Officially, they are seeking reparations from the UK for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers a century ago. But the real goal of the demonstrators was to highlight perceived discrimination against ethnic Indians.
Activists say that many Hindus live in poverty, partly because of policies granting jobs and economic advantages to the ethnic Malay Muslim majority.
The government has rejected claims of unfair discrimination, banning the event, saying it could inflame racial tensions. It warned that anyone trying to take part would be arrested.
Three Hindu activists, the chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy, and two of his associates have been detained and charged with sedition.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7109849.stm
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