Oct 27, 2004 marked the 17th aniversary of 'Operasi Lalang' during which 106 people from various activist backgrounds were arrested and detained without trial under the draconian Internal Security Act, 1960.

Their detention then remains a black spot on the history of our nation. None of the 106 have been tried or found guilty for any of the so-called offences leveled at them.

Since then, opposition against the ISA has heightened. If 17 years ago, there were 12 groups in a coalition to oppose the ISA, today there are 83 organisations opposed to the ISA. The Human Rights Commission - Suhakam - has also called for the repeal of this law.

But while this is true, it is a fact that every prime minister of the country has used the ISA consistently. It has been used against the labour movement, the student movement, the religious movement, political parties, environmentalists, academicians and NGOs.

Thousands of people of all races, of all religious backgrounds and from all walks of life have been detained under this draconian law, which condones torture and detention without trial.

Today, the current prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continues to use the ISA arbitrarily. The current victims are those who are linked to the Jemaah Islamiah and the Kumpulan Militan Malaysia (KMM) movement. Though the government has said that they have sufficient evidence, none of the members detained from these two groups have been charged.

Suaram - itself an organisation which was born out of the campaign to release the detainees of 1987's 'Operasi Lallang' - renews its call for the following:

• the repeal the Internal Security Act 1960 and all other laws which provide for detention without trial.

While we can look back proudly on the great struggle and suffering of Malaysians in opposing the ISA, this struggle is far from over. The movement to oppose and repeal the ISA will continue.

Abolish the ISA!

Free all victims of detention without trial!

The writer is a coordinator with human rights group, Suaram.