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| UMNO credibilty dwindles further as its propganda machine UTUSAN lies again Let the nation be informed, that the pernicious allegations that the people powered Reformist wanting to use weapons and bombs to unseat the government are blatant self serving lies, cooked, concocted by Mahathir UMNO conspirators with the help of a castrated IGP. The face and body language of the IGP during the press statement gave clear indication that he is lying for his corrupt master, the most cruel dictator of Malaysia Now and again Mahathir has concocted lies after lies to implicate his opponents, starting with Tun Salleh Abbas, Lim Guan Eng, Nallaakaruppan, Munawaar Anees, Sukma, Anwar Ibrahim and Ezam. Mahathir has lied and cheated the people, today his police henchmen Norain Mai, another hopeless Police Chief , shamelessly lied to the people that the Reformist are planning to use bombs and rockets and others to topple the government. Lies but lies, Mahathir has become so paranoid that he has to lie to survive, there is absolutely no truth in whatsoever Norain Mai has said. He is spitting cooked up evidences to find a good excuse to use the ISA to catch innocent and defenseless people who want to get rid of a cruel tyrant who has plundered the nation and made the people suffer. Let the people arise and rebut all these lies which Mahathir will try to make believe through his prostituted media.Let us use the internet and undermine lies that mislead the people.Wake up Malaysians, wake up and get rid of the tyrant Mahathir who has brought great shame to the nation and destroyed its beauty and image. Go and get him, hack him and finish this old cruel worthless dictator who is the nation's number one enemy. Spirit of Truth |
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| SUARAM URGENT APPEAL : 11TH. APRIL 2001 (UPDATE 1) SIX DETAINED UNDER THE ISA IN MALAYSIA! Five pro-reform activists in Malaysia have been detained on 10th April 2001, another one on 11th April 2001 under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial, just days before the second anniversary commemorating the conviction of former Deputy Prime Minister and Amnesty International's prisoner of conscience, Anwar Ibrahim. Planned on 14th April 2001 is a rally at the National Human Rights Commission to hand in a 'people's' memorandum on the state of human rights in Malaysia. Those detained on April 10, 2001: . Mr. Mohd. Ezam Mohd. Noor -- Parti Keadilan Nasional, National Youth Chief . Mr. Chua Tian Chang -- Parti Keadilan Nasional, Vice President . Mr. Haji Saari Sungip -- Organising Chairperson of the April 14th. memorandum . Mr. Hishamuddin Rais -- freelance journalist / film-maker The four, described by the police as pro-reform activists, were all detained between 4pm (0800GMT) and 5.30pm (0930GMT) while Mr. N Gobala Krishnan - Parti Keadilan Nasional, Youth secretary arrested around 11.30pm New Arrest on April 11, 2001: Mr. Raja Petra Kamaruddin - Free Anwar Campaign website executive director arrested 9.30 am The Internal Security Act, 1960 Section 73(1) Internal Security Act: "Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person in respect of whom he has reason to believe- a. that there are grounds which would justify his detention under section 8; and b. that he has acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essestial services therein or to the economic life thereof." Sect 8. Power to order detention or restriction of persons. "(i)If the Minister is satisfied that the detention of any person is necessary with a view to preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to the maintenance of essential services therein or the economic life thereof, he may make an order (hereinafter referred to as a detention order) directing that that person be detained for any period not exceeding two years." (Note from SUARAM: the detention order can be renewed by the Minister, which is not uncommon, hence making detention indefinitely.) WHY THE ISA IS A DRACONIAN LAW : Since 1960 when the Act was enacted, thousands of people including trade unionists, student leaders, labour activists, political activists, religious groups, academicians, NGO activists 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 detained under the ISA is held incommunicado, with no access to the outside world. Furthermore, lawyers and family are not allowed access to the detainee. Torture goes concurrently with ISA detention. Former detainees have testified to being subjected to physical and psychological torture. This may include one or more of the following: physical assault, sleep deprivation, round-the-clock interrogation, threats of bodily harm to family members, including detainees' children. Prolonged torture and deprivation have led to detainees signing state-manufactured 'confessions' under severe duress. THE FIVE DETAINED UNDER THE ISA FOR PLANNING TO SUBMIT A MEMORANDUM TO THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: The six men were planning to forward a formal complaint and memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) on April 14, 2001. This event and intention was made known to the public and several newspapers. The organising committee had also notified the Commission of their intention to submit the memorandum on April 14th. (this Saturday). April 14th. is also the anniversary of the conviction of the first trial of former Deputy Prime Minister and political prisoner, Anwar Ibrahim. The date has since been described as Black 14. This year marks the second anniversary. In the last two years, police also conducted similar operations, resulting in mass arrests and police brutality. 