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Journalism of Courage
The 31 ethnic Indians, against whom attempted murder charges have been dropped, would be charged with taking part in an illegal assembly and not for being followers of the non-governmental Hindu Rights Action Force, Malaysia8217;s top legal official has said.
8220;The charge is in accordance with the law. All 31 individuals involved had written to me deploring Hindraf and claimed that they were not Hindraf members. They promised not to take part in any future illegal assembly,8221; Attorney-General Gani Patail said.
8220;The decision to withdraw the charges for attempted murder of a police officer was also fair as we could not ascertain who had thrown a stone that hit the victim,8221; he was quoted by state-run Bernama news agency as saying.
The court acquitted 31 people charged with attempting to murder a police officer during a massive November 25 rally organised by Hindraf in front of the Sri Subramaniar temple in Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur to protest the alleged marginalisation of ethnic Indians in the country.
The government had declared the rally as 8220;illegal8221;.
Judge Nursinah Adzmi made the decision after allowing the application by the Attorney General to withdraw the charges against them.
Twenty-five people among the group of 31 face other charges, including those relating to causing damage to seven cars and two gates of the Sri Subramaniar temple.
