Barisan Alternatif (BA) women's wing today challenged the police to allow the wives and families of ten reformasi activists detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) recently to visit them to ensure their well-being and safety are not threatened.

"If the detainees are really well and save, allow their spouses, lawyers and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission to meet up with them," urged Keadilan president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who represented the group.

"Until today, families and lawyers have not been allowed to visit the detainees. Police have not released any official information regarding the whereabouts of the detainees," she told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Wan Azizah, who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Permatang Pauh, said that the arrests has resulted in emotional, mental and financial burdens on the detainees' families.

She added by allowing their spouses to visit, the government would be able to dispel rumours that the detainees have been physically abused.

"Throughout history, detainees have been tortured, questioned and forced to make statements," said Wan Azizah, adding that tortures were inflicted upon her husband, jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Inbrahim, while he was under detention.

She urged the authorities to charge the detainees in court if there was evidence. She also said the arrests were conducted in a "gangsterly" manner.

'An abduction'

Keadilan Women's wing head Fuziah Salleh, said the wives of the detainees have met with Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to pressure them into locating the whereabouts of the detainees.

"It is within Suhakam's jurisdiction to visit those under police detention," she said.

"The ten have simply disappeared from our midst. We are not only protesting their arrests but the manner in which they were arrested," she said.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) youth leader Latheefa Koya said the families were genuinely worried and the arrests "were similar to an act of abduction".

The ten arrested under the ISA over the past two weeks are Keadilan youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, reformists Dr Badrul Amin Baharom, Saari Sungib, Lokman Nor Adam and Hishamuddin Rais, who is also a malaysiakini columnist, Keadilan youth leader N. Gobalakrishnan, Keadilan Sarawak leader Abdul Ghani Harun, Free Anwar Campaign director Raja Petra Kamaruddin and human rights activist Badarubbin Ismail.

Stop arrests

A press statement signed by all four BA component parties women's wing representatives appealed to the government to:

- release the detainees and charge them in court if the government has proof of their wrongdoings;

- allow families and lawyers to visit the detainees to see that their well-being and safety are not endangered;

- allow Suhakam to carry out its function and jurisdiction under section 4(2) of the 1999 Malaysian Human Rights Commission Act which allows the body to visit the ISA detainees

- to stop all arrests under the ISA and

- to abolish the ISA.

Senator Jamilah Ibrahim represented PAS while MP for Bukit Mertajam Chong Eng represented the DAP.