The government will not apologise for the arrests and detention of 60 participants of Asia Pacific Coalition for East Timor II (Apcet II) conference held in Kuala Lumpur in 1996.
Deputy Foreign Minister Leo Michael Toyad told Parliament today that the question of apologising does not arise as those who took part in the East Timor struggle activities did so "without a permit".
Replying to a question from Mohamad Sabu (PAS- Kuala Kedah), Leo said that the arrests were made due to the assembly being held without a permit, and was not related to the issue discussed.
However, Teresa Kok (DAP- Seputeh) said that since participation at the close-door assembly was by invitation only, it did not contravene the law.
She added that former Umno Youth leader Saifuddin Nasution had admitted that a group of Barisan Nasional youth stormed the conference and the police had conspired together with former deputy home minister Megat Junid Ayub to stop the meeting from proceeding.
Leo replied that there was no conspiracy between the government and BN organisations over the issue. He said that the indoor conference was organised in Malaysia, and the Malaysia's position is not to interfere with the internal affairs of Indonesia.
"We are fully confident that Indonesia will solve the issue in time," he said.
Last month, Saifuddin revealed at a public forum that the storming of the Apcet II conference in Kuala Lumpur four years ago was orchestrated by the government.
"With deep regret, I am here to offer my apology to all of you," Saifuddin told a 400-strong crowd who attended the public forum on Feb 8 held at the Federal Hotel in conjunction with the visit of East Timor independence leaders Xanana Gusmao and Jose Ramos-Horta.
The 60 participants of the conference were detained for up to six days in the police lock-up and were eventually released without charges. Another 50 foreign participants were escorted by the police to the airport and deported.
On another issue, Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told Parliament that the post-mortem report of the Indian pregnant woman who was shot dead by the police for alleged involvement in the kidnapping of former Selangor Menteri Besar Muhammad Muhd. Taib's son could not be revealed as the "investigation of the case had not been completed yet and the case had not been brought to court".
He was responding to a question about the action that had been taken against the police involved in the shooting.
Last year, two children of the victim had filed a law suit against the Universiti Malaya for not releasing the post-mortem report of their mother.