The police Special Branch has certainly many tricks not only to be used against Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees, but also their families, supporters and the society at large. The simplest one is 'divide and rule', i.e. to make the detainees and their families and supporters suspicious of each other.

Very often, the police Special Branch would appear to be nice and good to one detainee and harsh to others in order that others may think the detainee is being treated nicely and has 'sold out' on others.

The police also use their network of friends, especially in the mainstream media, ordinary members of society, to spread rumours against some detainees.

The best way to deal with these police tactics is to be careful with what we hear and what we say, so that we would not become the unconscious agents of influence, spreading lies and rumours. All opposition leaders, members and supporters should give full moral support to all ISA detainees, and demand loudly that the ISA be abolished.