Activists appalled at Suhakam for assuming guilt of ISA detainees

comments     Leong Kar Yen     Published     Updated

Two human rights organisations took to task human rights commissioner Harun Hashim for his statement that Internal Security Act detainees should be given rehabilitation.

National Human Rights Society (Hakam) secretary-general Elizabeth Wong said she was appalled by Harun's statement yesterday during Suhakam's ongoing inquiry into the conditions of ISA detentions.

"He is already assuming that they are guilty despite not having been tried or charged. As a human rights commissioner he should be aware of the principle of being innocent until proven guilty.

"If the commissioners cannot understand this, then they should not be on the inquiry [panel]," Wong said.

In the inquiry held at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Harun said that placing detainees in the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak was a waste of time and public funds as they were held for two years without being given a proper chance for rehabilitation.

Justifying ISA

Suaram, another human rights organisation, said Harun's comments were seen as a further justification of the ISA.

"The statement [by Harun] seems to suggest the following: detention under ISA is acceptable and should continue; the detention is for the detainees well being; the detention must have been done pursuant to valid and acceptable reasons; in order for the detention to be worthwhile, the detainees should be rehabilitated with 'proper teaching'," said Suaram coordinator Eric Paulsen in a statement today.

According to him, Harun's statement "was the latest addition to the list of the seemingly haphazard approach in the conduct of the inquiry that bodes ill for its outcome".

Paulsen also hoped that the commission would stay true to its statutory duty in inquiring into human rights violations.

Also in the inquiry panel were commissioners Prof Hamdan Adnan and Asiah Abu Samah.



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