A candlelight vigil for five-year-old W Vwaishhnnavi for her march to Malaysia Parliament on Feb 16, 2008

This photo of a candlelight vigil held in front of a school is property of alka3en

W Vwaishhnnavi, who is only 5 year old and the daughter of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waythamoorthy, will be leading about 100 (some says 200) flower-bearing children and their parents to the Malaysian Parliament House on Feb 16, 2008. She has written a simple letter to Abu Talib, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) of Malaysia (click on letter to enlarge and read).

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This photo of W Vwaishhnnavi's handwritten letter is property of Khairul Faizi bin Ahmad Kamil

In the letter, she said her father told her that Abu Talib has the power to educate and educate on Human Rights. She invited Abu Talib to follow her and her entourage to the Malaysia Parliament on February 16, 2008, so that she and the children will be safe. "Uncle, I invite you to follow me to Parliament on Feb 16, 2008. If you follow me, the children and I will be safe and the people of Malaysia will understand the meaning of human rights better.

Uncle, my father also said that under Section 4(2)(f) (of the Act) you have the power to follow me. So, please, uncle, come with me," she wrote. They hope to petition the Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release the five Hindraf leaders who have been detained under the ISA (Internal Security Act) which allows for detaintion without trial.

I believe she was referred to Article 4(1) which says "This Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void." I think what she is also referring to the law that requirement to get a police permit for an assembly of 5 person or more, which seem inconsistent to

Article 10(1)(a) every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression;
(b) all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms;
(c) all citizens have the right to form associations.

which seem to allow peaceful assembly without arms. However, past events have shown that the Police have almost consistently refused to issue any Police permits for many peaceful assemblies without arms.

I can't find Article 4(2) (f). Perhaps that may be an amendment to form Suhakam, I don't know, I am no Constitutional lawyer.

If you assemble or march without a police permit for any assembly of 5 persons minus a police permit, you are liable to be detained, arrested or charged either in court or just detained under the ISA (Internal Security Act) or get tear gassed and/or water-cannoned with chemical water by the the Riot Police, just as had happened in the HINDRAF march to hand over a petition to Queen Elizibeth to the British High Commission.

Did they apply or asked to apply for a police permit? I do not know. But I believe if Abu Talib accept the invitation and join W Vwaishhnnavi and her flower bearing entourage of children, they will not be tear gassed or water cannoned with chemical laced water. Will Abu Talib accept this simple invitation to keep the children safe? I hope so.

This is a digital candlelight vigil for W Vwaishhnnavi and her flower bearing entourage of children plus for courage for Abu Talib to accept her invitation to keep the children on February 16, 2008.