Two non-governmental organisations have rapped the state for refusing to release the reformasi activists despite the Federal Court ruling against their initial detention under the Internal Security Act.

Aliran said the continued incarceration of the reformasi activists "mocks our notion of justice and ridicules our concept of rule of law" while Suaram said the decision by the Home Affairs Ministry amounts to "a total disrespect and disregard" for the judiciary.

"By arguing there are still valid reasons to detain the detainees, is Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi trying to suggest that he is above the law or he is a higher judge to the Federal Court?" said Suaram coordinator Yap Swee Seng in a press statement.

Yap was referring to Abdullah's remark on Tuesday that the activists would not be released as the government had ordered their detention based on valid national security concerns.

On Sept 6, the Federal Court hearing a habeas corpus application ruled that the initial 60-day detention of five reformasi activists was unlawful and agreed that the police had acted in "bad faith".

However, the decision did not result in the detainees' release as the court said a separate application must be filed in order to determine the legality of the two-year detention order.

Beaten by police

Suaram also condemned the police for stopping a meeting organised by the Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) from taking place at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

"The seal-off by the police preventing participants from attending the launch is not only a gross violation of freedom of assembly and expression of the people, but also showed the cowardice of Abdullah in engaging public debate on the issue of the ISA in a civilised manner," said Yap.

On Tuesday, more than 100 police stopped the anti-ISA meeting from taking place on grounds that the activities "may be prejudicial to national security interests".

During the three-hour standoff, about 10 persons were beaten by riot police when they tried to enter the building.

In a separate statement, Aliran president P Ramakrishnan said the incident also reflected poorly on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had taken "moral high ground" when criticising actions of other governments but condoning police action in violation of citizens' rights at home.

Last Sunday, Mahathir had complained that there was no democracy even in democratic countries and that there was no more justice in the world when expressing his views on the siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat by Israeli forces.

Moral crusade

"In all this, we can't help but notice the glaring contradictions in Mahathir's recent stance. What democracy is he practising when ordinary citizens cannot even discuss issues affecting themselves? What justice is he screaming about when justice is denied to those lawfully detained?" questioned Ramakrishnan.

He said Malaysia must first honour these values before going on a "moral crusade" to condemn the actions of others.

"It is high time that Mahathir is reminded that he sounds hollow and hypocritical when he takes the moral high ground that he is incapable of living up to," he added.

The reformasi leaders currently detained under the ISA are Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, party leader Saari Sungib and malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishammuddin Rais.

The fourth activist, Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, has been convicted of an offence under the Official Secrets Act since August and is now serving a two-year jail term at the Kajang prison.

Another reformasi activist, Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin, was released before the expiry of the 60-day period.

Meanwhile, the habeas corpus application of two other reformasi detainees Keadilan leaders Lokman Noor Adam and Dr Badrulamin Baharon is pending in court.