14th. till 17th. April 1999 (Anwar's sentencing) -- 117 were arrested 14th. till 15th. April 2000 -- 54 people were arrested note : All the above arrests were under the Criminal Procedure Code ACTION REQUIRED: a.. Demand for the immediate release of all those detained without conditions. b.. Express gravest concern over their well-being. (Please take note that all have been tortured by the police on other arrests since 1998; also, note that the former Deputy Prime Minister emerged from an ISA arrest in September 1998 with his infamous black eye and other forms of physical torture.) c.. If those detained have violated any laws, charge them in an open and fair court. d.. Condemn the use of ISA and call for the Government to repeal the ISA immediately. e.. Condemn the abuse and disrespect of the right to assemble peaceably. f.. Call on the Malaysian Human Rights Commission to intervene and restore democracy and human rights. LETTERS CAN BE ADDRESSED : Ybhg Tan Sri Musa Hitam Chairperson National Human Rights Commission, 29th. Floor, Menara Tun Razak, Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur. Fax- 603-26125620 Tel-603-26125600 Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Minister of Home Affairs Jalan Dato Onn, 50502 Kuala Lumpur. Fax-603-2301051 Kofi Annan Secretary-General, United Nations Room S-3800, New York NY 10017 Fax: 1-212-963 4879/2155 Email : ecu@u... Ms. Mary Robinson Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des nations 8-14 avenue de la Paix, CH 1211 Geneve, Switzerland Fax : (41) 229170213 Email: webadmin.hchr@u... Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai Headquarters of Royal Police of Malaysia Bukit Aman 50560 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Fax: +603 22731326 (Please cc. a copy of your letter to the above >authorities to SUARAM at >wkpeng@p..., if possible, for documentation purposes.) |
| Suhakam expresses deep regret Malaysian rights commission voices 'deep regrets' over arrests KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (AFP) - Malaysia's human rights commission Wednesday expressed "deep regrets" over the detention of seven opposition activists and called for their immediate release. The government-appointed National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) said the arrests under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial, violated fundamantal human rights. "The present crackdown is cause for concern," it said in a strongly-worded statement after a special meeting. "Suhakam calls on the authorities to release the seven detainees immediately. If they have committed any offence, they should be charged and tried in an open court." It also urged the authorities to allow families, lawyers and doctors immediate access to the detaines. Suhakam said there were initially signals that the government was "slowlybut surely being sensitized to human rights issues and is taking concrete steps to ensure that its concern for human rights is translated into action." Suhakam's formation in April last year was proof of the trend, it said, adding that it was against this backdrop that it expressed deep concern over the present arrests. "In its current exercise of reviewing Malaysian laws that constituteinfringements of human rights... Suhakam will make recommedations to the government on the necessity of amending or repealing the Internal Security Act," it added. Suhakam members earlier met wives of the opposition detainees whocomplained that "our loved ones have disappeared into thin air." |
