ISA 6 should say their piece at Suhakams inquiry: Kit Siang
DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang today called on the six reformasi activists to rethink their boycott of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission's Internal Security Act inquiry as it is not officially over.
Although the inquiry ended a day earlier, Lim said that Suhakam should be able to re-convene the inquiry at a later date whereby the six could have their say.
"It would appear that despite the narrow scope of the public inquiry, there is also room for the six reformasi activists to speak out on their ISA detentions, although they have to do it through two representatives," Lim said in a statement today.
Seventeen witnesses representing the 113 ISA detainees held at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping testified at Suhakam's first open inquiry into the ISA detentions which began on Tuesday. The inquiry was held at the Taiping Prison Sports Club.
However, inquiry team chairperson and commissioner Harun Hashim told reporters that they would have to assess the testimonials given and whether the inquiry would carry on openly.
Malaysiakini reported yesterday that in a 'surprise move', Harun closed the public session a day short of the scheduled three days but he held out the possibility of continuing the public inquiry later.
"In the circumstances, the six ISA reformasi activists should reconsider their boycott of the public inquiry and ask for their two representatives to appear at the resumption of the public inquiry to have their say on the ISA and their detention," Lim said.
Detention conditions
Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohamed Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib, Dr Badrul Amin Bahron, Lokmar Nor Adam and malaysiakini columnist-cum-film maker Hishamuddin Rais were arrested last April for alleged involvement in militancy to overthrow the government.
They did not attend the inquiry because of their disappointment with the announcement by the commission that "it will be limited only to the assessment of detention conditions in the prison".
"This narrow parameter of the inquiry is totally unacceptable to us," the six said in letter dated Tuesday which was distributed by their lawyers yesterday.
The letter added that the six had appealed to Suhakam to probe the violation of their rights in all aspects of the execution of the ISA, which must include the entire process of arrest, interrogation and detention.
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