Family of 32 Sosma detainees launch hunger strike in front of Sg Buloh Prison

Family members of 32 men being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) launched a hunger strike in front of the Sungai Buloh Prisons Complex this morning.

They are demanding the government and prison authorities to allow them to visit and check on the detainees, who were said to have also started a hunger strike inside the prison.

A representative of the group, M Logesvaran, 49, whose elder brother is among the 32 detainees, said they were informed yesterday that family visitation at the prison for this weekend has been cancelled.

“When I came to the prison this morning, an officer told me that the Sosma detainees have launched a hunger strike or what they said as ‘tahan lapar’.

“We have asked for the prison to allow at least several of us to go inside to check on our family members and make sure they are safe, but they didn’t allow.

“So now after discussing with the family members of other detainees who are gathered here today, we have decided to also launch a hunger strike and to camp outside the prison until the Home Ministry and Prison Department makes a decision,” he told reporters when met at the scene.

Another family member, Praveen Kaur, 44, said she is concerned about her husband’s well-being inside the prison.

“We don’t know what is actually happening inside, whether they are safe, and whether the detainees are actually on hunger strike or otherwise,” she said.

The group of about 30 individuals started gathering in front of the prison entrance, which has been barricaded by authorities using barbed wires, since about 11am.

They were assisted by human rights group Suaram, which demanded the government release the detainees on bail.

Suaram programme manager Azura Nasron, who was accompanying the family members, reiterated the group’s call for the abolishment of Sosma, which they said is violating the detainees’ human rights.

READ MORE: Your KiniGuide to Security Offences (Special Measures) Act

Officer to consult superiors

At about 12.45pm, a Prisons Department officer met with the protesters - where they held a discussion on the group's request to send representatives to check on the detainees.

According to Logesvaran, the officer told them that he would bring up their request to his superiors and promised to come back with a decision within two hours.

"We will wait here until they come back with the decision. Even if it takes three days, we will still wait here," he told reporters.

Logesvaran said the officer also confirmed that the detainees had begun a hunger strike this morning.

On Wednesday, Suaram had represented the family members to lodge a complaint with Suhakam over the plight of the 32 detainees.

According to Suaram’s complaint letter, the men were arrested by the police between May and September last year over suspicion of involvement in an organised crime group called Geng TR.

All were charged under Section 130V(I) of the Penal Code and Sosma. They were not offered bail as Section 13 of Sosma states that bail shall not be granted to those charged under the law.

Suaram raises plight of 32 Sosma detainees to Suhakam

Half of police misconduct cases stop at investigation stage - Suaram

Suhakam criticises disproportionate use of Sosma in GISBH case

Saifuddin defends use of Sosma against GISBH leaders

KINIGUIDE | Hunger strike as a protest tool in Malaysia