Since 10 February 2011, a number of human rights defenders have allegedly been harassed, threatened with violence, arbitrarily arrested and detained during the lead up to, and in the aftermath of, an organised anti-discrimination demonstration which was scheduled to take place on 27 February 2011. Between 13 and 21 February 2011, up to 80 members of, and individuals associated with HINDRAF were arrested and detained throughout Malaysia before being released shortly afterwards without charge. The wave of arrests was related to the organization of an anti-discrimination demonstration, which was due to be held in Kuala Lumpur on 27 February 2011. Mr. W. Sambulingam, Mr. K. Selvam, Mr. S. Ramesh and Mr. S. Sivakumar are members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF). HINDRAF is a grassroots organisation which advocates for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular, the rights of the Hindu community as well as other marginalised communities throughout Malaysia. Mr. Sambulingam is the national coordinator of HINDRAF, while Mr. Selvam, Mr. Ramesh, and Mr. Sivakumar are regional coordinators in Selangor State, Perak State, and N. Sembilan State respectively. Mr. Gobalakrishnan Manickam is a member of the Malaysian Human Rights Party, a political party working to promote and protect human rights, focusing in particular on human rights violations perpetrated against Malaysian Indians. On 21 February 2011, at noon approximately, Mr. Manickam was reportedly arrested at his home in Batang Kali by policemen who did not present a valid Court Order to conduct such an arrest. It is alleged that Mr. Manickam was not allowed access to a lawyer or family members until he was released. It is alleged that, on the day of his arrest, Mr. Maickam was scheduled to participate in a preparatory forum in which he was due to discuss arrangements for the aforementioned anti-discrimination demonstration. Following the arrest of Mr. Manickam, the police allegedly used loudspeakers to warn those living in residential areas around Batang Kali not to attend the preparatory forum. Five road blocks were allegedly put in place in order to prevent people from travelling to the event. It is reported that individuals wearing orange t-shirts, a colour associated with HINDRAF, were instructed by police to remove their t-shirts, or their entry to the forum would be denied. It was also reported that female activists were ordered to remove their campaign-related t-shirts in public. It is alleged that as a result of the aforementioned measures carried out by police, the preparatory forum was only attended by a small number of people. It is further reported that Mr. Sambulingam, Mr. Selvam, Mr. Ramesh, and Mr. Sivakumar were arrested and harassed in relation to meetings and campaigns which they allegedly organised in order to raise awareness of the alleged discriminatory attitude of the Government. Mr. Sivakumar was allegedly held for 19 hours in a dark room, with no toilet facilities, while his children, who were present at the time of his arrest, were also arrested, photographed, fingerprinted, and forced to give statements without the presence of an adult. It is alleged that Mr. Ramesh was charged with possession of banners and documents related to HINDRAF, which is reportedly considered by the State to be an illegal organisation because it is not registered. According to the information received, HINDRAF, which was founded in 2005, submitted an application for registration in January 2006. This application, along with another application submitted in October 2007, were reportedly unacknowledged by the Registrar of Societies. Various media sources allegedly Informed the public that HINDRAF had been banned because it was a threat to national security. However, it is reported that to date, the organisation has not been formally contacted by the Registrar of Societies regarding its registration request. On 11 February, various individuals reportedly applied to the Dang Wangi police station for an authorization to hold the peaceful demonstration in Batang Kali on 27 February 2011. On 24 February, the application was reportedly rejected on the grounds of protecting public order. The individuals then appealed this decision to the Kuala Lumpur police chief, but on 25 February, the appeal was also rejected. On 27 February, the day the protest was due to take place, 100 Malaysian Indian Protesters, including several leaders of the HINDRAF, were arrested as they tried to assemble for the demonstration. Since 1 March 2011, the Malaysian authorities have allegedly arrested up to 54 members of HINDRAF and the Malaysian Human Rights Party. All of those arrested were reportedly provided access to a lawyer and brought before a judge before being released on bail. It is reported that 52 members of HINDRAF were allegedly charged with forming part of an illegal organisation. It is alleged that the arrests and charges are related to attempts made by various members to hold the aforementioned anti-discrimination demonstration. According to the information received, the recent wave of arrests and harassment of human rights defenders comes in the wake of a decision taken by the Government to approve the use of the novel entitled "Interlok" as part of compulsory curriculum for high-school in Malaysia. Allegations indicate that this novel contained references of a discriminatory nature against Malaysian Indians and ethnic Chinese. It is reported that HINDRAF has called for a total ban of the novel but the Government has allegedly decided to put the novel into circulation once amendments to the material are made.