| POLICE TELL LIES TO SAVE PRIME MINISTER The press statement read by the IGP, Tan Seri Norian Mai, this afternoon contains the most ridiculous and irresponsible allegations against the seven keADILan leaders and reformist activists who have been detained by the police since yesterday evening under the draconian ISA. I have read the full statement. Apparently Norian Mai thinks that he can get away with murder, because he knows that under the ISA the detainees will not be brought to court to defend themselves. Norian Mai names the seven who have been detained. In the ridiculous and iresponsible statement that he read, he clearly implied that the seven detained were involved in attempts to get explosives, including bombs and grenade launchers, planning to use molotov concktails and grenade launchers, and trying to get help and support from “silat” leaders and sections of the armed forces personnel. Norian Mai and the police force should admit, if they are sincere and professional, that the “reformasi” gatherings have always been peaceful. The general public, especially those who have been able to witness these gatherings, know very well that they had often become out of hand when the police used physical force as well water canons on the peaceful assemblies. Without the police cruel actions, the assemblies have always ended peacefully. At no time since the “reformasi” movement started in 1998 has the police been able to provide proof that genuine “reformists” who participated in the various peaceful assemblies resorted to using explosives and other dangerous weapons. No one has been arrested and charged for resorting to such acts. In all likelihood, agent provocateurs were used to discredit the “reformasi” movement in this way. As for the trying to get help and support from the “silat” leaders, Norian Mai must be joking. Certainly he is fully aware that it was none other than the Prime Minister himself who, a few months back, met with leaders of different “silat” groups, some of whom were blatantly involved in the 13th May 1969 Incident. By the way, isn’t the advisor of these “silat” groups a Vice-President of UMNO, the party Prime Minister Dr Mahathir leads? The police force must be professional in carrying out its duties. The IGP must set an honourable example. He should not allow the police force to concoct far-fetched accusations in order to justify detaining people without trial under the draconian ISA. PRM is most concerned that this time, IGP Norian Mai seems to have allowed himself and the police force to do the bidding of the Prime Minister, who is obviously very concerned and worried about his own politial survival. Dr Syed Husin Ali PRM President 11th April 2001 |
| Press Statement by DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka, Kerk Kim Hock in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday 11.4.2001 ISA Arrests: The Government should present a White Paper in Parliament ------------------------------------------------------- The Police arrest of " reformasi activists"under the infamous and outdated Internal Security Act must be deplored, as detention without trial is a violation of human rights and the basic principle of democracy While debating on the third Outline Perspective Plan in the Parliament on 5.4.2001, I had referred to the speech by the Prime Minister where he had said that there were people "who hanker after turmoil and violence, injury and death even" and there were people who " were not prepared to wait for general election but wish to grab power illegitimately." I had asked the Prime Minister to explain whom he was referring to when he made such remarks in his speech in Parliament on 3.4.2001. I said that if the government had any proof that such persons had been engaged in the activities as claimed, then it should charge them in the courts of law. I regret that when the YAB Deputy Prime Minister summed up the replies on behalf of the government in Parliament yesterday, he did not answer the questions which I had posed. Instead while MPs were in the Parliament chamber listening to his reply, we heard news that ISA arrests had begun and three persons, including the Vice President of Parti Keadilan Nasional Tian Chua, had been detained. The government must explain to the Parliament and the nation why ISA has been used to detain these activists and why they cannot be charged in an open court for their alleged activities so that they will be able to defend themselves. I therefore call on the government to present a White Paper on the ISA arrests to the current Parliament sittings so that MPs can debate on such unwarranted Police arrests which will only tarnish the country's image. --Kerk Kim Hock -- |
| Media Statement by DAP National Chairman Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday, 11th April 2001: Call on Suhakam to take a clear stand against the ISA arrests under Section 4(2) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 and call for the immediate release of the seven ISA detainees and end to all further arrests ============================================================== The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) should take a clear stand under Section 4(2) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 against the Internal Security Act (ISA) arrests launched by the police yesterday and call for the immediate release of the seven ISA detainees and an end to all further arrests. Section 4(2) of the Human Rights Commission Act empowers SUHAKAM "to issue public statements on human rights as and when necessary" in the discharge of its functions and powers to protect and promote human rights in Malaysia - and if there is a time when it is necessary