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Aliran Media Statement

The Struggle to Abolish the ISA Must Continue

They must all be freed immediately

Aliran welcomes back to freedom Haji Saari Sungib (bottom left pic) who was released from Kamunting Detention Camp on 1 June. We are very happy for Haji Saari and his family who had undergone a terrible ordeal over the past two years because of Haji Saari's detention under the much-abused Internal Security Act.

Aliran notes that the Minister of Home Affairs has not extended the detention orders against Hishamuddin Rais (top left), Mohammad Ezam Mohd Noor (top right), and Tian Chua (middle right). Yet these three detainees haven't been freed because they are held for various other charges.

Their situation smacks of punitive action by a Government whose use of the ISA was unaimously declared illegal by the Federal Court last year. Aliran calls on the Minister of Home Affairs to release Hishamuddin, Ezam and Tian immediately. They have endured two-year detentions without trial and don't deserve to be held any longer pending whatever investigation.

Aliran further notes that Dr Badrul Amin Baharom (bottom right) and Lokman Adam (centre left) are still in Kamunting because their two-year detention orders end on 12 June. Likewise Aliran calls on the Minister to release Badrul and Lokman without delay. There is no reason, other than bureaucratic rigidity and a lack of compassion, to continue to imprison them simply because their detention orders have not technically expired.

Thereis no need to release them in two instalments. The Minister is empowered to lift their detention order anytime he so wishes in order to release them. Waiting another 11 days to free them does not reflect well on the so-called compassion of a caring society that we are forever trying to project and promote. It is worthwhile to remember that deeds speak louder than words.

While Aliran waits for the full release of these opposition leaders and human rights activists, Aliran urges the national movement for civil liberties and human rights, Suhakam and the Malaysian public not to forget that many other citizens are still detained under the ISA.

The Government should charge those detainees in an open court, or the Government should free them. The ISA must be abolished, and the struggle to abolish it must continue.

Aliran Executive Committee
2 June 2003

This statement was sent to the local media including The Star, New Straits Times, and The Sun.