Social reform movement Aliran today joined other non-governmental organisations in slamming the government for the continued detention of six reformasi activists under the Internal Security Act.
In a press statement, the Penang-based movement criticised the police, the home affairs minister and the government for their unchallenged mode of character assassination by using the law to strike fear into ordinary citizens .
We call upon Malaysians to reject the persistent disregard for human rights and civil liberties for which (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamads government has become famous, it said.
Whether any or all of these detainees truly constitute a threat to national security or public safety is something that only the courts can decide, added Aliran.
The six Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib, Dr Badrulamin Bahron, Lokman Noor Adam and malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais are being held at the Kamunting Detention Centre.
They are serving a two-year detention order for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government through militant means.
Yesterday, in conjunction with the first anniversary of their detention, the six began a hunger strike despite being allegedly warned not to do so or risk being denied visits from their family and lawyers.
The detainees said the strike is being staged to highlight their demand to be released or be charged in open court.
Yesterday, opposition leaders and reformasi supporters handed a memorandum endorsed by 82 organisations to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) urging it to secure the sixs freedom.
The detainees family, friends and supporters are also staging a hunger strike outside the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Morally abhorrent
Meanwhile, Aliran also urged Malaysians not to condone the morally abhorrent and politically motivated practice of using the police to arrest citizens arbitrarily, interrogate them in secrecy, and maltreat them without restraint .
Who does this sick practice protect the nation or the fortunes of the political masters of the police? queried the movement.
Aliran said Malaysians should realise that the continued imprisonment of ISA detainees is a blot on our national conscience .
The ISA is a threat to individual liberty and well-being of every citizen who can potentially fall victim to politically motivated arrests on trumped-up charges, or on no particular charge at all, it stressed.
The controversial security law, which allows for detention without trial, came into being in 1960 to deal with the communist insurgency then.
However, it was later invoked against politicians, unionists and others whom the government deemed a threat to national security.
