As part of their ongoing efforts to highlight cases of abuse inflicted by the authorities, Suaram invited two guest speakers at the launch of their 2008 Human Right's report.

NONE Norlaila Othman ( left ), wife of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Mat Sah Mohd Satray and Tamil Selwee a/p Muniandy, whose son died in police custody, spoke of their ordeals and personal stories yesterday.

Speaking to the audience, Norlaila said that her husband was arrested in April 2002 and remains in the Kamunting detention camp until today.

She said that her husband is being detained as a suspected member of terror network Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

"Until today, there has been no charge, trial or review of the case. They should bring my husband to court instead of just detaining him. He is innocent until proven guilty." she said.

She also told of an incident where she was not allowed to see her husband at the detention camp as she arrived late.

"I was told that visiting hours were over at 12.30pm, but I arrived at the camp at 12.45pm.

"They (authorities) would not let me see my husband, not even after telling them that I had to take a five hour bus ride from Kuala Lumpur to see him," said Norlaila.

Letters of appeal no deal

As part of her efforts to get justice for her husband and other ISA detainees, Norlaila said that she had sent out letters appealing for the release of the detainees to Putrajaya and the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva last year.

"Last year, I received a response from Geneva. A representative from the organisation wrote to our Home Minister requesting for a visit to the detention centre. But up to now there has been no reply from Putrajaya." she said.

kamunting prison penjara 201107 Norlaila said that she thinks her husband is still being held because of her strong anti-ISA stance.

"My husband was actually told by the Special Branch ‘Tell your wife to stop blogging about the ISA and you will be released'.

She said that the ISA is a crime against human rights and urged the public to attend an anti-ISA rally scheduled for August 1.

Norlaila also asked journalists to give the anti ISA rally coverage.

She continued "My son was nine when his father was arrested. My son is now 16. Please release my husband, my son needs a father."

Six years of silence

NONE The other speaker, Tamil Selwee ( left ) , related the events which ended with her 19 year old son's death while in police custody.

Ulaganathan Muniandy was arrested on 12 May 2003 and pronounced dead on 21 July 2003.

There were no reasons given for the arrest and his death was classified as "undetermined".

"I was told that he would be all right and he would be released soon."

But instead, she received a phone call two months later informing her of her son's death at the Kajang police station.

"When I visited him in May 2003, he had bruises all over his body, especially around the eyes and swellings on his legs." Tamil Selwee told the crowd.

NONE The last time when she saw him alive on July 11 2003, Ulaganathan's eyes were still swollen and he was unable to sit as his knees were badly hurt.

"He was apparently beaten to death for no reason. He was the sole breadwinner of the family and now he is gone," she wept.

According to Suaram's 2008 Human Rights report, the human rights watchdog was told that in March 2006, an inquest was to be held on Ulaganathan's death.

The inquest was then postponed several times, and as of 31 December 2008, the inquest still remains incomplete.

"My family have also been the victims. I want nothing less than justice." Tamil Selwee said.