to promote inter caste marriage. Similar scheme to promote female children education and reduce early marriage. During visit to a villages at Vallispettai, learnt that once a SC convert to Christian, they automatically become BC and loose all the privileges allocated for SC. Hence, the Christian organisations and NGOs like BLESS tend to give more attention to these community.

Vallispettai: 5 years ago they had no burial space. The BC won’t allow them use their space.

Valispettai: Many have good education and skills but no employment

Ration shop: rice is free (not of good quality though)

Vadegethurai: No community centre, no road facilities, no water tank, less students in the school, drainage and flooding problem

Melpoovanikuppam: 5710 households, but 1072 houses. Overpopulation, less space.

Melvaniyur: key problem HEALTH. No toilet, mosquito problem, water stagnant, tank water brown color

Mathakovil: 1600 families, mostly labourers in fishing line. Work available only 15 days a month

by
Letchimi

Anti-GST Reports 23 -25th March_ Malaysia Kini

12:48PM Mar 25, 2015

By Chai Jian Mei

Swift probe, 25 anti-GST activists charged

Twenty five activists have been charged over the sit-in at the Federal Territories Customs Department headquarters on Monday, less than 48 hours after they were arrested.

The activist were charged at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court under Section 21(1) (d) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, read together with Section 447 of the Penal Code for criminal trespass and not abiding by the police’s orders to disperse.

All of them claimed trial and Sessions judge Yasmin Abdul Razak set bail at RM3,000, with one surety each, and fixed May 14 for mention.

If convicted, the group can be fined up to RM20,000.

Among those charged were two Kuala Kerai MP Dr Hatta Ramli (right in photo) and Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar.

On Monday, about 100 activists had gathered at the customs building to pose 106 questions to the GST information center.

However, they were denied entry by the police. Following this, the group staged a sit-in to demand for answers. After six hours, the police dispersed the group by force, resulting in 82 arrests.

Scores of supporters greeted the 25 individuals when they were brought to the courts at 11.45am

Eight lawyers were on hand to represent the accused. The court had to adjourn proceedings for 15 minutes to allow the lawyers to take instructions from the new clients.

All of the accused claimed trial, prompting the packed gallery to respond with hoots and cheers. Those in the gallery were then reprimanded by the judge.

2:50PM Mar 24, 2015

Malaysiakini

Cops were barbaric, not us – PSM chides IGP

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has lambasted inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar for describing the anti-GST activists who laid siege on the Customs Department office as barbaric.

“We peacefully walked into the office directly to the information counter. But unfortunately it was the police who behaved barbarically, pulled and shoved many of us in an attempt to arrest us,” said PSM treasurer A Sivarajan.

“The doors of the information counter was closed on purpose and the Light Strike Force was called in to guard the entrance.

“What is the point of having a public information counter when it is locked and guarded by riot police with shields and batons. Who acted unreasonable and barbaric here, the police or us?” he added in a statement.

Sivarajan argued that it was wrong to accuse them of being uncivilised when the activists negotiated peacefully with the Petaling Jaya district police chief.

He reiterated that it was the police who resorted to high-handed actions.

“The police acted barbarically by arresting us. Most of us were handcuffed and then punched and kicked before we were thrown into the police trucks.

“It was unnecessary for such high-handed tactics by the police as we were not resisting arrest,” he added.

Trespassing government property?

In view of this, Sivarajan told Khalid not to distort the facts regarding the arrest.

PSM was also puzzled by the police chief’s accusation that the activists were trespassing into a government building, pointing out that they were at the GST public information counter on the ground floor.

“Does it mean all citizens visiting the public information counter are trespassers?

“Do we have to get prior entry permit from the Customs Department and probably the police to get our queries answered at an information counter which is supposed to give information to the public in the first place,” questioned Sivaranjan.

More than 100 activists stormed the Customs Department office in Kelana Jaya with 106 questions concerning the new tax, which is to come into effect on April 1.

Following a stand-off which lasted several hours, the police arrested more than 80 activists.