for SUHAKAM to make a stand on human rights in Malaysia since its formation last April, it is now when the country has been plunged into a new Dark Age with the new crackdown against the political opposition and civil society dissent by the massive and arbitrary resort to the ISA detention without trial powers. The ISA crackdown makes a complete mockery of SUHAKAM as those arrested are the key personnel organising the People's 14th April Memorandum addressed to SUHAKAM, and SUHAKAM has confirmed the meeting with the People's 14th April Memorandum delegation on Saturday in conjunction with the second anniversary of the jail sentencing of former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for corruption. Among those who have been arrested under the ISA are Saari Hj Sungib, Chairman of the People's 14th April Memorandum Committee, and committee members Hishamuddin Rais and Tian Chua. Is the police targetting to arrest all the committee members of the People's 14th April Memorandum Committee as announced on the Internet, which would include Abdul Malek Hussin, Norazimah Mohd Nor, Nasir Md Isa, Azwandin Hamzah, Tan Soi Kow and Fadil Hj. Abu Bakar. I find the police statement that the ISA arrests were made to stop the planning of activities to carry out protests until 2004 when the general election was expected totally contradictory to another police statement that the arrests were made to stop the planning of a series of demonstrations to "topple the government". Those detained under the current ISA dragnet cannot on the one hand be preparing for the 2004 general elections and on the other hand planning for the toppling of the government before 2004. In any event, is the reference to 2004 an indication that the government is likely to detain the seven and others on the police wanted list until 2004 without trial? I have just been told of the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai's allegation at today's media conference that those arrested under the ISA were involved in negotiations to buy arms to topple the government. This allegation is most preposterous and completely unbelievable. Norian Mai must prove to the hilt his claim that he had "received intelligence reports that the activists were in the midst of buying grenade launchers and explosives" as well as prove that they were indeed involved in such activities, or he should stop making such unsubstantiated preposterous claims which can do no credit to the professionalism of the Malaysian police or the country's international reputation. If what Norian Mai said is true, then all the persons involved should be charged for treason and not being detained under the ISA. - Lim Kit Siang - |
| Aliran Media Statement http://www.malaysia.net/aliran/ Free the ISA detainees! Or charge them in court Aliran deplores the detention under the Internal Security Act of several opposition leaders and social activists yesterday. By the latest available report, the detainees include the following: 1. Tian Chua, Parti Keadilan Nasional vice-president 2. Mohamad Ezam Mohd. Nor, Keadilan Youth president 3. N Gobala Krishnan, Keadilan Youth secretary-general 4. Saari Sungib, 'People's Memorandum' organising committee chairperson 5. Hishamuddin Rais, media columnist and social activist, and, 6. Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the international Free Anwar Campaign director. 7. Abdul Ghani Harun, Keadilan Youth central committee member There is no justification whatever for the use of the ISA to detain the leaders of a legal opposition party or social activists engaged in legitimate dissent Dr Mahathir Mohamad's government is badly mistaken if it thinks that the people of Malaysia still believe that ISA detention is proof of the culpability, let alone guilt, of a detainee. The ISA has been thoroughly discredited as an instrument of authoritarian rule. In re-using the ISA to detain political opponents and critics without trial, Dr Mahathir's government has merely exposed its continuing intolerance of legal, non-violent, and democratic opposition. In the name of justice, human rights and the rule of law, Aliran calls upon the government to charge the detainees in an open court or immediately release all of them. Aliran Executive Committee 11 April 2001 |
| LATEST ISA DETENTIONS IN MALAYSIA DEPLORABLE Mr Kofi Annan Secretary-General of the United Nations, United Nations Room S-3800 New York, NY 10017 c.c. Ms. Mary Robinson Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Palais des nations 8-14 avenue de la Paix, CH 1211 Geneve, Switzerland Dear Mr Annan/Ms Robinson, I am flabbergasted and outraged by Dr Mahathir's latest heavy-handed attempt to crush any form of dissent or political opposition in Malaysia. By the latest available report, the ISA detainees include the following: 1. Tian Chua, Parti Keadilan Nasional vice-president 2. Mohamad Ezam Mohd. Nor, Keadilan Youth president 3. N Gopala Krishnan, Keadilan Youth secretary-general 4. Saari Sungib, 'People's Memorandum' organising committee chairperson 5. Hishamuddin Rais, media columnist and social activist, and, 6. Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the international Free Anwar Campaign director. 7. Abdul Ghani Harun, Keadilan Youth central committee member I agree with the Aliran press statement that "there is no justification whatever for the use of the ISA to detain the leaders of a legal opposition party or social activists engaged in legitimate dissent." Since the arrest, imprisonment and vicious beating of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim on September 20th, 1998, Malaysia has edged dangerously close to being a full-fledged police state. The present government is propped up entirely by fear. The monied and propertied classes fear economic and social upheavals - while everyone else fears being brutalized and tortured by the Malaysian secret police. When Suhakam, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, was inaugurated to appease the growing anger, very few of us placed much faith in it as an independent agency. Since then Suhakam has shown itself to be essentially a damage-control and delaying device with neither the power nor the inclination to address the increasing feudal despotism and tyranny that have characterized Dr Mahathir's 20-year prime ministership. It seems to many of us that the chickens are finally coming home to roost on the financial shenanigans of the Mahathir regime. The panic is such that he has had to resort to violence in a desperate attempt to frighten the population into abject silence. I believe Dr Mahathir to be clinically insane and quite capable of orchestrating an outbreak of ethnic violence - just so he that can declare a state of emergency and hand the nation over to the secret police. I hope that your august institution will not mince any words in chastizing the Mahathir regime for its brutal crimes against human dignity, justice, and freedom. Thank you. Antares (Kit Leee) Free Malaysian Citizen Magick River 44000 Kuala Kubu Baru Kuala Kubu Baru Malaysia |
| MEDIA STATEMENT BY DR ABDUL RAHIM GHOUSE Representative and Official Spokesman of FAC CONFIRMED: MAHATHIR SUFFERING FROM DESPARATUS TYRANNUS The latest round of detention of reformasi leaders under the notorious Internal Security Act (ISA) confirms that Malaysian prime minister is suffering from desparatus tyrannus, an ailment common among distressed and nervous dictators. The International Free Anwar Campaign deplores and condemns the use of ISA to detain Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin the Director of FAC and other opposition leaders including Tian Chua, Ezam Mohd Noor, Saari Sungib, Hishamuddin Rais, Gobalakrishnan and Ghani Harun . FAC also demands immediate release of those detained under the ISA, which allows the police to detain people without trial and for an indefinite period. Once arrested under this act a detainee has no way of defending himself. And as in the past, the government will throw all kinds of allegations at the detainee without having to prove it in a court of law. The police claimed that these opposition leaders were arrested for being involved in an attempt to "topple the government." They also alleged that these leaders were planning to use bombs and Molotov cocktails. In spite of these serious allegations, those arrested will not have the chance to defend themselves. That the Internal Security Act was used was indeed interesting. It illustrates how nervous and unsure of itself the Mahathir regime is today. Even with its control of mainstream media and servitude of the court, it dared not charge these opposition leaders in court. A trial will only make the government looks like a fool, not unlike what happened during the sham trial of Anwar Ibrahim. The Mahathir regime is boxed into a corner by its own actions. The expulsion of Anwar Ibrahim lead to a political crisis which continues unabated till today. The credibility of the government is so low that its leaders are complaining publicly about its lost of support among students, civil servants and military personnel. Compounding this situation is the expected economic slowdown, which is due partly to the slowdown in the US and partly to Mahathir's own erratic, cronyistic and xenophobic policies. To aggravate the situation, Mahathir continues to antagonize and alienate more Malaysians. Besides the deteriorating condition of the Malaysian economy, he is finding himself challenged even from within his own party. Even the editors of the docile mainstream media have been grumbling about their loss of credibility and the curbs put on them. On all fronts he finds himself on shaky ground. The consensus among Malaysians is that Mahathir must go. The longer he remains the more the wrath of the people will swell. Mahathir thinks that he can thwart the opposition by making these arrests. He seems to have forgotten that the street protest that took place after Anwar was arrested in 1998 happened at a time when many of these same leaders were either in detention or were in exile overseas. The protest started from the people. By clamping down on the reformasi leaders today, he is risking another repeat of such a protest. Besieged from all corners, Mahathir finds himself in a totally unprecedented situation. This is something he had not anticipated. As such, he is having a great deal of difficulty figuring out how to handle the situation. It is believed that the latest round of arrrests was done to prevent the gathering planned for this Saturday to mark the anniversary of Anwar's conviction by Mahathir's kangaroo court. The reformasi supporters had planned a peaceful gathering to accompany a delegation to present a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission. This seemingly harmless event would be ignored by Malaysia's mainstream media. Yet Mahathir finds such an event totally unnerving. That's right, it confirms that he is suffering from desparatus tyrannus! |
| Voices of IDIOTS Govt prepared for criticism KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is prepared to face the backlash from the opposition front over the detention of Parti Keadilan Nasional leaders and activists under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Deputy Home Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin said the Government was prepared for criticism from the opposition. "So what? They (the opposition) have always been firing a lot of bullets. "We are not scared to do what we have to do, provided it is within the law and powers of the authorities,'' he said. On the plan by the opposition to hand a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission on April 14, Zainal Abidin said it would be fine if only a handful of people turned up to do so. However, problems would crop up if thousands take part in the "procession'' leading to the handing-over of the memorandum. "That would not be peaceful but a show of power,'' he said. Pasir Mas Umno division chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali lauded the police's move of using ISA to detain the reformasi activists. He said in a statement that it was the necessary thing to do for the sake of national security and the safety of the citizens. "These activists had been involved in street demonstrations before and would plan to have more demonstrations if nothing was done to check their activities,'' he added. Ibrahim said the Government and the police should not be afraid to face criticism for their action as they were doing it for the country's safety. "Even if the Government does not act on these people, it will still be criticised for being too weak. It's a no-win situation for us,'' he added. In Seremban, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad said the detention of some opposition party leaders under ISA was necessary to ensure national security was not threatened. "Although many people will question the detention under ISA, it is a necessity in ensuring national security. "The Government cannot allow the actions of five or six people to undermine national peace and security for the rest of the people,'' he said, urging Keadilan to focus on strengthening the country's economy instead of concentrating their efforts on organising demonstrations. In Ipoh, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali said the Government had no choice but to arrest the Keadilan leaders to ensure peace and stability. He said the safety of the country would be threatened if the reformasi activists were not arrested. "The Government has no choice but to use the ISA although it has tried its best not to use it.'' Tajol Rosli, who is an Umno supreme council member, said the opposition had been successful in their strategy to get sympathy from foreign countries. He said the arrests would deter others who wanted to create chaos in the country. He also urged the people here not to get involved with any other form of street demonstration to protest against the arrest of activists. |
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| Media Statement Ludicrous Charge! The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Norian Mai's allegation that those arrested under the Internal SecurityAct (ISA) in the last 24 hours were involved in negotiations to buy arms to topple the government is utterly ludicrous. The IGP told a media conference this afternoon that he had "received intelligence reports that the activists were in the midst of buying grenade launchers and explosives". If the IGP has such incontrovertible evidence, he should make it public. He should allow the public to find out for themselves the truth about the police's intelligence reports. It is a pity that the IGP's preposterous allegation cannot be examined by a court of law since the 7 ISA detainees -- 6 of whom are keADILan leaders and members -- have been arrested under a law which denies them an open trial. It is because the police's so-called "evidence" will not stand the scrutiny of even a kangaroo court that the 7 have been detained under the ISA. The ISA allows an unjust, authoritarian state to concoct lies, invent tales and fabricate evidence in order to stifle legitimate criticism of the powers-that-be. KeADILan asks: why should keADILan leaders and activists want to topple the legally elected government through the force of arms? One, keADILan and its Barisan Alternatif (BA) partners know that the Mahathir government is losing support rapidly. The democratic process itself will evict Mahathir and his minions from their pinnacle of power. There is no need for anyone to resort to armed force to get rid of the Mahathir-led BN government. Two, since its launch two years, keADILan, together with its BA partners, has consistently adhered to peaceful, constitutional, democratic processes to bring about political change in the country. Ceramahs, pamphlets and public campaigns have been our political tools. Even in their wildest dreams, keADILan leaders would not contemplate resorting to armed violence to change the government of the day. Three, for keADILan, change through the ballot-box is an article of faith. This is spelt out clearly in all keADILan documents, including our 'Agenda for Change'. It is because we believe in the electoral process, however flawed it may be, that we participated in the tenth General Election. Why should a party that won an astounding victory in a by-election in the Prime Minister's own home state just 4 months ago want to topple the government through force? KeADILan is convinced that the baseless allegation about buying arms to topple the government is nothing but a vile attempt to thwart the growing anti-Mahathir sentiment among the masses. It is a diabolical move to stem the tide of change in the country. It is a vicious endeavour to prevent keADILan and the other BA parties from gathering momentum for the inevitable political transformation that will take place in 2004 -- God Willing. KeADILan is convinced that this latest manoeuvre by the government to tarnish our party will not work. The masses who support us know our struggle and what we stand for. It is on the strength of the people's support and the peaceful, constitutional principles that we uphold, that keADILan demands that the 7 ISA detainees be released immediately and unconditionally. Dr. Chandra Muzaffar Deputy President Parti Keadilan Nasional (keADILan) 11 April 2001 |
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| KENYATAAN PENUH KETUA PEMBANGKANG KUALA LUMPUR – Rakyat negara ini sekali lagi digemparkan dengan berita penangkapan aktivis reformasi dan pemimpin Barisan Alternatif di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA). Tindakan zalim ini terus menerus meletakkan negara yang sedang mengalami berbagai krisis keyakinan dan kegawatan menjadi semakin parah. Sekali lagi penyalahgunaan kuasa melalui penggunaan akta yang bertentangan dengan hak asasi manusia ini dalam keadaan yang langsung tidak bersebab jelas mengambarkan kedudukan Umno/BN yang cukup tertekan, terasak dan terdesak. Penjelasan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi di Parlimen bahawa beliau tidak mempunyai maklumat tentang penangkapan tersebut adalah satu pengakuan yang amat mengejutkan. Dakwaan yang dibuat oleh Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Norian Mai, pada hari ini bahawa mereka yang ditangkap sedang merancang mengumpulkan senjata berbahaya adalah sangat berat. Adalah mustahil dan amat tidak munasabah bahawa Menteri Dalam Negeri tidak dimaklumkan terlebih dahulu, seolah-olah ada pihak yang membelakangkan pihak menteri berkenaan. Sebelum daripada peristiwa ini, rakyat masig ingat akan janji Menteri Dalam Negeri untuk tidak menggunakan lagi ISA. Pas) mengutuk sekerang-kerasnya tindakan tidak berperikemanusiaan pihak polis dan mahukan penjelasan diberikan mengenai kedudukan sebenar pihak yang mengarahkan tangkapan tersebut. Pas mengecam tindakan kerajaan BN mengugut rakyat serta menakut-nakutkan mereka dengan ancaman ISA dan berbagai lagi akta yang zalim dan tidak demokratik. Pas menuntut supaya semua tahanan dibebaskan segera tanpa syarat. Pas mahu pihak polis meminta maaf kepada mangsa dan keluarga mereka. Pas menuntut Menteri Dalam Negeri meletakkan jawatan dan kerajaan memansuhkan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri. Dato' Hj. Fadzil Mohd Noor Presiden Pas merangkap Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen Malaysia |
