A group of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees have outlined 59 forms of abuses which they have allegedly suffered in a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

The 18-page document was handed to Suhakam commissioner Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan at the commission headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Copies were also forwarded to the Abolish ISA Movement (AIM), Parliamentary Opposition Leader Abdul Hadi Awang, malaysiakini and the PAS organ Harakah .

Five complaints topped the list compiled by the 31 detainees who are currently being held at the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak.

These are: Being placed in a small cell during the interrogation period, handcuffed in the presence of their families during arrest, blindfolded and handcuffed when taken to the interrogation room; and authorities levelling accusations against them via the media.

The detainees also claimed that the details in their detention orders were "twisted and fabricated" by the authorities.

"We never knew or never mentioned, during the interrogation, (any attempt) about the setting up of an Islamic state through militant means. This fact was added in by the special branch officers who said they received information from the Home Ministry," they said.

All 31 were arrested and detained for two years under the security law over terrorism charges, namely for being members of the regional terror network Jemaah Islamiah. A majority of their detention orders are expected to expire between this month and March.

Stripped and spat on

Other allegations in the memorandum include being forced to strip naked during interrogation, told not to seek legal aid, not allowed to sit during a day-long interrogation, developed breathing difficulties due to the 'heavy-smoking' by interrogators in an air-conditioned room, forced to urinate in a bottle and denied a copy of the al-Quran.

The detainees also claimed that their interrogators had spat on them, forced them to drink spittle and even burnt their beards.

They also alleged of being threatened with the arrest of family members should they not cooperate or file an habeas corpus application.

( Habeas corpus is a writ ordering prisoners to be brought before a judge to ascertain if there are any procedural defects which could render their detention unlawful)

Apart from these, the detainees also claimed that were ordered to make tea, massage their interrogators and sing Hindi songs.

The detainees said some police personnel shared their sexual experiences and added that the statements recorded during their questioning was riddled with errors as the police personnel kept falling asleep.

Describing these alleged ill-treatment as a violation of their constitutional rights, the detainees urged Suhakam to probe the matter.

They also called on the commission to continue pressuring the government to repeal the ISA, release all detainees or charge them in court.

Meeting with lawyers

In a related development, 18 of the detainees endorsed another memorandum to Suhakam about the restrictions imposed by the camp authorities during their meetings with lawyers.

They claimed that camp personnel monitored their last meeting on Dec 31 from earshot distance and added that this contravened Section 126 of the Evidence Act.

They were also allegedly divided into two groups and given only an hour to consult their lawyers.

"The restrictions make it difficult for our lawyers to give their consultation, with limited resources and time constraints. We question such restrictions because prior to that meeting, we were allowed to consult our lawyers in one large group twice and the meetings went smoothly," they said.

"Additionally, the camp officials went to the extent of lying to us claiming that the move (to divide them into two groups) was requested by our lawyers who latter denied this."