bangkit.net

By: Suaram

27th October 2006, marks the 19th anniversary of the infamous Operasi Lalang, when 106 Malaysians of varied background were arrested and detained without trial under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), 1960. Their detentions remain a black spot in Malaysian history. None of them was tried in any court of justice nor found guilty of any offences. Yet some of them were incarcerated for more than a year.Since then, the opposition and protest against the inhumane ISA has heightened. Today, at least 83 Malaysian organizations have expressed their opposition to the ISA and are committed to the campaign for its abolition. The National Human Rights Commission, SUHAKAM has also called for the repeal of this anti-human rights law.

Since the Act was enacted in 1960, every Prime Minister of the country has used the ISA consistently against dissidents and thousands of people of all races, religion background, and walks of life have been arrested under the ISA. Detainees have been subject to torture but to date, these torturers have never been brought to justice.

In 1987, the Barisan National used Operation Lalang to create an atmosphere of terror to carry an assault on the Malaysian judiciary which was deciding the fate of UMNO, the ruling party. Today, the current Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continues to use the ISA by taking the cue from the US global War on Terror. Although the Malaysian government has said that they have sufficient evidence against the detainees, none of these have been charged.

And while the Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called for two Malaysians in Guantanamo Bay to be given a fair trial, he has turned a deaf ear to calls for the same for about a hundred ISA detainees who are still being detained in the Kamunting Detention Camp.

While welcoming the release of 17 ISA detainees on 18th and 19th October 2006, SUARAM condemns the continued detention of the other ISA detainees.

Today, SUARAM, an organization which was born out of the campaign to release the ISA detainees during Operasi Lalang in 1987, renews our call for the following:

1. Abolish the ISA and all forms of Detention without Trial; Release all the ISA detainees or charge them in an open and fair trial.

2. Set up an independent public inquiry on those who have been tortured and abused under the ISA and compensate them and their families for the sufferings incurred.

3. Use the present criminal laws to deal with crimes pertaining to national security. Our criminal laws, which provide for a maximum of 15 days of detention are more than sufficient for investigate purposes.

4. Restore the independence of the judiciary to curb abuses of power by the government or the police.

Abolish the ISA!
Release all ISA detainees!
Close down Kamunting Detention Camp!!!

Yours Sincerely,

Nalini.E
Campaign Coordinator