FAC News - Tuesday, October 23, 2001 4:31 PM

Convoy to Kamunting to commemorate the 14th Anniversary of Operasi Lalang

The Movement to Abolish the ISA (GMI) will be organising a convoy to the Kamunting Detention Centre on Saturday, 27 October 2001. The event is to commemorate the 14th Anniversary of Operasi Lalang and to oppose the continued use of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

In the Operasi Lalang in 1987, more than 100 political and NGO activists and leaders were detained under Malaysia's infamous and dreaded ISA - a law that allows for arrest and detention without trial.

The convoy will assemble in front of the detention camp at 10.00am to hand over a Memorandum opposing the treatment the ISA detainees are receiving. Amongst the grouses are that the detainees are not being allowed to meet with their solicitors in private and, whenever they meet, it is always with the camp wardens present and sitting very close by listening to everything being discussed

The detainees are also not being allowed to perform their Friday congregation prayers, mandatory under Islam, plus they are being denied reading material of their choice. Further to that, the books and journals they receive have to go through heavy censorship while the newspapers are outdated and many sections are cut out leaving gaps in the pages.

Another bone of contention is the diet the detainees are receiving where, for five times a week, they are fed merely salted fish.

All the detainees are facing various health complications. One of them, Lokman Noor Adam, was sent to hospital on 18 October and again on 23 October for medical examinations which included urine tests and a kidney X-ray. Lokman is suffering from blood in his urine and stools. Ezam Mohd Nor in turn has a high level of uric acid while Saari Sungib and Hishamuddin Rais both suffer from an acute migraine problem.

Opposition leaders are expected to participate in the convoy – amongst them Kelantan State Chief Minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) Youth Leader Mahfuz Omar, National Justice Party (keADILan) Hulu Kelang State Assemblyman Azmin Ali, keADILan Lunas State Assemblyman Saifuddin Nasution, Malaysian Peoples’ Party (PRM) President Dr Syed Husin Ali, and Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) Chairman Dr Nasir Hashim.