Four women detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during 1987's Operasi Lalang today spoke out on the mental and physical torture they were forced to undergo during their initial 60-day investigative period.

Calling for the immediate release of the 10 ISA detainees arrested over the past two weeks and also three others who were arrested for allegedly professing Shi'ite beliefs, the four women said their own experiences had taught them not to believe statements issued by the authorities on the ISA.

The four women, who spoke at a press conference organised by the Women's Agenda for Change (WAC), said the fact that families were denied from visiting the recent detainees leads to the belief that those arrested are being tortured.

The four are Universiti Putra Malaysia retired assistant professor Dr Cecilia Ng, women's issues activist Lim Chin Chin, founder member of the Women's Development Centre (WDC) and All Women's Action Society (Awam) Dr Chee Heng Leng and Sahabat Wanita's Irene Xavier.

No mercy

Xavier said that during her first 60 days, she was subjected to physical torture including holding up her foot so that she could be beaten.