MALAYSIA: NATIONAL DAY PETITION TO ABOLISH THE ISA
Introduction | Petition | Sign the Petition | Signatories so far...
NATIONAL DAY GREETINGS TO THE
PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA !!
Today, August 31, 2001 is Malaysia's 44th National Day.
The last year has been an eventful year for Malaysians - and seen
a tremendous growth of the resistance of the people against a
government which became more oppressive as it became more
insecure of its support from the people.
The most blatantly repressive acts of the government have been in
the use of the Internal Security Act, since April this year, to
arrest and detain several groups of people without form of
process.
The first round of ISA arrests in 2001: political leaders
and activists
Ten people were arrested under the ISA in what is now revealed as
the "Omega Operation" in April 2001. Those arrested
were prominent political and social activist. Currently six of
them are being detained without trial for two years in Kamunting
Detention Camp. Two were released by the police while two others
were released by the landmark ruling on 30th. May 2001, by
Justice Mohd. Hishamudin Mohd Yunus of Shah Alam High Court, who
ruled that the detentions under the ISA were unlawful, and
ordered the police to release them immediately.
The six currently serving a two years detention without trial
period are:
Chua Tian Chang, Vice President National Justice Party
Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor, National Youth Chief of National Justice
Party
Saari Sungib, Central Committee Member National Justice Party
Hishamuddin Rais, Social Activist/Free Lance Columnist
Badrul Amin Baharom, Central Committee Member National Justice
Party
Lokman Nor Adam, Youth Leader of National Justice Party
Though the Government made serious allegations on the above six
such as being involved in illegal activities including having
links with guerilla movements outside the country, no evidence
was forthcoming to prove these allegations.
In fact, as has appeared, in the affidavits of the 10 detainees,
none of them had been interrogated on the allegations which were
the basis of their arrests, which calls into question the
government's claim that the arrests were made on grounds of
national security.
Second Round of ISA arrests - students
A second round of arrests was carried out resulting in a crack
down on student activism. Two student leaders were arrested under
the ISA, seven students were detained overnight and eventually
charged for illegal assembly, progressive student movements were
monitored, several homes of student leaders were raided and
show-cause letters send to respective leaders. Lately, a number
of students who have been earlier charged for illegal assembly
have been suspended by their respective universities even before
they have been found guilty by the courts.
Third group of ISA arrests : muslim militants or islamic
opposition?
The latest victims of the draconian ISA are those detained May
and August 2001. They have been accused for being involved in
'militant' activities to overthrow the government.
Of these detainees, 3 have been sent to Kamunting detenton centre
for 2 years detention without trial. They are:
Murad Halimmudin Hassan, Muhammad Azian Andul Rahman Nazri and
Uztaz Mohamat Iqbal B. Abdul Rahman -
One - Nazri Romli - was put under restricted residence orders for
2 years.
The rest are still in the first 60 days of detention without
trial. They are:
Mohd Rashid Ismail, Jaafar Karamah, Abu Bakar Che Dol
Asfawani Abdullah, Zainun Ismail @ Cikgu Nan, Solehan bin Abdul
Ghafar
Alias bin Ngah, Noor Ashid Sakib, Ahmad Pozi Darman
Ahmad Tajuddin Abu Bakar, Mohd. Lotfi b. Ariffin, Nik Adli Nik
Abdul Aziz
The police have linked this group of arrests to three incidents:
However, the current ISA arrests seems to
target muslim groups accused of being militant, armed and
dangerous, and includes some members of the opposition Islamic
party PAS, who have been or are currently involved in these
groups.
Political observers in Malaysia suggest that they could be
intended to create fear among non-Muslims on the existence of
militant Muslim groups and reduce the popularity which PAS has
gained among non-Muslims. Such action would divert the attention
of the nation on the serious economic crises being faced by the
nation, and consolidate Prime Minister Mahathir's position until
the next General Election.
ISA is nothing else than violation of basic human rights
Whatever the allegations of the government, AHRC, together with
all human rights loving people in Malaysia, holds that the ISA -
like all such national security laws around the world - is in
itself, and leads to, violation of basic human rights.
Since 1960, thousands of people including trade unionist, student
leaders, labour activist, political activist, religious groups,
academicians, NGO activist have been arrested under the ISA. The
ISA has been consistently used against people who criticise the
government and defend human rights. It has been the most
convenient tool for the state to suppress opposition and open
debate. The Act is an instrument maintained by the ruling
government to control public life and civil society.
The ISA provides for 'preventative detention' without trial for
an indefinite period. The ISA violates fundamental rights and
goes against the principles of justice and undermines the rule of
law.
The ISA goes against the right of a person to defend himself in
an open and fair trial. The person can be incarcerated up to 60
days of interrogation without access to lawyers. A person is
presumed innocent till proven guilty but under the ISA the person
is deemed guilty until she/he toes the line of the government of
the day.
The ISA is immoral and cruel. It condones torture and
humiliation. It is opposed by all major religions practiced in
the world.
The National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) has
clearly condemned the use of ISA and called for those arrested to
be charged in court.
We call upon the Malaysian government on the
occasion of this auspicious National Day, which should be a time
of celebrating MERDEKA for everybody, to give a token of good
faith to the people of Malaysia. You can show this by the
following:
Yours Sincerely,
Signed: