This morning was an important time for N Sasinthra Devi.

It would have been the first time the 27-year-old would face a press conference, on behalf of her family, to declare their undivided support for her aunt, Sarasvathy Muthu.

NONE With a brave face, Sasinthra ( left ) began with their family’s disbelief over the government’s decision to detain Sarasvathy, or Saras as she is fondly known, and five other PSM leaders under the Emergency Ordinance (EO).

She slammed the government for using a law reserved for “addicts and thugs” on her aunt, who fights not for herself but for the poor and marginalised.

But try as she wanted to emulate her aunt’s courage, Sasinthra could do little to hold back her tears as the realisation struck her that her aunt is not well.

Not much is clear regarding the condition of the EO6 - as the detainees are now known - and only recently did Sarasvathy’s colleagues find out that she had been rushed to the hospital complaining of chest pains.

And with already so little information about her aunt over the past 19 days since her detention on July 2, this revelation broke Sasinthra’s heart.

“Saras is not only the leader of her party, she is also the leader of our family. We only now know she was rushed to hospital... we are really worried about her,” Sasinthra said as tears streamed down her cheeks.

She said the past 19 days have been a constant struggle for the family, especially when Sarasvathy’s 78-year-old mother asks for her.

“My grandmother is worried, but we told her she (Sarasvathy) went overseas. She doesn’t know that she has been detained.

“Today, she asked if she called, and I told her ‘yes, she asked about you’... every day she asks,” Sasinthra said.

‘Saras is no criminal’

Sarasvathy’s younger sister and Sasinthra’s mother, M Angama Santhi, said there is no way the government can pin her sister as a criminal.

NONE Angama ( right ) said her sister had been fighting for the poor and marginalised from a very young age, and people have nothing but good things to say about Sarasvathy.

“Whenever I go for vigils or protests or events for the six detainees, I always hear good stories about Saras.

“People say, ‘She is our saviour’, and that whatever problem they have, she will try to solve them.

“Saras gave her life to the struggle. She decided not to marry for her family and the struggle. I feel very proud and happy (for her), and want her to come out soon,” said the 50-year-old homemaker.

NONE Sarasvathy’s sister-in-law, S Vijaya Letchumi, 54 ( right ), simply could not see any reason for Sarasvathy to be detained.

Speaking of Sarasvathy’s commitment to helping the downtrodden, Vijaya gave the example of one person who was living in a run-down and leaking house.

“Saras spoke out to make sure this person got a proper place to live. This is the type of person Saras is... How can she be detained?

“These six (detainees) are the champions of the poor people. They are being detained and now who will champion the poor?”

‘Let them go’

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG), which arranged for the press conference with Sarasvathy’s family, reiterated its demand for the EO6 to be released immediately and unconditionally.

They also demanded that all six detainees are given immediate and unfettered access to family, friends and lawyers, and that the authorities guarantee their physical and psychological integrity and that they are not subjected to torture or ill-treatment.

Until the demands are met, supporters of the EO6 will continue with their nightly vigils from 8pm to 9pm outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

PSM is also scheduled to lead a rally in front of Bukit Aman at 3pm tomorrow to present a memorandum to inspector-general of police Ismail Omar demanding the immediate release of the six.