ISA detainee Tian Chua called the review board - set up to evaluate his detention under the controversial security law - a "farce", and dismissed it as a "little sideshow" at a hearing held two weeks ago.

Tian Chua, who is Keadilan vice-president, has questioned the board headed by Zaki Yassin, if there were any sense of embarrassment among its three members, given that the same panel had recommended his freedom six months ago.

In the last session of the review board, it recommended to the home minister who signs ISA detention orders that Tian Chua and five of his colleagues be set free.

The recommendation followed a Federal Court decision on Sept 6 last year which found that his detention unlawful.

Board's recommendation rejected

Under the ISA which allows detention without trial the review board, consisting of senior civil servants, sits every six months to hear appeals by detainees against their detention orders.

The board will then submit its decision and recommendations to the home minister who may exercise his discretion to act upon the board's findings.

"One would assume that this was the end of the drama o­nce the home minister duly accepted the recommendation and set me free," Tian Chua told the review board.

He lamented that six months later, he was to face the same panel to hear his case.

"What is there for me to say? Rather, I should ask, what has the board had to say - about my case? And about its own role?" he asked.

Malaysiakini

has obtained a copy of his hand-written six-page speech which Tian Chua presented to the review board's May 8 hearing held in Perak's Kamunting Detention Centre.

Tian Chua said he had expected that Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also deputy prime minister, would not respect the recommendation of the ISA review board.

He took the board members to task for being part of a "window-dressing to the draconian law".

"The worst sin of those serving in this board is that you give an illusion of having power to decide the fate of ISA detainees, but in reality you are making a living out of deceiving the gullible and vulnerable souls of the innocent detainees."

Harshest remarks

However, Tian Chua directed his harshest remarks at the secret police, the Special Branch, some of whom were present at the review board hearing.

"In a country which is supposed to be democratic, the masses could not hold a gathering of more than four persons, academicians could not published the findings of their research, publishers could not print books, journalists could not report the truth, students could not think freely, workers could not join a union of their choice, clerics could not say certain prayers, opposition parties could not speak out - virtually not a thread of our civil life is free from the tentacles of the Special Branch's intimidation.

Tian Chua lambasted the Special Branch for not respecting the basic civil rights of Malaysian citizens.

"It is common that our judges, politicians, intellectuals, civil servants and even business people are under surveillance of the Special Branch. My interrogation officers proudly proclaimed that the Special Branch monitors the activities of prominent opposition members, NGO activists, religious and community leaders, and knows everything about their public and private life."

Tian Chua and five other reformasi activists were arrested in April 2001 for allegedly planning to topple the government through militant means, a charge which they have denied.

He is due for release next month when his two-year detention order expires. However, the government has the right to extend his detention for a further two years.