Motivated by the recent release of the reformasi 6

from their Internal Security Act (ISA) detention, the families of others still in detention - mainly for alleged militant movement - are now coming forward to fight for their loved ones.

About 10 families of the 100-odd detainee at the Kamunting detention camp had approached the Anti-ISA Movement (AIM) to initiate campaign and legal action against the government for unlawful detention, said AIM legal committee member Latheefa Koya.

"We met the wives of the detainees who said they represent at least 10 families. They told us that they were willing to go public and fight for the release of their husbands whom they claimed were never involved in militant activities as alleged by the government.

"They also want to clear their husband's reputation which had been smeared by allegations of their involvement in terrorism activities, " she said.

Time to fight

Latheefa sees the decision as a positive development to the AIM's struggle against ISA, adding that the detainees' families now realise that keeping quiet will not help their loved ones.

"They have seen the effectiveness of the AIM's family support group and feel that their husbands stand a better chance in cooperating with us to fight against the ISA," she told malaysiakini .

She said representing the detainees would be a challenge for the AIM legal team as unlike the political prisoners, most of the detainees are totally ignorant of their rights.

"Most of them are simple kampung people who are unaware of their rights. So we have to create the awareness so that they know of their rights which will make it easier for us to represent them," she said.

Latheefa said she had also received complaints of the detainees being mistreated by the authorities and attempts to bar the families from taking action against the police.

"Some were allegedly threatened by special branch officers who warned them that their husbands would be detained even longer if they engage a lawyer."

On how soon legal action could commence, Latheefa said it would take at least a month to prepare the documents and obtain the relevant information from the detainees.

Support for PAS

Recently released detainee Lokman Noor Adam said he too heard complaints of mistreatment faced by the detainees.

"Unlike political prisoners, these detainees have no one to "look out" for them. There is no one out there to pressure the government on their behalf. My heart goes out to them. Something must be done to help them," he told malaysiakini.

Based on his communication with the detainees, he believed most of them are not involved in any terrorist activities but rather because of their support to the Islamic-based opposition party, PAS.

"I think the government wanted to link PAS with terrorism and that is why these PAS supporters who do not hold any party posts are made the scapegoats. The government should charge them or release them," he said.

Similar sentiments expressed by other released ISA detainees were also supported strongly by various NGOs and human rights activists.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), there are more than 100 people still under ISA detention held for various reasons ranging from terrorism to deviationist teachings.

More than 70 persons said to be members of the KMM or Kumpulan Militan Malaysia have also been detained without trial for allegedly plotting to set up a regional Islamic state stretching across Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Also detained is alleged ring leader of the KMM who is said to be Nik Adli, son of Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

Following the Sept 11 attacks in the United States in 2001, intelligence reports claimed that the KMM is the local chapter of a regional militant network known as the Jemaah Islamiah, an organisation founded by Indonesian clerics.