Anti-ISA protesters in London yesterday handed in a petition carrying over 300 signatures to the Malaysian High Commission demanding the abolishment of the Internal Security Act and the release of all ISA detainees.

The petition was handed over to Adviser to the High Commission Yusof Bakar at the end of an hour-long demonstration outside the High Commission building in Belgrave Square yesterday afternoon.

The protest, organised by the Abolish ISA Movement UK (AIM-UK) with human rights group Amnesty International, was attended by about 35 people, who chanted anti-ISA slogans and displayed placards expressing solidarity with the detainees and calling for the repeal of the ISA.

One of AIM-UK's co-ordinators, Jeffrey Tan said that the demonstration, which saw the participation of Malaysians as well as non-Malaysians, was important not only to show the Malaysian government that there is international awareness about the ISA, but also to show solidarity with the ISA detainees.

Last Saturday, Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ordered three opposition politicians and a social activist be sent to the Kamunting detention camp for a two-year detention period.

They are Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor, youth leader Saari Sungib and malaysiakini columnist and filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais.

Four have since been released, but the fate of two others, Dr Badrul Amin Baharom and Lokman Noor Adam, both of Keadilan, remain unknown.

AIM-UK was formed in London last month to co-ordinate awareness campaigns regarding the use of the ISA. The petition, which was addressed to the home minister will also be sent to the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

Since the first wave of the recent ISA arrests in May, Amnesty International has also launched an online petition as part of their Stop Torture campaign.

10,000 signatures

To date, the petition has attracted almost 10,000 signatories worldwide. The ISA 4 have also been declared Amnesty's prisoners of conscience.

The protest coincided with the 60th day of the arrest of Chua, Ezam, Hishamuddin and Saari. According to human rights group Suaram, similar protests were also held in Sydney, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, 30 people attended a similar anti-ISA demonstration in Sydney today outside the Malaysian Consulate. Organised by the newly launched AIM-Sydney, the protesters lit six candles in solidarity with those still held in detention.

Spokesperson Jega Ponnambalam said "the ISA has become a crucial tool of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to hold unto power". According to him, the ISA is being used to silence opposition political leaders and human rights defenders in Malaysia.

In Hong Kong, 17 Malaysians began a 24-hour fast in protest against the ISA and handed a petition to the Malaysian Consulate calling for law - which allows detention without trial - to be abolished.