PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali today condemned the attitude of the Kamunting Detention Camp officers who denied reformasi delegates a chance to hand in a memorandum urging the authorities to treat ISA detainees fairly.

Syed Husin said their attitude was "unreasonable" as they only allowed one delegate to meet with the camp commando when the police have agreed to allow three to go in.

"The camp officers say their authorities are separate from the police but mind you, they are all under the Home Ministry and should co-ordinate their decisions with each other," Syed Husin told malaysiakini after visiting the camp earlier this morning.

"Only one of us was allowed to go in although the police had agreed to allow three delegates to meet and discuss with the commando," added the veteran politician.

Syed Husin said the event was intended as a show of protest against the mistreatment accorded to detainees by camp authorities who will be held "responsible should anything untoward happen to the detainees".

He said families, non-governmental organisations and politicians were concerned about the detainees' physical and mental health due to "bad nutrition and oppressive" living conditions.

The delegates did not manage to hand in the memorandum to the commando in charge as the camp official did not allow the three delegates to go in as a group.

The official eventually allowed only one delegate but the three refused as they argued that the police had earlier agreed to allow them to meet the commando.

Inhuman treatment

PAS youth chief Mahfuz Omar, who was one of the delegates, said he was disappointed that camp commando did not communicate directly with the delegates.

Mahfuz said the commando sent a 'middle man' to talk to the delegates although he had been informed of the visit.

"As far as we know, this is a security-controlled area. We've come to discuss matters. This is a big issue and this attitude [of the commando] is uncalled for," said the youth leader at a press conference in a nearby coffee shop.

Bahirah Tajol Aris, wife of ISA detainee Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, said she was disappointed that she did not get to meet with the camp commando.

She said the purpose of the visit was to meet with them to talk about the inhuman treatment of detainees since three letters sent to Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did not receive any response.

"The detainees are kept confined in three separate compartments. This is beyond the normal treatment accorded to detainees," said Bahirah, who was one of the delegates allowed to pass by the police.

She said the detainees health were deteriorating as the food provided and lifestyle in the camp were unhealthy.

Arrests 'arbitrary and violent'

Meanwhile, Syed Husin also criticised the arrest of about 20 reformasi supporters, mostly from PAS, two cameramen, at least one journalist and several social activists who waited 3km away for the three delegates' return from the camp.

He said the arrests were "arbitrary and violent" as the people were gathered peacefully, did not create chaos but were merely observing the event.

"Some of them were eating in the shop when they were asked to show their identity cards and later arrested. Journalists were also chased away and not allowed to do their work," he said.

Meanwhile, DAP national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu, who was also present, urged the police to release those arrested unconditionally.