FAC News - Monday, June 10, 2002 8:54 AM

Release the ISA 6: Lim

Yesterday, Mr Lim Kit Siang, the Chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), asked what Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission, SUHAKAM, had done to persuade the authorities to release the six political detainees from Internal Security Act (ISA) incarceration. Mr Lim was speaking during the official launch of the BEBASKAN Roadshow Exhibition at the Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur.

The six – National Justice Party Youth Leader Ezam Mohd Nor, Dr Badrulamin Bahron, Saari Sungib, Lokman Noor Adam, Tian Chua and Hishamuddin Rais – were arrested over various dates in April 2001 together with four others (who have since been released) on grounds that “they are a threat to national security” – the “standard” allegation for those arrested under the ISA.

However, to date, no evidence has surfaced nor have they been charged in court for these “crimes” and, after more than a year, they still languish in the Kamunting Detention Center.

“On 11 April 2001, Suhakam made the categorical and unequivocal stand that detention without trial constitutes a fundamental human rights violation and called on the authorities to release the detainees immediately and, if they have committed any offence, then they should be charged and tried in an open court,” said Mr Lim.

“On 24 May 2002, the second-term Suhakam issued a statement on the ISA which was clearly a departure from its first statement a year ago,” added Mr Lim.

“The September 11 attacks in the United States have weakened the Suhakam stand on the ISA as reflected by its statement last month.”

“Suhakam should declare whether it still adheres to its statement of 11 April 2001 that the six Reformasi activists currently under ISA detention should have been released more than a year ago or charged and tried in an open court.”

“If so, Suhakam should give a satisfactory accounting as to what it had done in the past 13 months to actively persuade the authorities concerned to release the Reformasi 6 from ISA incarceration.”

Suhakam has confirmed that it will be holding a public inquiry into the ISA detentions from Monday, 17 June 2002. The inquiry will be conducted in or around Kamunting to facilitate all the ISA detainees testifying at this inquiry.

On 10 April 2002, the 6 Kamunting Political Detainees, plus 15 Reformasi supporters, launched a 12-day hunger strike to demand that Suhakam conduct a public inquiry into the ISA detentions. They also demanded that the detainees either be released or be brought to trial and that Anwar Ibrahim be allowed medical treatment for his back injury.

Mr Lim went on to say, “Suhakam should explain whether the inquiry it has decided to hold would be the most comprehensive in scope concerning the violation of their human rights and not narrowed down and restricted merely to investigate their visitation rights and detention conditions.”

“Suhakam should conduct a fully public and transparent national review of the 42-year history of the ISA, particularly into its abuses of fundamental freedoms and undermining political dissent because of the absence of judicial safeguards ad checks and balances.”

It is believed Suhakam will not be inquiring into the ISA detentions but merely into the “treatment of the detainees”; a departure from the demands of the hunger strike and what Suhakam promised in April this year, the first anniversary of the arrests.

On 21 April 2002, the 12-day hunger strike was temporary suspended on Suhakam’s promise that it would conduct the public inquiry into the detentions. If, however, Suhakam fails to deliver its promise, the hunger strike may be re-launched and, this time, the wives and children of the ISA detainees would probably join the hunger strike to push its case.

Anwar Ibrahim, who himself is under a 15-year jail sentence on trumped-up charges, joined the hunger strike on the fifth day and would certainly rejoin the hunger strike if it is re-launched.