More support has come in for the seven suspended university students who have been charged with illegal assembly, for protesting the detention of reformasi activists under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in June 2001.

The 'ISA 7', as the group has been dubbed, were arrested and charged for demonstrating outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur. They were subsequently suspended by their universities.

Opposition parties and human rights groups have intensified their calls to the Education Ministry to immediately reinstate the seven unconditionally. Their trial is set to resume on Monday.

The seven are Rafzan Ramli, Helman Sanudin, Khairul Amal Mahmood, Ahmad Kamal Abdul Hamid, Wan Sanusi Wan Mohd Noor, Nik Noorhafizi Nik Ismail and Zulkifli Idris.

Student Abolish ISA Movement (GMMI) spokesperson Syahrir Mahmood reiterated the call to lift the suspension order against the seven .

"The ministry could instruct the relevant universities to act immediately. We there will be a decision when it holds its post-cabinet meeting today," Syahrir said.

Education Minister Musa Mohamed received a memorandum from the Universiti Malaya Student Council last Friday. He told the council that the ministry had discussed the issue recently and that a decision would be made soon.

The minister is empowered to act under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) to direct that the suspension order be lifted.

Regional campaign

Hong Kong-based Asian Students Association (ASA) secretary Lee Khai Loon said the ministry and universities concerned should act impartially and defend for the students' right to education.

Citing the Hong Kong experience, Lee said students who are arrested are not barred from continuing their studies pending a court decision. It is the university's responsibility to ensure that students have access to education.

"The ministry should set aside any political reason behind the suspension, as these students were merely expressing their concerns on a social issue," he said.

Lee said that a recent Unesco world conference in Paris - where he met with Malaysian Higher Education Department Director Prof Dr Hassan Said - had also raised concerns on academic freedom and campus autonomy.

"ASA is organising an urgent appeal for the seven students to be reinstated. We will bring up the issue to our members in the region and hope that the international society will put pressure on the government," he said.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) co-ordinator Yap Swee Seng said all citizens are entitled to freedom of expression and association under the Federal Constitution and United Nations Human Rights Charter.

He called for the UUCA to be repealed to ensure that students are free to participate in social movements.

Suhakam decision

DAP Youth chief Nga Kor Ming said university authorities should respect differing opinions on campus.

He said a tertiary institution should not be a 'paper-chasing institution', but one where social and political awareness should be respected.

"How can you expect these future political leaders to respect and practise democracy when (their democratic rights are not respected) during their studies?" he asked.

PAS Youth yesterday issued a statement also calling for the authorities to allow the seven to resume their studies immediately.

Over the past two weeks, opposition parties and non-governmental organisations have made the same appeal to the ministry.

The affected students also followed up last week on previous complaints lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, seeking a more pro-active role in solving their woes.

Commissioner Prof Mohd Hamdan, when contacted yesterday, said the complaints and inquiry sub-committee met last Thursday and decided to request a meeting with the ministry and the relevant universities.

However, he added that this decision would have to be endorsed during the commission's monthly meeting scheduled for Monday.