The Home Ministry today warned the public not to attend this Saturday's gathering where reformasi activists are scheduled to hand over a people's memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) in Kuala Lumpur.

Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Mat Zin said today that only two or three people were needed to submit a memorandum, therefore a gathering was not necessary.

"There is no need to ' tunjuk perasaan '" (demonstrate). With demonstrations we can always expect trouble as there will be people to incite hatred and anger towards the government," he added.

The gathering, organised by reformasi activists, was called 'Black 14' because it marks the second anniversary of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sentencing on April 14, 1999, for abuse of power. While a small delegation will be handing the memorandum to Suhakam, others are encouraged to attend the event as a show of support.

Asked about the ISA arrests of reformasi activists, the minister said it was a preventive measure to protect the people and ensure peace, adding that reformasi leaders often say these gatherings would be peaceful but they end up otherwise.

Army personnel could be deployed

"We will deploy as many police personnel as possible to control the situation. If necessary we will even deploy army personnel," he said. There are about 100,000 police personnel and 200,000 army personnel in the country, Zainal added.

Yesterday, Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he did not have any information regarding those arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The police could act on their own as long as it is within the parameters of the laws of the country, said Abdullah, adding that arrests under the ISA requires the signature of the minister and that such laws would not be invoked unless totally necessary.

Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, Youth chief Ezam Md Noor, Keadilan Youth assistant secretary N Gobalakrishnan, chairman of the Committee for the People's Memorandum of April 14 Saari Sungib and malaysiakini columnist and film maker Hishamuddin Rais were arrested by police yesterday.

Webmaster of FreeAnwar.com, Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin and Keadilan Youth executive councillor Abdul Ghani Haroon were arrested today.