Two years ago, 10 men were sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak under the Internal Security Act for allegedly posing a security threat.

With the two-year detention order about to expire this month, their wives have turned to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to check on their condition and to expedite their release.

Suhakam commissioner Hamdan Adnan (photo) and secretary Kamaruddin Mohd Baria met the women this afternoon and received a memorandum from three of them. They were accompanied by Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) chairperson Zaid Kamaruddin.

The detainees, who had gone to Afghanistan for military training, were arrested in September 2001 for alleged involvement in "terrorist activities".

Among those detained were Nik Adli, son of Kelantan menteri besar and PAS spiritual head Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Prolonged suffering

Zaid urged Suhakam to pressure the authorities to charge the detainees in open court if, in fact, there was any evidence as claimed by the government.

He also highlighted the poor health of Mohd Sha Sarijan, who is said to be suffering from a severe skin ailment, and who requires immediate specialist treatment.

"The oppression of the men and their families had gone far enough," he said.

Naimah Abdullah, wife of Mohd Lotfi Ariffin, questioned the relevance of her husband's training in Afghanistan to the government's charge that the detainees "threatened national security".

"In what way is their training in Afghanistan a threat to national security?" she asked in her memorandum.

Nor Sa'adah Saad, wife of Abu Bakar Che' Doi, called on Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release her husband.

Stating that her husband was a victim of a "political game," she called on Abdullah not to prolong her husband's detention beyond the scheduled date of release on Sept 23.

Hamdan assured the women that the commission would act promptly by informing the authorities about the issues raised.

Suhakam, he added, would continue to pressure the authorities to either try the detainees in court or release them.