An Umno-linked website today urged the government to release the six reformasi activists held under the Internal Security Act if their detention was politically motivated.

In an open letter to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the editor of Umno-Reform.com Ghazali Mohd Dom said even Umno members want to see justice served.

Be bold

He also called o­n party members to be "bold enough to battle their political nemeses openly instead of hiding behind the police."

The editor said the government, especially the Home Ministry, has failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the detention of the six activists.

"I write this letter to ask for an explanation from Dato Seri (Abdullah) as the authority (in his capacity as home minister) who detains them," he said in the letter , a copy of which was sent to malaysiakini.

Ghazali, who claims to have been an Umno member since 1994, added that the government should seriously consider the implications of their continued detention o­n the party.

He also referred to the Federal Court decision o­n Sept 6 last year which allowed an appeal brought by five reformasi leaders and ruled that their initial 60-day detention under the security law was unlawful.

The four-member Federal Court panel also unanimously agreed that the police had acted in bad faith when arresting them in April 2001.

The appellants were Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib, malaysiakini columnist-cum-film maker Hishamuddin Rais and FreeAnwar.com webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin

While Raja Petra has since been released, the rest with the exception of Mohd Ezam are still serving their two-year detention order, which will expire next month, at the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak.

Mohd Ezam, who was later found guilty of breaching the Official Secrets Act, is serving a two-year jail term at the Kajang Prison.

However, the court said its decision would not affect the detention orders signed by the home minister after the expiry of the first 60 days.

No justification

According to the Umno-Reform editor the police had claimed that the six were being held for national security reasons but their interrogations appeared to be more related to politics.

"This reflected the truth of the court decision and the questions posed to them were different from the allegations by the Inspector-General of Police," he said.

However, he added that after the court ruling, the police said the matter was now in the hands of the home minister and no longer under their jurisdiction.

Ghazali said this was "contradictory" because the home minister had signed the detention orders o­n the advice of the police chief.

"Until today there is no justification that can convince us regarding their detention," he said.

The editor stressed that as an Umno member, he would like to see his comrades working for the interest of the people and not to follow orders blindly.

"The truth must be upheld and I believe that Umno members also agree with what I say.

"Through this open letter, I call o­n Datuk Seri Abdullah to courageously come forward to either offer the justification of their detention or release them if their detention is politically motivated," he said.

Umno-Reform

claims to be a website that aims to bring about changes in the ruling party from within.