Global rights group accuses Malaysia of silencing minority

Int'l human rights group called on Malaysia Tuesday to release five ethnic Indian activists who have been detained without trial, and accused the Muslim Malay-dominated government of trying to silence a minority. New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Malaysia should immediately free the five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf, who were arrested Thursday under the Internal Security Act for alleged sedition and threatening national security.The colonial-era ISA allows for detention without trial for an initial period of two years that can be extended indefinitely... AsiaOne