Conditional release shackling ISA detainees
Published: Aug 20, 2007 6:26 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The Anti-ISA Movement (GMI) today criticised the government for the partial realise of four alleged Jemaah Islamiah members who have been incarcerated without trial for more than four years.
The Anti-ISA Movement (GMI) today criticised the government for the partial realise of four alleged Jemaah Islamiah members who have been incarcerated without trial for more than four years.
GMI said orders that the four men should follow strict conditions under Restricted Residence Act would only delay the process of the former ISA detainees returning to normal life and be accepted by the society.
"We strongly urge the government to lift the orders imposed on these detainees," said GMI spokesperson E Nalini in a statement today.
Nalini said that the four men were released conditionally on Aug 15, 16 and 17. Three of them have been in detention since 2002 while the last person since March 2003.
The four detainees are Shukry Omar Talib, Mohammed Kadar, Mohd Azmi Abdul Karim and Shahime Ramli.
"GMI welcomes the release of all the four ISA detainees as there have been no proofs of their involvement in JI activities," said Nalini.
She said GMI believed their release came as a result of the consistent and persistent campaign to release all ISA detainees, "especially in this month of August which has been determined by GMI as anti-ISA campaign month".
However she said that despite their release, the four were still not free to move about as they were "subjected to the conditions under Restricted Residence Act".
"The order only delays the process of the former ISA detainees returning to normal life and be accepted by the society.
"We therefore strongly urge the government to lift the order imposed on these detainees," she said.
Campaign to continue
She added that the authorities must also release all the other 40 detainees who were also detained under the same terrorism allegations.
They are all being held in the Kamunting Detention Camp in Taiping. None of them have been tried in the court.
Nalini said that the ISA, a leftover from the British rule, was a political tool to silent dissidents and critics of the government.
The GMI once again called for the release or the prosecution of all ISA detainees without any conditions.
"GMI reiterates that the government should look into recommendation by the Police Royal Commission to repeal Restrictive Residence Act and should abolish the practice of detention without trial, which contradicts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the spirit of our Federal Constitution," said Nalini.
She also added that the GMI would continue with its anti-ISA campaign by organising a simultaneous leafleting event all over the country this Wednesday.
GMI said orders that the four men should follow strict conditions under Restricted Residence Act would only delay the process of the former ISA detainees returning to normal life and be accepted by the society.
"We strongly urge the government to lift the orders imposed on these detainees," said GMI spokesperson E Nalini in a statement today. Nalini said that the four men were released conditionally on Aug 15, 16 and 17. Three of them have been in detention since 2002 while the last person since March 2003.
The four detainees are Shukry Omar Talib, Mohammed Kadar, Mohd Azmi Abdul Karim and Shahime Ramli.
"GMI welcomes the release of all the four ISA detainees as there have been no proofs of their involvement in JI activities," said Nalini.
She said GMI believed their release came as a result of the consistent and persistent campaign to release all ISA detainees, "especially in this month of August which has been determined by GMI as anti-ISA campaign month".
However she said that despite their release, the four were still not free to move about as they were "subjected to the conditions under Restricted Residence Act".
"The order only delays the process of the former ISA detainees returning to normal life and be accepted by the society.
"We therefore strongly urge the government to lift the order imposed on these detainees," she said.
Campaign to continue
She added that the authorities must also release all the other 40 detainees who were also detained under the same terrorism allegations.
They are all being held in the Kamunting Detention Camp in Taiping. None of them have been tried in the court.
Nalini said that the ISA, a leftover from the British rule, was a political tool to silent dissidents and critics of the government.
The GMI once again called for the release or the prosecution of all ISA detainees without any conditions.
"GMI reiterates that the government should look into recommendation by the Police Royal Commission to repeal Restrictive Residence Act and should abolish the practice of detention without trial, which contradicts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the spirit of our Federal Constitution," said Nalini.
She also added that the GMI would continue with its anti-ISA campaign by organising a simultaneous leafleting event all over the country this Wednesday.
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