10:00AM Mar 24, 2015

By Bernama

‘Trespassers into Customs Complex face legal action’

Individuals who trespassed into the Customs Complex in Kelana Jaya while staging a protest against the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) could face legal action for trespassing.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the Selangor police were looking into the case further action.

“They are trespassers, so let Selangor police look into the case and those involved first,” he told reporters after attending a Yassin recital in conjunction with the 208th Police Day anniversary at Bukit Aman Mosque in Kuala Lumpur last night.

He said this in response to report about several individuals arrested after they trespassed into the complex yesterday morning.

“We cannot allow this situation to continue, I am surprised with what they want, as if to take control of the Customs Complex,” he said.

According to online media reports, dozens of people were apprehended and the police had to deploy the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) to control the situation at the complex.

The demonstration was believed to be masterminded by certain parties to protest against the implementation of GST on April 1.

– Bernama

5:23PM Mar 25, 2015

Malaysiakini

‘Probe cops for roughing up anti-GST activists’

Police must probe officers who allegedly assaulted anti-GST activists who protested at the Customs Department office in Kelana Jaya, NGOs urged.

In a joint statement, today Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and Suaram programme coordinator Serene Lim said such attacks were extremely unacceptable and disappointing.

“Informants claimed that detainees were forcefully pushed and beaten during the arrest.

“The abusive behaviour went on even after the police had secured the arrests,” they said, adding that some of the detainees had their faces covered with clothes before being hit.

They added these incidents further heightened the public’s mistrust of the police.

Scuffles had broken out between hundreds of riot police and anti-GST protesters at the Kelana Jaya Customs office, and later at the Kelana Jaya police station on Monday.

82 people were arrested that day, most were later released.

25 however remained in detention, and were charged for criminal trespass and not abiding by orders to disperse by the police.

Among those charged were Kuala Kerai MP Dr Hatta Ramli and Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar.

Besides calling for a probe on the police using excessive force, Maria and Lim also reiterated their call for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

This, they said, was to ensure disciplinary action would be taken against errant cops.

6:47PM Mar 25, 2015
By Alyaa Azhar
Students lodge report on anti-GST demo assault

Students today lodged a police report on alleged police brutality against activists who were involved in protests against the goods and services tax (GST).

Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (PMUM) president Mohamad Ammar Atan lodged the report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters this afternoon.

Ammar said his friends, fellow students Yazid Khairul Azman and Adam Fistival Wilfried were beaten by the police while in custody on March 23 after the duo protested against the arrest of the other anti-GST activists.

The activists were arrested for a sit-in protest at the Customs Department office in Kelana Jaya earlier that day, to demand answers to 106 questions regarding the GST.

Adam, a Universiti Malaya (UM) student, was arrested at 10pm that day and was allegedly “kicked, strangled and punched until the throes of death” while in custody at the Kelana Jaya police station, he was .

Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) student Yazid was arrested at 12.30am on March 24, and also claimed that he was beat up and verbally abused by the police.

Ammar said that he was told by lawyers that Yazid was hit while his face was covered with a piece of cloth.

Another UM student, Khairol Najib Hashim was allegedly beaten up at the Customs Department during the sit-in protest at around 5pm.

“He said his face was kicked, head stomped on and mouth slapped,” said Ammar in his police report.

Pictures of students while in custody sighted by Malaysiakini showed that all three had bruises and wounds on their foreheads and the sides of their faces.

In a statement signed by 22 student groups, Ammar also urged inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar to take responsibility over the matter.

“We urge him to be responsible over all the forms of oppression made against those who were arrested,” the statement reads.

The statement was signed by student groups from various institutions including UM, UIA, Universiti Malaysia Sabah Antarabangsa Labuan (UMSKAL), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris.

The students were not the only ones claiming assault.

Several elected representatives present at the vigil outside Kelana Jaya police station also said they were roughed up by the anti-riot police during scuffles, and have lodged complaints of their own.

