I remember your report on Keadilan leader Tian Chua's case of illegal assembly before the lower courts where he was unrepresented as his lawyer had discharged himself because of his inability to access his client for instructions.

I remember reading that the magistrate had directed Chua, who is being detained under the Internal Security Act at the Kamunting detention camp, to get another lawyer despite hearing of the difficulties of legal access to clients in the centre.

I suggest that lawyers who cannot access their clients detained in Kamunting under the ISA now or in the past to try going to the High Court for their release as the detention is illegal due to non-access to lawyers instead of discharging themselves.

Shah Alam High Court judge Suriyadi Halim Omar's recent views

on access to counsel are a gem, consistent with the rule of law.