The government should cease using the Internal Security Act pending a repeal of the controversial law and that all detainees be either immediately released or charged in court.

In an strongly-worded statement released today, the Bar Council wants all ISA detainees to be charged in court or set free without having to wait until the expiry of their respective detention orders.

"The continuing use of the ISA to detain persons without trial defers the government's own claim to be subject to the rule of law," said council chairperson Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari.

"[It] will only add credence to the notion and perception that such persons are indeed detained not for any 'security reasons' but are being unjustly punished for their political or other activities which either do not constitute an offence under the law or in relation to which no offence can be proved or established."

Kuthubul said that such detentions are "unfair and unjustified".

According to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), there are more than 100 individuals being detained under ISA.

It has called for the law - which allows detention without trial - to be repealed, a stand backed by the Bar Council.

Release lauded

The Bar Council which represents 10,000 lawyers said that it welcomed the Home Ministry's decision to free four reformasi detainees.

On Sunday, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, supreme council member Saari Sungib and malaysiakini columnist-cum filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais were released at the end of their two-year detention period.

Tian and Hishamuddin are currently being held in Kajang Prison pending their bail application for a number of pending court cases tomorrow while Mohd Ezam is serving a separate two-year sentence at the prison for violating the Official Secrets Act. (See chart)

The Keadilan Youth chief, who was found guilty of leaking classified documents to the media pertaining a graft probe on two ruling politicians, will finish serving his jail term in December.

Another two reformasi detainees, Badrulamin Bahron and Lokman Adam, are due to be released when their detention orders will expire on June 12.

The six were detained in April 2001 for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government by militant means, a charge they have denied.