Activists and political leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA)
UPDATE : Four ISA detainees served two years detention order
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Dear Friends,
Regarding the earlier arrest of 10 Malaysian activists and political leaders, we are sending you the following two updates which were received from Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) in Malaysia. We also want to encourage you to join the Anti-ISA Campaign in your country.
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
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UPDATE 1: Three ISA Detainees Served Two-Year Detention Order!
Three political and social activists which were held under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), namely, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor (national youth chief of the National Justice Party or Parti Keadilan Nasional), Saari Sungib (chairperson of the April 14 People Memorandum Rally) and Hishamuddin Rais (a columnist and social activist), have been sent to Kamunting Detention Centre to serve a two-year detention order. Datuk Abdullah Badawi, the home minister who has previously denied much knowledge about the arrest, is solely responsible to execute the detention order.
SUARAM condemns this latest development. This is a clear indication that the Mahathir regime will continue to use undemocratic and inhuman methods to stay in power. The three have been served a detention order that will enable the State to further detain them for a two-year period without a trial.
The detention of these 10 people is politically motivated. Their further detention is a serious violation of their human rights and is detrimental to democracy and the building of a civil society in Malaysia. Their detention is also consistent with previous ISA crackdowns which have taken place during an economic crisis and when the ruling party is in crisis.
The decision to send the three to Kamunting will nullify any hope garnered from the release of two detainees last week after the court found their detention to be unlawful and unconstitutional.
SUARAM calls for local and international condemnation of this latest development and calls for the release of all those detained under the ISA and demands the repeal of the act. We call upon the people to gather on June 9, 2001, to condemn the use of the ISA.
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UADATE 2: Tian Chua Also Served Detention Order!
The police informed Bahirah, the wife of Ezam Mohd. Noor, that Tian Chua, vice president of the National Justice Party, has also been served with a two-year detention order without trial. This brings the number of those sent to the Kamunting Detention Center to four.
LATEST STATUS:
– Released through a habeas corpus application: 2 (Abdul Ghani Haroon and N. Gobalakrishnan)
– Released by the police: 1 (Raja Petra)
– Sent to Kamunting on a detention order: 4 (Ezam Mohd Noor, Shaari Sungip, Hishamuddin Rais and Tian Chua)
– Status unknown: 3 (Badrul Amin, Badaruddin Ismai [Pak Din], Lokman Adam)
