A human rights commissioner should not have made "reckless and careless" statements with regards the request by seven undergraduates to be reinstated by their respective universities, said human rights group Suaram.

The seven students - dubbed ISA 7 - have been under suspension since July 2001 by four public universities for participating in anti-ISA demonstration and are currently on trial on a charge of illegal assembly.

Suaram executive director Cynthia Gabriel said the views of Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) vice-chairperson Harun Hashim on the students' plight were "retrogressive".

"He (Harun) should take into consideration human rights values and principles and provide a clearer explanation on this whole matter," she said in a statement.

Harun ( photo ) had urged the seven suspended students to apologise, as demanded by Education Minister Musa Mohamad, in return for their reinstatement.

Careless statement

"To label the students as stubborn, is a reckless and careless statement which will bode ill for Suhakam," said Gabriel.

"It underscores the many efforts Suhakam has made since its inception, in ensuring that the right to peaceful assembly, a fundamental component of the right to expression, is upheld and protected.," she added , referring to the recommendations made by the commission in its freedom of assembly report.

She said there was nothing to apologise for because the students' involvement in the demonstration for the repeal of the Internal Security Act was not wrong by any national and international human rights standards.

"The issue of an apology has completely derailed the core issue of the fundamental right to peaceful expression. It is most regretful that Suhakam has chosen to support the stand of the Education Minister," she said.

Gabriel added that the courage of the students to speak up on social issues, especially one as sensitive as the ISA, should be lauded and emulated by all instead.

Yesterday, a student organisation urged Suhakam to amend certain "controversial clauses" in the Universities and University Colleges Act 1979, which was used to suspend the ISA 7.