The National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) should initiate without delay a full investigation into the recent Internal Security Act (ISA) arrests to bring justice to the victims of the "morally bankrupt" Barisan Nasional government and stop the wave of political repression, urged three human rights bodies.

In a memorandum that was handed over to Suhakam commissioners on Monday, Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran), Human Rights Association of Malaysia (Hakam) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) protested against the recent ISA arrests of reformasi activists.

Aliran, Hakam and Suaram were represented by P Ramakrishnan, Raja Aziz Addruse and Dr Kua Kia Soong respectively.

"We condemn the BN government's use of the ISA to detain without trial citizens who have not been charged with specific violations of any law in open court.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said the ISA is more 'effective' than the normal law. His cynical attitude towards 'normal' rule of law is nothing but a shameless admission that his government has no moral justification to detain the leaders of a legal opposition party and social activists engaged in a legitimate, democratic and peaceful dissent," stated the memorandum.

The memorandum further stated that the "wave of political repression" is a last-minute attempt to stop a peaceful planned 'Black 14' rally.

"No one would be surprised if the police apply their "turning over" techniques upon the detainees with the intention of producing 'confessions' that can then be used to incriminate other opposition leaders and social activists," stated the memorandum.

Hollow promise

The three human rights bodies also regarded the police's promise that the detainees would not be "brutalised" and would be "well treated" as hollow, in view of what happened in the 'black eye' incident of the now jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar was beaten up while in custody in a Bukit Aman lockup by the then Inspector-General of Police Rahim Noor.

"With all the 'normal' laws and procedures available, only a morally bankrupt government would use the ISA to stifle dissent and silence critics. We urge Suhakam to make the most urgent and fullest demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all ISA detainees," stated the three human rights bodies.

Since the ISA detentions, Suhakam has been repeatedly urged by opposition political parties, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and concerned citizens to pressure the authorities to allow more access to the detainees or release all those detained.

Ten political leaders and human rights activists are under ISA detention since police launched a crackdown on April 10. Following the first seven arrests, police claimed the detainees were planning to topple the government via militant means.

Those detained are Keadilan leaders Tian Chua and Dr Badrul Amin Baharom; party Youth leaders Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, Saari Sungib, N Gobalakrishnan, Abdul Ghani Haroon and Lokman Noor Adam, webmaster of Free Anwar Campaign website (Freeanwar.com) Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin; human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail; and social activist-cum- malaysiakini columnist Hishamuddin Rais.