The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will hold an inquiry into the alleged assault of two reformasi activists while they were being held at the Kamunting Detention Camp under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Suhakam secretary Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria ( left ) said the commission would contact several camp officials named in a fresh report submitted this morning by Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua and malaysiakini columnist-cum-film maker Hishamuddin Rais.

In it, the two claimed that three other ex-detainees - Lokman Adam, Dr Badrulamin Bahron and Saari Sungib - had witnessed the incident on May 9.

Tian and Hishamuddin claimed that 30 plainclothes and uniformed security personnel in full riot gear had assaulted them.

All the reformasi activists - including Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor - were released from ISA detention in two batches on June 1 and 12.

Meeting held

Kamaruddin refused to reveal details on the possible course of the investigations, but did say that the commission had held a meeting with the camp authorities "immediately after the first complaint" lodged by lawyer Cheah Kah Peng, who represented the duo.

"Suhakam met with the authorities to discuss this allegation, but we did not make this known publicly. We can't reveal any details before the investigation is concluded," he said.

"We need to compile more details and study these to decide our next course of action. Suhakam is committed to informing the complainants about the findings."

Various quarters had questioned Suhakam's silence over the complaint, but it had claimed that it was waiting for more details before taking any action.

The Abolish ISA Movement had also submitted a complaint to Suhakam, while family members of the two had lodged a police report on their behalf, on the advice of Suhakam chairperson Abu Talib Othman.

Incident provoked?

Hishamuddin ( photo: right ) said Suhakam should act swiftly to complete its investigations.

"While we were in detention, maybe (Suhakam) did not have access to us...but now that we have been released, the commission should fully utilise us. We are in town and we are always available to provide our cooperation," he said.

He said he had promised other detainees in Kamunting that he would pursue the matter because such assaults were "not one-off incidents".

Tian ( photo: left ) agreed, saying the commission should urge the Home Ministry or camp authorities to establish a mechanism for detainees to lodge complaints in future.

"The five of us were just more fortunate because we have a strong team of lawyers (backing us) and could communicate our problems constantly. This is why the assault was highlighted very quickly," he said.

"Other detainees may not be able to afford to engage a lawyer or their families may live far away. Since there is no complaints mechanism, these detainees are vulnerable."

Tian claimed that the assault came in the wake of several provocations and questioned the reasons behind the incident.

"We want to know why the assault was mounted ...was it the result of misbehaviour of individuals or in response to a directive from the camp commandant, Home Ministry or Special Branch?" he asked.

Ignorance of rights

Hishamuddin urged Suhakam to find ways of ensuring that detainees are fully aware of their rights.

"We didn't know we could make phone calls or that we could order food from the canteen after a certain period. Some detainees do not even know they could have access to their lawyers," he said.

Nashita Md Noor ( right ), a representative of the detainees' family support group, told Suhakam she had learnt that Special Branch officials had intervened in the attempts of some detainees to seek legal advice.

As a result, those concerned had withdrawn their decision to engage lawyers.

"What are the powers of the Special Branch? Why they are allowed to enter the detention camp?" Nashita asked.

Hishamuddin also rebutted Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung who told the Dewan Negara yesterday that detainees have not been mistreated .

"The whole ISA is about mistreatment,. Tian and I were mistreated on top of the initial mistreatment," Hishamuddin said.