Family members of the seven reformasi activists arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) over the past two days today denied the seven had plotted to topple the government by militant means as alleged by police.

Aliza Jaffar, wife of detainee Saari Sungib, read out a statement on the denial to a packed press conference at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall this afternoon.

"All allegations made against the reformasi activists detained under the ISA by the police are manifest lies which are unfounded and made with malicious intent," said Aliza.

Open meetings

She said that the seven had participated in every reformasi meeting in an open manner and all planned activities were publicly announced.

"This is clear from the fact that there is a committee which can be identified and contacted. It is illogical for the police to allege that every meeting is held in secret when public statements and media announcements were made by the committee," she added.

The reformasi activists had planned to hand over a memorandum on human rights to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) this Saturday.

The event, known as the 'Black 14' gathering, is to mark the second anniversary of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sentencing for abuse of power. While a small delegation will be handing the memorandum over to Suhakam, the organisers have encouraged the public to attend as a show of support.

The seven arrested so far are Saari Sungib, organiser of the Saturday's event, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, the party's Youth leaders, Ezam Mohd Nor, N Gobalakrishnan and Abdul Ghani Harun, Free Anwar Campaign (Freeanwar.com) webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin and former student leader and malaysiakini columnist Hishammuddin Rais.

Intelligence report

Yesterday, at a press conference, Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai said that the seven were arrested under the ISA for "planning to use militant tactics to topple the government". He said police received intelligence reports that the activists were in the midst of acquiring grenade launchers and explosives.

He added that a secret group made up of 20 reformasi activists had been set up in Kuala Lumpur to realise their plan to topple the government and had met secretly 12 times to plan ways to influence the people to engage in street demonstrations and illegal assemblies using militant tactics as part of their campaign.

Aliza said that the main activity of the activists on April 14 was to exercise of their right to deliver a human rights memorandum to Suhakam.

She said the police should provide evidence to support their allegations.

"We are certain that because there is no truth in these allegations, the police have decided to detain the activists under the ISA," she added.

She said that the police should act professionally and fairly and not follow instructions of certain politicians.

Programme still on

Ezam's wife, Bahirah Tajul Aris, and Keadilan supreme council member Irene Fernandez, who were also present, thanked Suhakam for their statement yesterday which opposed the detention of the seven under the ISA.

April 14 People's Memorandum committee member Mohamad Fadil Abu Bakar said the detention of the seven under the ISA indicated the "weakening of the Barisan Nasional government".

He said that the committee will continue with their programmes for Saturday and will ensure that any gathering that takes places will be peaceful and orderly.