"Simply torture." These were the words used by Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner N Sivasubramaniam to describe the events that took place at the Lenggeng detention centre in Negri Sembilan.

The commissioner met with Tenaganita, Suaram and the Bar Council’s human rights committee at Suhakam’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. He also received a memorandum from them asking the human rights body to investigate the incident.

suhakam lenggeng camp visit 240408 03 Siva revealed that his views were shaped after visiting the detention centre on April 24 and speaking to the 14 foreigners that were detained for questioning at the Seremban district police headquarters.

"They revealed many shocking things that clearly violated their human rights. They exposed to us burn marks by cigarettes and they also claimed to be beaten throughout the journey.

"The events that took place were simply torture," he told the reporters and NGO representatives.

On April 21, the media reported that approximately 60 Burmese immigrants rioted in the Lenggeng detention centre and torched a building after failing to win asylum to a third country.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Osman Abdullah said the authorities tried talking to them but they turned violent, gained entry into the office and set it ablaze.

He said about 200 police and security personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.

Stark discrepancies

However, in the memorandum submitted, the NGOs discovered that there were stark discrepancies between their findings and the police statements.

This include the sequence of events where alleged beatings were witnessed by several inmates following the disappearance of volunteer core Rela and immigration officers when the fire broke out.

The detainees that were locked during the fire, feared for their life and broke out of their cells to gather at the compound area. There was no riot save for escaping from the fire.

lenggeng detention camp myanmar burmese detainees incarcerated 220408 Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez said that immigration detention centres have been mismanaged and urged Suhakam to look into the matter.

Siva responded that Suhakam has found that detention centres are better run by prison authorities.

"From our findings there has been many shortcomings because when prison authorities were running the centres, there were less problems.

"Events in Lenggeng would not have happened if prison authorities were in charge and if it did happen, they would have given a proper account of what happened," he said.

The commissioner then said Suhakam will be meeting on May 21 and the decision to set up an inquiry will be made then.

suhakam lenggeng camp visit 240408 01 "We will discuss whether an inquiry is needed when the commission meets. I will submit a proposal and the commission will look into it.

"So far we’ve never seen such incidents happen in Malaysia. It calls for a thorough study and action must be taken against the authorities," he added.

Siva also expressed concern that the 14 detainees being held for questioning should not be deported before evidence is taken from them.

"We don’t want the people who witnessed the incident deported. The issue does not stop here even if they are deported. We should not bow down to these type of tactics that are being used," he said.

Lawyer Latheefa Koya revealed that the 14 have been sent to the Tanah Merah detention centre in Kelantan from the Seremban police district headquarters.