The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) called on the government today for a public apology from the government to all former detainees of the Internal Security Act 1960 and fork out compensation for their sufferings and their captors face justice.
This follows Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement yesterday that the Act, which allows detention without trial, will be repealed at an unspecified date.
"The government must apologise to all victims of ISA and pay gratuity equivalent to torture and sufferings of the victims and their families.
"(We also want) all those involved in torturing and abusing ISA detainees face justice," said GMI chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.
Speaking at a joint press conference with human rights NGO Suaram, Syed Ibrahim (right) said the figure may differ from detainee to detainee, depending on the length of detention and loss caused by it, be it through termination of employment or emotional trauma.
Former detainee Abdul Malek Hussin was granted compensation of RM2.5 million by the High Court in 2007 for his around two months detention under the Act.
According to Norlaila Othman (left)wife of Mat Sah Mohd Satray detained under ISA from 2002 to 2009, families have broken up because of detentions, with some children of detainees suffering from trauma induced mental illnesses.
The GMI activist, whose son was 8 when Mat Sah was taken in, added the public apology could also help clear the name of her husband and other former detainees, whose charges were never proven in court.
"After many years, people still see my husband as a terrorist. Who will clear his name?" said the plucky activist.
Norlaila added that after being "lied to" about Mat Sah's release for eight years, she could only bring herself to believe "5 percent" of what Najib had said, and only so that she can "savour the excitement".
Truth and reconciliation commission
Suaram director Kua Kia Soong (extreme right), detained under ISA in 1989, added that the government should also look into setting up a truth and reconciliation commission after the repeal of the Act, as done in post-Apartheid South Africa.
"(This is for) the collective conscience of the nation, so that the society can be at peace with itself...after such a harrowing experience," he said.
To date more than 10,000 people have been detained under the Act, while thousands more have been held under other preventive Acts like the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Cautiously optimistic, the activists also called on Najib to show his seriousness by tabling the motion on the abolition of the Act in the October parliament sitting.
They also demanded the release of the 30-odd ISA detainees and for the Kamunting detention centre to be shut down and kept as a heritage site, in the manner of Robben Island in South Africa.
Amnesty International representative Nora Murat, also present today, added that the government should also include NGOs in the formulation of the two new laws which Najib said will replace the ISA a preventive law.
Commenting on the new laws, Syed Ibrahim raised concern that the legislation would still provide for detention without trial, particularly for terrorism cases.
"Why the need when there exists several laws against terrorism including chapter IVA of the Penal Code?" he asked.
It also asked the government to clarify the status of former detainees who were permanent residents but were deported, and if they can return to Malaysia now.
People's victory
Other demands include:
This follows Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement yesterday that the Act, which allows detention without trial, will be repealed at an unspecified date.
"The government must apologise to all victims of ISA and pay gratuity equivalent to torture and sufferings of the victims and their families."(We also want) all those involved in torturing and abusing ISA detainees face justice," said GMI chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.
Speaking at a joint press conference with human rights NGO Suaram, Syed Ibrahim (right) said the figure may differ from detainee to detainee, depending on the length of detention and loss caused by it, be it through termination of employment or emotional trauma.
Former detainee Abdul Malek Hussin was granted compensation of RM2.5 million by the High Court in 2007 for his around two months detention under the Act.
According to Norlaila Othman (left)wife of Mat Sah Mohd Satray detained under ISA from 2002 to 2009, families have broken up because of detentions, with some children of detainees suffering from trauma induced mental illnesses.The GMI activist, whose son was 8 when Mat Sah was taken in, added the public apology could also help clear the name of her husband and other former detainees, whose charges were never proven in court.
"After many years, people still see my husband as a terrorist. Who will clear his name?" said the plucky activist.
Norlaila added that after being "lied to" about Mat Sah's release for eight years, she could only bring herself to believe "5 percent" of what Najib had said, and only so that she can "savour the excitement".
Truth and reconciliation commission
Suaram director Kua Kia Soong (extreme right), detained under ISA in 1989, added that the government should also look into setting up a truth and reconciliation commission after the repeal of the Act, as done in post-Apartheid South Africa."(This is for) the collective conscience of the nation, so that the society can be at peace with itself...after such a harrowing experience," he said.
To date more than 10,000 people have been detained under the Act, while thousands more have been held under other preventive Acts like the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Cautiously optimistic, the activists also called on Najib to show his seriousness by tabling the motion on the abolition of the Act in the October parliament sitting.
They also demanded the release of the 30-odd ISA detainees and for the Kamunting detention centre to be shut down and kept as a heritage site, in the manner of Robben Island in South Africa.
Amnesty International representative Nora Murat, also present today, added that the government should also include NGOs in the formulation of the two new laws which Najib said will replace the ISA a preventive law.
Commenting on the new laws, Syed Ibrahim raised concern that the legislation would still provide for detention without trial, particularly for terrorism cases.
"Why the need when there exists several laws against terrorism including chapter IVA of the Penal Code?" he asked.
It also asked the government to clarify the status of former detainees who were permanent residents but were deported, and if they can return to Malaysia now.
People's victory
Other demands include:
For the government to reveal its timeline for the review of the Printing and Printing Presses Act 1984 and the Police Act;
- For the government to sign and ratify international conventions on human rights relating to civil and political rights and the use of torture; and,
- For the government to reveal its master plan on how to combat terrorism without infringing on basic human rights.
As such, Syed Ibrahim said GMI's job is still not over and will not be done at least until the ISA is actually abolished and detentions without trial cease to exist in Malaysia.
"This is a victory won by the people, the efforts of the victims and their families who were steadfast in defending themselves, along with support from NGO locally and abroad, the Bar Council, political parties especially Pakatan Rakyat...and the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) for its consistent stand on the repeal of the ISA," he said, also thanking the media.
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