A total 25 anti-GST activists were today charged under Section 21(1)(d) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, read together with Section 557 of the Penal Code for criminal trespass and not abiding by police orders to disperse.

11:14AM Mar 25, 2015

By Yap Jia Hee

After arrests, Customs will answer GST queries

After police arrested more than 80 activists who swarmed the Royal Malaysian Customs and Excise Department in Kelana Jaya, Selangor, on Monday with 106 posers on the looming Goods and Services Tax (GST), the department said today it will respond to all the questions.

“We will answer those questions. In the shortest time, we will compile all those questions including our answers and upload this on the Customs Department website,” its Director-General Khazali Ahmad told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Khazali said some questions posed by the activists were “too basic and simple”.

“I don’t know why they are asking them. One example is a question on whether the sales and services tax (SST) will continue when GST is implemented.

“We have explained, many times, that the GST will replace the SST,” he said.

Nonetheless, Khazali added, his department will answer all questions as the information to be uploaded online will not only benefit the activists but also the general public.

More than 100 activists stormed the department complex on Monday, demanding answers to 106 GST-related questions.

This led to the arrest of at least 80 activists, after a stand-off with the police that lasted several hours.

‘Easier route would be by writing letters’

Khazali said the group should have taken the easier route of writing letters to the Customs Department to seek information, for the department is always prepared to provide information to any group or individuals, including through lectures.

“But if you gather and ask questions in a way that people say could lead to untoward incidents, why should we entertain groups like these?” he asked.

Nevertheless, Khazali (right) holds the opinion that the people are prepared to face GST when it is implemented on April 1, in place of the existing SST.

The Customs Department has in the meantime signed agreements with seven banks, designating them as GST collection agents.

These are RHB Bank, RHB Islamic Bank, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), CIMB Bank, Public Bank, Bank Islam, Alliance Bank and Hong Leong Bank.

Khazali said businesses and those registered for GST can pay the taxes over the bank counter at  these banks, even by way of cash deposit machines and also through the banks’ websites and the Connectivity Bank System.

Meanwhile, at a separate function, Deputy Finance Minister Chua Tee Yong told reporters that all over the world, it is normal for the GST scheme to face opposition when it is first introduced.

Despite the short-term challenges, Chua insisted, GST is a better tax scheme in the long run, and this can be seen when successive governments in the United Kingdom (UK) maintained a similar tax scheme after introducing it in 1973.

However, Chua (left) declined to comment on the Customs Department’s conduct in facing the protesters outside its premises, saying he did not know how they approached the officers of the department that day.

“But some of these questions, as I understand, are questions that have already been answered. So I do not know whether these are real questions or just…

“If you are asking that same question, it is either you don’t want to know, or I don’t know the reason. I don’t want to speculate,” he said.

Chua said this at a press conference this afternoon, where he launched the GST Hand-Holding Workshop, which is a series of free workshops to help businesses comply with the new tax system.

4:00PM Mar 23, 2015

By Koh Jun Lin

Cops detain 82 anti-GST activists

PHOTO GALLERY

A total of 79 activists were arrested during a sit-in protest at the Federal Territories Customs Complex in Petaling Jaya to demand answers to 106 questions regarding the goods and services tax (GST).

Three more, believed to be university students, were arrested in front of the Kelana Jaya police station, where the dozens gathered to hold a candlelight vigil for those arrested.

Lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who is outside the police station waiting to assist her clients said the anti-riot police went “berserk”.

“FRU charged crowd without three-minute dispersal notice! Lawyers still denied access to clients,” PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil tweeted.

Protest leader S Arutchelvan (below), Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) Badrul Hisham Sharin, DAP activist Young Syefura Othman, and Kuala Krai MP Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli were among those detained earlier today.

“We were prepared to compromise. We promised to leave even if they gave us half-baked answers.

“But they chose to arrest us,” Arutchelvan, who is also PSM secretary-general, told Malaysiakini.

The protesters were chanting anti-GST slogans as they were taken away in Black Marias.

Those detained were first taken to a nearby hall and are now at the Kelana Jaya police station.

