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Faxed Protest Letter to the Home Affairs Minister

6 June 2001

via fax no: 03 8886 8014

Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Menteri Dalam Negeri
Aras 13, Block D1, Parcel D
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
65202 Putrajaya

YB Datuk Abdullah Badawi

RELEASE ALL ISA DETAINEES

We deplore your recent order that has condemned four Malaysians (three from Parti Keadilan Nasional and another activist) to two years incarceration in Kamunting. Their detention under the ISA is a despicable and disgraceful act without any justification.

We are particularly disappointed that you have chosen to ignore Justice Hishamuddin's recent judgment which described the arrest as mala fide, thereby questioning the legality of the arrest and his call for Parliamentary review of the ISA.

The use of ISA, which violates the constitutional rights of citizens and has led to widespread maltreatment of uncharged and unconvicted citizens, is immoral, cruel and uncivilized. The ISA is repugnant to any notion of justice and runs contrary to standards and conceptions of human rights as recognized by all major religions practiced in Malaysia.

Accordingly, Aliran condemns the latest and continued use of ISA to silence lawful dissent and stifle honest criticism. Together with other concerned organizations and individuals in this country, Aliran demands the following:

1. The BN government should immediately release all ISA detainees.
2. Alternatively, the Barisan government should immediately produce all detainees in Court and charge them under specific laws of the country.
3. The Barisan government should not use the ISA to re-arrest any detainee who is freed by any Court in the country.

Aliran Executive Committee