SR in his letter 'On the surface, life goes on' (June 20) says that he is a coward and feels ashamed to be a Malaysian to be a bystander while the six are held unjustly under the draconian Internal Security Act.

On the contrary, the real cowards are Mahathir and his yes-men who hide behind the shield of this inhuman Act to hang on to power, for they are truly in fear of the people's power. They are the ones who really ought to be ashamed.

I was like you, afraid to speak out for we were brought up to be afraid of the ISA. But deep down inside your heart, your conscience tells you not to keep quiet any longer. You found the courage to speak out against injustice. That is the first step.

You can take the next step. Speak up louder. Raise the awareness of this injustice with friends and neighbours. You will find that you are not alone.

If you can't look at the detainees' families in their eyes, share their agony and suffering by saying a little prayer once or five times a day upon waking, before you eat and upon retiring to bed.

Go for hunger strike a day monthly. You can light a candle every day, or on the 10th of every month to remember their suffering and sacrifices. Anwar lost his freedom about 1,000 days ago, and the detainees, 70 days; but they have not lost their heart and soul to stay in the struggle for human rights and democracy.

The candle for Anwar and the six detainees continues to burn in the hearts and minds of the people who are hungry for justice, human rights and democracy.

Stand up and be counted; Be brave! You only pass through this world but once. Therefore anything you can do, do it right now! For you shall not pass this way again. Let us, as fellow human beings, be guided by our conscience and compassion. Do the right thing!