A group of non-governmental organisations will be submitting a memorandum to the Parliament on Oct 19, demanding that the notorious 1960 Internal Security Act be revoked.

According to the coordinator of human rights NGO Suaram, S Arutchelvan, the memorandum is a follow-up action to the anti-ISA joint statement signed by 69 NGOs on Aug 1, the 40th anniversary of the draconian law, which allows detention without trial ([#1]Abolish ISA - 40 years is enough, says NGOs[/#], Aug 1).

"We will be submitting copies of the memorandum to the speaker of the Parliament, the prime minister and the opposition leader," Arutchelvan told malaysiakini today.

He also said the memorandum will include the NGOs' concerns about the use of all other preventive laws apart from the ISA that allows for detention without trial.

Arutchelvan added that opposition to the use of the ISA is now getting stronger, adding that even some Barisan Nasional component parties have voiced their apprehensions of the use of the law.

"The government should look into these calls with an open mind ... it must realise that most people think the law is not needed," he said.

He said in 1987, only 37 NGOs were involved in the call for the abolishment of the Act whereas today, it has nearly doubled to 69.

According to Arutchelvan, the Aug 1 joint statement called for the repeal of the ISA and all other repressive laws because they are immoral and cruel as they condone torture and humiliation.

Prevention of subversion

The joint statement detailed the history of the ISA, which was initially used for the internal security of Malaysia, to the prevention of subversion and suppression of organised violence and, in recent years, even to the extent of preventing cases such as fabrication of identity cards.

"In 1960s, it was used against the labour movement and political opposition. In the 1970s, besides trade unionists and political activists, it was used against active student movements, lecturers and religious groups," the statement read.

"In the 1980s, Operasi Lalang saw the Act being used against opposition leaders, academicians as well as religious, social and environmental activists. In 1990s, it was used on the Islamic Al-Arqam movement and on the reformasi movement calling for reform in Malaysia."

Among the NGOs which supported the statement were Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran), All Women's Action Society (Awam), Amnesty International Malaysia, Malaysia Islamic Youth Movement (Abim), Centre of Orang Asli Concerns (COAC), Ex-ISA Detainees Group, National Human Rights Society (Hakam), Sisters in Islam, Voice of the Malaysian People (Suaram), and Women's Force (Tenaganita).

Opposition parties, too, have given their support to this call.

The group states that it is against the ISA because it violates fundamental rights by providing for preventative detention without trial for an indefinite period; it goes against the right of a person to defend himself in an open and fair trial; it has been used against people who criticise the government; and there are other existing laws under which one could be tried and convicted.

Get-together in Kamunting

In the support of this campaign, Arutchelvan said a group called People's Group Against ISA (Kumpulan Rakyat Menentang ISA) have been formed and to which Suaram acts as the secretariat.

He said this group, which comprises some of the 69 NGOs which signed the Aug 1 joint statement, will be organising a get-together at the Kamunting detention centre on Oct 29 to protest against the law.

"It will be a brief ceremony to express our rejection of the ISA and all NGOs and members of public are invited to join us," he said.

Arutchelvan added that some of the political parties and former ISA detainees will be joining the gathering.

He said the day was marked as a day of protest as well as in conjunction with the 13th anniversary of Operasi Lalang, which was launched on Oct 27, 1987, nabbing more than 100 activists.

In addition, Arutchelvan said that plans are afoot for an exhibition on the ISA to be held in Kamunting town on that day.