| KENYATAAN PENUH SUHAKAM KUALA LUMPUR - Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) at its special meeting today (11 April 2001), expresses its concern over the arrest of seven persons under the Internal Security Act (ISA) as reported today. Since its inception and its first meeting on the 24 April 2000, Suhakam has been encouraged by signals perceived by us to indicate that the government is slowly but surely being sensitized to human rights issues and is taking concrete steps to ensure that its concern for human rights is translated into action. The formation od Suhakam itself is proof of this trend. It is against this backdrop that Suhakam expresses its deep regrets on the use of the ISA to detain the seven political activists. Detention without trial constitutes a fundamental human rights violation. Suhakam calls on the authorities to release the seven detainees immediately. If they have committed any offence, they should be charged and tried in an open court. While Suhakam recognizes that the government has, over the years, released many of those detained under the ISA, the present crackdown is cause for concern. We strongly urge the authorities to allow families, lawyers and doctors immediate access to the detainees. As a national human rights institution, Suhakam in accordance with section 4(2) C and D of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, will seek access to the detainees in order to monitor their mental, physical and general well-being. In its current exercise of reviewing Malaysian laws that constitute infringements of human rights in accordance with section 4(1)(b) of the same Act, Suhakam will make recommendations to the government on the necessity of amending or repealing the Internal Security Act. By authority of Suhakam Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria Secretary © 2001 AgendaMalaysia |
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| Opposition, families denounce claims of violent protests as 'lies' KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (AFP) - Claims by Malaysian police that detained activists planned violent protests to topple Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government are "fairy tales," opposition leaders said Thursday. Family members of the seven activists held this week under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial, also denounced what they called "lies". The arrest of the supporters of jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim was "ruthless state repression" to divert attention from the economic slowdown, the opposition Alternative Front alliance said. Police chief Norian Mai said Wednesday that Anwar's supporters had tried to procure arms and explosives in the past for use during protests. They were planning violent protests to topple the government, he charged. Norian said there were plans for a 50,000-strong pro-Anwar gathering this Saturday at the human right commission offices, which could have turned into a riot. "The allegation of a militant attempt to topple the government is farcical, it is ludicrous," said Chandra Muzaffar, deputy president of the National Justice Party (Keadilan) headed by Anwar's wife. "The whole purpose behind this latest act of repression is to stamp (out) the tide of change in the country, to thwart the growing anti-Mahathir sentiment. "It is a preemptive move in view of the imminent economic downturn because the Mahathir government is afraid that if the economy declines, the people's anger would mount and any attempts to mobilise people in such circumstances will be successful." Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said her party was singled out as it had been "very influential in getting public support" and the detainees were seen as a threat to their grip on power. "It's a move by the authorities to divert public attention from a weak economy... if they (detainees) are dangerous, bring evidence and bring them to an open court so they can defend themselves." Opposition members of parliament wore white armbands to protest the arrests. Democratic Action Party chairman Lim Kit Siang called police allegations of planned militant protests the "fairy-tales of the 21st century." "If there is such a conspiracy lasting more than two years, the police were not able to produce an iota of hard evidence to convince the people that this is not another fairy tale," Lim said. Syed Husin Ali, chairman of the allied Malaysian People's Party, said: "The all-powerful (Mahathir) wants to strengthen his position by using the police to create lies and detain the seven without firm evidence." He said the opposition would proceed with Saturday's plan to hand in a memorandum on human rights abuses to the National Human Rights Commission. The families of five of the detainees filed a writ of habeas corpus in a high court challenging their arrests. Aliza Jaffar, wife of one of Keadilan senior official Saari Sungib, said at a separate press conference that police allegations were "manifest lies which are unfounded and made with malicious intent." "Until today, the police have not been able to show any proof that previous assemblies and demonstrations have involved any sort of weapons or explosives whatsoever," she told reporters. Irene Fernandez, a Keadilan official and director of women's group Tenaganita, said the police were "unprofessional and irresponsible" in concocting "far-fetched accusations" to detain the seven under ISA. |