Month-long wait for ISA detainees to know fate

Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees at Kamunting, Perak will have to wait at least another month before knowing if they are to face  legal charges or deported.

Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will negotiate with the Home Ministry for a review of the 45 inmates of Kamunting's detention period, said commissioner James Nagayam, adding that the whole procedure will take time.

As for the foreign detainees, he told Malaysiakini, that the commission will try discussing deporting them with the ministry.

The Suhakam commissioner had paid a visit yesterday to the detention centre together with representatives from the Sri Lankan High Commission and the Indonesian Embassy.

"After the last visit, they were happy to see me back. After the visit last week, we had spoken to the relevant foreign missions and found that they were not aware that their people were in prison," said James (left).

According to him, on Thursday Pakistan High Commission representatives had visited several detainees.

He added  that next week it will the turn of Indian and Iraqi foreign missions.

"The foreign detainees had a good heart-to-heart chat with the respective representatives," he said.

Currently 20 Malaysian and 25 foreigners have been incarcerated in Kamunting since last November, some for alleged involvement in the Darul Islam group and others for suspected human trafficking.

They are expected to be held until 2014 although the ISA has been abolished by the Dewan Rakyat to be replaced by the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012.

The new legislation, however, does not guarantee their release as Section 32 of the Bill states that any order issued under the ISA is not affected by its repeal, unless revoked by the home minister.

This is Suhakam second visit, the first was after news of the 8-day hunger strike staged 12 detainees broke on May 14 .

They had threatened to resume their fast yesterday with more detainees joining in if their demands are not heard, but James said that he had explained to them that it takes time to resolve their woes.