Suhakam: Review detention order of reformasi detainees

comments     Beh Lih Yi     Published     Updated

The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) in a statement today called on Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to review the detention order of the reformasi activists whose detention during the first 60 days under the Internal Security Act was declared by the Federal Court on Sept 6 as unlawful.

Suhakam also called for a review on other detention cases which might fall into the same category.

The statement was issued hours after families of the detainees submitted a memorandum to Suhakam at its office in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon urging for the commission to act in view of the ruling by the highest court of the land.

The Federal Court which heard the habeas corpus application of five detainees ruled on Sept 6 that their initial 60-day detention made under section 73 of the ISA was unlawful and that the police had acted in bad faith in detaining them.

However, the decision did not result in their immediate release as it does not affect the subsequent two-year detention order signed by Abdullah in his capacity as home minister, the court said, adding that to determine the legality of the further detention, a separate habeas corpus application must be filed.

The five Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor and Saari Sungib, malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais and Free Anwar Campaign director Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin were detained last year for allegedly plotting to topple the government through militant means a charge which they have denied.

Raja Petra was released before the expiry of the 60-day period while Mohd Ezam is now serving a two-year jail term at the Kajang prison after he was found guilty of breaching the Official Secrets Act last month.

The rest, including two other Keadilan leaders Dr Badrulamin Bahron and Lokman Noor Adam, are being held at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak.

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