A hunger strike calling for the release of the10 Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees and the repeal of the Act was launched in Kuala Lumpur today, accompanied by the handing over of a memorandum to a United Nations (UN) representative concerning violation of civil rights in Malaysia.

Justice PN Bhagwati, who is the chairperson of the UN Human Rights Committee, received the memorandum and promised the crowd of some 100 people that it will be submitted to his High Commissioner.

"I will pass this to Mary Robinson (High Commissioner) but I cannot make any statement right now," said Bhagwati when urged for a response by the crowd outside Hotel Istana in Jalan Raja Chulan, where the event took place.

The memorandum on Malaysia's political scenario for the past month called on the UN Human Rights Committee to intervene and pressure the government for the release of the 10 detainees.

Dubbed Hunger Strike for Freedom, the campaign was an initiative in support of the Anti-ISA Movement (AIM). The strike, which kicks off today, will be held at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

Bhagwati, who was accompanied by several senior UN officials, was in Malaysia for a regional workshop on globalisation and human rights, co-organised by the government and the UN High Commission.

Earlier, families of the ISA detainees, representatives from several non-governmental organisations (NGO) and opposition leaders delivered short speeches regarding the ISA and its abuse.

Torture instrument

Spokesperson for the hunger strike committee, Zaitun Kasim condemned the use of ISA against dissidents and called for the Act to be abolished.

"The ISA is an instrument of torture and terror. The experiences of past ISA detainees have shown us that this draconian law is used as a licence to torture detainees and force them to make confessions," said Zaitun in her speech.

"There is no place in Malaysia for this law. Enough of this abuse. Enough of deliberately putting fear into the minds and hearts of people," she added.

About 50 people have registered to participate in the campaign so far. The campaign will be a continuous effort and a series of solidarity hunger strikes is scheduled for days to come, said Zaitun.

She added that the hunger strikes will be carried live on web-cameras so that the public will be able to view the event on the Internet once the equipment is fully set up by the end of this week.

Meanwhile, Irene Xavier, a former ISA detainee, told the crowd that she was once a victim of police torture during her detention and hence members of the public had every reason to worry about the 10 detainees.

"Only some of them were allowed to be visited by their families while the rest had not been visited by anyone. We should be worried about them," said the member of women workers' NGO Sahabat Wanita.

One of the hunger strikers, Susie Arumugam told malaysiakini that it was a "small gesture" on her part to express concern for the 10 ISA detainees, adding that people can choose to show support in their own way.

Do something

"It doesn't matter what activities they do, they can wear ribbons, anti-ISA badges, black T-shirts, or even hang a banner at home to support us. Do what they can within their capacity as long as they do something, or else the next victim of the ISA may be themselves or the ones they love," she said.

Also present at the launching were Azman Ismail, the brother of detained human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail, and Jalaluddin Abdul Manaf, the uncle of detained social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.

The others were PAS Youth chief Mahfuz Omar, DAP international secretary Teresa Kok, party publicity secretary Ronnie Liu, Keadilan secretary-general Anuar Tahir, and representative of Gerakan Demokratik Belia dan Pelajar Malaysia (Dema) Jasmine Ng.

The crowd braved the rain to hear the speeches while passing motorists honked in support. It was all over at about 1.40pm, following chants of "reformasi", "abolish ISA" and a rendition of an anti-ISA song.