The ISA 6 will file a suit against the police and the government, stating that their arrests in April 2001 were illegal as determined by a Federal Court ruling last year.

Consequently, they claim, their two-year detention was also illegal. They will also seek damages for their ordeal during their detention from April 2001.

At a press conference this morning, ex-detainee and Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua spoke for his counterparts when he said the group had instructed its lawyers to initiate legal proceedings against the police and government.

The other five political activists are Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, supreme council members Saari Sungib, Lokman Adam and Dr Badrulamin Bahron, and malaysiakini columnist- cum-film maker Hishamuddin Rais.

Lokman and Badrulamin are due to be released from Kamunting Detention Camp tomorrow, if their detention orders are not renewed. The others were freed from ISA detention on June 1.

The six were detained for allegedly trying to topple the government through militant means - a charge they have denied.

Collective decision

Tian said the detainees made their decision while under detention and that the suit would be filed as soon as possible.

"The government's decision to release us will not stop us from going ahead with this plan. We will seek justice for all the false accusations, arrests and hardship that we have gone through," he said.

"Furthermore, the Federal Court has ruled that the arrests were made in bad faith by the police."

He also said they would seek damages and certain declarations that they have suffered tremendous physical and mental trauma, especially during the initial 60 days of detention. They were interrogated repeatedly by police during this period.

Tian said, however, that they have not decide whether to set a specific quantum for damages in the suit.

"In any case six of us are involved and we are all seeking damages. So it would be a substantial amount," he said.

'No information'

Tian also said Keadilan is relieved that four of the group have been released and that it is now anxious for the release of Lokman and Badrulamin.

He said there was no indication as to whether they will be released tomorrow. The home minister has the power to extend the detention order for up to another two years, if a detainee is perceived to remain a national security threat.

"This is one of the many problems of the ISA. It does not give you any indication or warning. It does not give you any information on the allegations against you. All of us are detained at the authorities' discretion," Tian said.

Anti-ISA Movement chairperson Zaid Kamaruddin, who arranged the press conference, urged the authorities to free the two detainees.

"Whatever the reason for their detention, it is no longer valid since the government has released four detainees. AIM hopes the authorities will not make the illogical decision of extending their detention," he said.

He expressed AIM's disappointment with the decision of a Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court, which had refused to hear Lokman's bail application on Monday.

Lokman's lawyer has since filed an appeal against the decision and the appeal will be heard before High Court judge Heliliah Yusof tomorrow.

Efforts to continue

Zaid assured that AIM would continue to fight against arbitrary detention, as provided for in the ISA.

"We do not fight for any political ideology, but against detention without trial. We would even fight for the deputy prime minister (and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) if he is detained under the ISA," he said.

PAS representative Dr Hatta Ramli. DAP's Teresa Kok and PRM's Dr Sanusi Osman also pledged assistance and support for AIM's efforts to get the ISA abolished.

Tian reiterated that more than 100 people are still detained under the ISA detainees, most suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activities or religious extremism.

"They have not been charged. In Indonesia, the government has also arrested militant suspects, but has taken them to court where the whole world can evaluate the judicial system, " he added.