(AFP) - The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today called for the immediate release of the seven reformasi activists who are being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The government-appointed commission also expressed "deep regrets" over the arrests under the ISA, which allows indefinite detention without trial.

"The present crackdown is cause for concern," it said in a strongly-worded statement after a special meeting.

"Suhakam calls on the authorities to release the seven detainees immediately. If they have committed any offence, they should be charged and tried in an open court."

The commission added that the ISA arrests violate fundamental human rights.

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It also urged the authorities to allow families, lawyers and doctors immediate access to the detainees.

Suhakam said there were initially signals that the government was "slowly but surely being sensitised to human rights issues and is taking concrete steps to ensure that its concern for human rights is translated into action."

Suhakam's formation in April last year was proof of the trend, it said, adding that it was against this backdrop that it expressed deep concern over the present arrests.

"In its current exercise of reviewing Malaysian laws that constitute infringements of human rights ... Suhakam will make recommendations to the government on the necessity of amending or repealing the Internal Security Act," it added.

Suhakam members earlier met wives of the opposition detainees who complained that "our loved ones have disappeared into thin air."