The arrests came after the police gave three warnings since 5pmordering the activists to leave, and then began to move against the protestors five minutes later when they refused to budge.

The first of these warnings came from Petaling Jaya OCPD Azmi Abu Kassim, and the other two from a subordinate.

“It is past 5pm and the customs office is closed. So I am giving you five minutes to leave this area. If not, I will remove you,” Azmi said.

Arutchelvan had led some 100 activists to storm the complex at 11am and later mulled spending the night there.

The plan was to have each activist post a question to the GST information centre located in the complex.

A brief scuffle broke out when the group was stopped from entering the complex’s GST information centre by the police, who were soon joined by riot police from the Light Strike Force (LSF) from at least six police districts. They numbered about 60 personnel.

Following this, the group vowed to stay overnight until they got answers and sat a corridor, chatting and listening to speeches while they waited for a response from the customs department.

The police then promised to bring the Kuala Lumpur Customs director Abdul Gani Othman to negotiate with the group.

When Abdul Gani and his entourage arrived at about 1.30pm, he only answered two questions.

After which, he was handed a written list of the questions and quickly left, much to the chagrin of the activists.

“I’m sorry but I cannot answer here,” he said, promising a written reply to the booing crowd.

The first question he answered is whether the Customs Department is prepared for GST’s implementation next week, to which Abdul Gani (right in photo) gave the thumbs-up and responded in the affirmative.

The second question was why sardines are taxed under GST but not lobsters, the latter being a luxury food item.

“Order from the Parliament. I just execute,” he replied.

The third question was regarding goods whose prices are expected to fall as the GST replaces the existing sales and services tax (SST). They asked when is the price drop expected.

Abdul Gani did not answer the last question, but instead successfully persuaded the protestor asking the question to hand him the list of questions.

Another group of about 30 SAMM members were also seen waiting outside at about 2pm along with members of the media, but both were barred from entering the complex.

According to Arutchelvan, one of the protestors Khalid Ismath was arrested when attempting to enter the complex earlier today.

Among the prominent personalities in the group were PAS research centre director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, PSM chairperson Mohd Nasir Hashim, national laureate A Samad Said and Sungai Siput parliamentarian Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj.

However some had left before the crackdown began.

The hell with the risk!

Since the beginning of the year, had a hollow feeling that this country is going down the pit and it’s not possible to recover what with the talk of racism, hudud, hatred towards other religion and on top of that plunging economy – low pay, high prices, corruption, black money, growing debt, currency devaluation and pompous politicians living in their own world.

Now and here, we have another threat that will ‘kill’ the majority Rakyat living below modest life – Goods and Service Tax @ GST. How could one say that GST is good for people while prices of all basic needs are going up before even GST is implemented? How could one trust that the GST collected will be put for good use when the BN government has  worst track record ever in history?

While majority of the Rakyat feeling helpless about GST not knowing how to oppose, a group of activists from Party Socialist Malaysia, civil societies (e.g. SAMM, SUARAM) and students group braved themselves to question the Government on GST. There are hundreds and hundreds of questions about GST on our mind, only 106 was post to the Custom Department, the implementing agency. Apparently, our questions are simple and ‘kacang’ according to the Custom Department Head and the Finance Minister, yet I was shocked to witness the Head of the Custom, literally ran away and completely went missing with the questions, on the day about 100 public and activists visited the GST Info Kiosk at Kelana Jaya, 23 Mar 2015. In fact the entrance to the kiosk was shut to our face and we had to negotiate for a meeting with the Custom Head even though the kiosk was opened for public query. After 3 hours, the Head came escorted by several of his officers along with 2 GST experts (glad that both experts are women) but after one question for which he gave a stupid answer (Q: why sardine is taxed since it’s one of the food that the poor could afford while lobster is not taxed? A: It was decided by the Parliamentarians,  we only implement), he backed off.  We waited for about 4 hours, hoping he will come back. He never did, instead police force was used to forcefully remove all of us into a police truck.