Parti Keadilan expressed its shock at the further detention of three of its leaders and a social activist under the Internal Security Act (ISA) at the Kamunting detention camp in Taiping, Perak.

The four, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, 37, Youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, 34, Youth leader Saari Sungib, 43, and social activist Hishamuddin Rais, 50, were among 10 detained under the ISA in a police dragnet launched on April 10.

Following the arrests, police had alleged that the detainees were planing to topple the government through 'militant means'.

Keadilan secretary-general Mohd Anuar Tahir said the 10 detainee are innocent and did not have the opportunity to defend themselves against the accusations.

"The Home Ministry's decision has upset all of us in Keadilan and everyone else who loves justice, truth and peace," said Mohd Anuar in a press statement today.

Mohd Anuar also called on the government to respect human rights, the Constitution, rule of law and the aspirations of the rakyat and release those who are still being detained.

He also urged everyone to continue struggling for the release of the detainees and to work towards the abolishment of the ISA which he termed "draconian and archaic".

It was confirmed today that the four were sent to the Kamunting camp - where they would most likely be held for two years - upon the order of the Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Yesterday, police had unconditionally released another detainee, Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin who is the webmaster of the Free Anwar Campaign (Freeanwar.com) website.

On Wednesday, two Keadilan leaders, N Gobalakrishnan and Abdul Ghani Haroon were ordered to be released by the Shah Alam High Court which deemed their detention "unlawful".

The three others picked up in the dragnet and whose fate remains unknown are Keadilan leaders Dr Badrul Amin Baharom, Lokman Noor Adam and human rights activist Badaruddin Ismail.

'Undemocratic and inhuman'

Meanhile, Suaram Coordinator S Arutchelvan said the Kamunting detention is a clear indication that the Mahathir regime will continue to use "undemocratic and inhuman" methods to remain in power.

"Their further detention is a serious violation of human rights and detrimental to democracy and the building of a civil society in Malaysia," he said in a press statement.

"The decision will nullify any hope garnered from the release of two detainees last week after the court found their detention to be unlawful," added Arutchelvan.