Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI), a coalition of 83 non-governmental organizations, trade unions and political parties, condemns the Penang police chief, Salleh Mat Rashid for threatening to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) against those participating in the public assembly in Penang and those sending Short Message Service (SMS) regarding the rally (Bernama 19 March).
The ISA provides for indefinite detention without trial and violates personal liberty, the right to trial, the right to be presumed innocent before guilty and the right to legal counsel. It is a piece of legislation that should not be used or used to threaten anyone in any circumstances.
The police should allow the people to exercise the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of assembly. The role of the police is to facilitate the exercising of the rights in a peaceful manner and not to stop the exercising of these rights.
There are enough laws in the country to tackle rioting or inciting hatreds and violence. If these crimes indeed have been committed, the police may arrest, charge them and prove the charges in court. By resorting to the ISA, the police is taking an easy way out of not having to prove the case in court. This is tantamount to abuse of powers.
GMI calls for the abolition of the ISA and all forms of detention without trial. ISA detainees in the Kamunting detention camp should be released of changed in open court immediately.
Abolish ISA!
Release All The Detainees!
Close Down KEMTA!
By,
Nalini.E
GMI Secretary
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