Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the delay in proceedings in the case of human rights defender and lawyer, Mr P. Uthayakumar. He continues to be deprived of his required prescription medication for diabetes and is suffering from a number of diabetes related illnesses. Mr P. Uthayakumar is a human rights lawyer working to defend the rights of the ethnic minority Indians and an active Legal Advisor of Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF). He was arrested on 13 December 2007 for organising a peaceful demonstration.
Further Information
Posted 02/07/2008 On 25 June 2008, Mr P. Uthayakumar had a scheduled habeas corpus hearing. On that day the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) served an additional twenty-one affidavits upon the lawyers for P. Uthayakumar. Due to the last minute filing of the said affidavits the hearing was adjourned until 31 July 2008 in order to allow the defense lawyers to respond. The application had been filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court for a release order on the grounds of medical deprivation and treatment. Front Line believes that the filing of additional affidavits constitutes a deliberate attempt to delay the proceedings and further deny Mr P. Uthayakumar the required medical attention.
Mr P. Uthayakumar has been a diabetic patient since 1996. His condition required that he take medication, 500 mg of Glucophage three times a day and 80mg of Diamicron twice a day, which would control his blood sugar levels and maintain a level of between 5 and 7 mmol/L. Following his arrest on 13 December 2007, the prison authorities at first allowed his family to supply his medication. In February 2008 the prison authorities refused to accept the medication and furthermore did not provide Mr P. Uthayakumar with any alternative medication despite repeated formal requests that it be supplied or accepted from family members. Mr P. Uthayakumar believes that the prison authorities have been intentionally providing him with a diet of rice and curry made in a 'Malay' style that is very sweet, in a deliberate attempt to affect his health. On 7 April 2008 he was admitted to the Taiping General Hospital, suffering from frequent thirst, urination, tiredness, headaches, dizziness, weakness, high blood pressure, skin disease and problems with his vision. He had a blood sugar level reading of 18,8 mmol/L.
Mr P. Uthayakumar was arrested on 13 December 2007 together with Messrs M. Manoharan, V. Ganapathy Rao, Mr T.Vasanthakumar and R. Kengatharan, under the Internal Security Act (ISA) of Malaysia on the grounds of threatening national security by organising a peaceful demonstration. All five human rights lawyers had taken up, on a pro bono basis, many cases of death in police custody and police violence. They had filed many cases against the Malaysian Government and authorities.
Front Line believes that Messrs P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, V. Ganapathy Rao, Mr T.Vasanthakumar and R. Kengatharan have been targeted as a result of their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular their work defending the rights of the ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the aforementioned human rights defenders, in particular Mr P. Uthayakumar who is suffering from diabetes and is not receiving the required medication.