Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) says it is irresponsible of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to mock the hunger strike for freedom by Internal Security Act detainees at the Kamunting detention centre.
"Prior to this, Hishammuddin (left) had said their choice of a hunger strike is their own choice... This is truly an irresponsible statement as he knows he has the power to free them.
"If he makes such a statement, it shows his irresponsibility in allowing the hunger strike to continue," said GMI secretary Ahmad Syukri Ab Razab.
Hishammuddin in his tweet reply to a follower last night said it was the choice of the ISA detainees to hold the hunger strike, just as it was his choice to have lamb chops.
It was reported that two ISA detainees in Kamunting initiated thesecond round of hunger strike as a protest for their freedom.
Ahmad Syukri, who is a Suaram coordinator, said the minister has the discretion and the responsibility to order their release.
"Prior to this, Hishammuddin (left) had said their choice of a hunger strike is their own choice... This is truly an irresponsible statement as he knows he has the power to free them. "If he makes such a statement, it shows his irresponsibility in allowing the hunger strike to continue," said GMI secretary Ahmad Syukri Ab Razab.
Hishammuddin in his tweet reply to a follower last night said it was the choice of the ISA detainees to hold the hunger strike, just as it was his choice to have lamb chops.
It was reported that two ISA detainees in Kamunting initiated thesecond round of hunger strike as a protest for their freedom.
Ahmad Syukri, who is a Suaram coordinator, said the minister has the discretion and the responsibility to order their release.
He criticised the home minister’s denouncement of the hunger strike as a ‘choice’ as irresponsible, calling upon him to act, rather than absolve blame from himself.
“Why does the home minister not act? There are no systems, no checks and balances that adequately summarise what the government can do for ISA detainees. The hunger strike, in itself, is already a last resort. This is very irresponsible of the home minister,” he said.
Syukri (left) noted that in California and Israel, where hunger strikes have been held over the past year due to dissatisfaction with the status quo, there were boards to evaluate what should be done in such an event.
He further criticised the government for poor enforcement and implementation of the ISA.
“The government is not consistent. No board to ascertain someone’s justice. Nobody to review the status of detainees. No means to evaluate these things - why does the home minister not take action?” he said.
He admitted that while there was the possibility that these individuals could be guilty, he said that the government should allow the detainees to go to court and let a judge decide, fairly, whether or not they deserved to remain behind bars.
“Why does the home minister not act? There are no systems, no checks and balances that adequately summarise what the government can do for ISA detainees. The hunger strike, in itself, is already a last resort. This is very irresponsible of the home minister,” he said.
Syukri (left) noted that in California and Israel, where hunger strikes have been held over the past year due to dissatisfaction with the status quo, there were boards to evaluate what should be done in such an event.He further criticised the government for poor enforcement and implementation of the ISA.
“The government is not consistent. No board to ascertain someone’s justice. Nobody to review the status of detainees. No means to evaluate these things - why does the home minister not take action?” he said.
He admitted that while there was the possibility that these individuals could be guilty, he said that the government should allow the detainees to go to court and let a judge decide, fairly, whether or not they deserved to remain behind bars.
Several detainees in Kamunting went on a series of hunger strikes to protest their continued detention, beginning May. The last of the ISA detainees is scheduled to leave detention in January 2014, although the announcement to abolish the act itself was made in September last year.
The ISA is replaced by the Security Offences Special Measures Act 2012, which was gazetted on June 22, but has yet to come into force.
“We don’t want to wait for the 13th GE to let this happen, we don’t want that uncertainty. We want the home minister to take action, to give them the fair trial they deserve. We are going to be more aggressive,” he said.
The ISA is replaced by the Security Offences Special Measures Act 2012, which was gazetted on June 22, but has yet to come into force.
“We don’t want to wait for the 13th GE to let this happen, we don’t want that uncertainty. We want the home minister to take action, to give them the fair trial they deserve. We are going to be more aggressive,” he said.
Detainees end hunger strike
Meanwhile, in a related development, the eight detainees who staged a hunger strike at the Kamunting detention camp have stopped their protest voluntarily.
Lawyer Afiq M Noor, who visited the detainees at the detention centre this afternoon with lawyer Farhana Abdul Halim, said they stopped the hunger strike on Wednesday after they became very weak after almost two weeks of not consuming food.
“Five locals and three Sri Lankan nationals took part in the hunger strike since June 23. The three Sri Lankan nationals are being detained on allegations of human trafficking,” he said.
“One of them, Razali, had been assaulted and spat on by the prison warders. Another detainee had also been threatened by the prison warden against staging the hunger strike for more than three days as this will somewhat be seen as challenging their authority.”
Afiq (right) said when they started the hunger strike, the detainees were placed in a separate room where there is no fan and it is stuffy.
This, he added, resulted in the detainees feeling very uncomfortable and after they stopped the hunger strike they were then returned to their normal cells.
He said that throughout their protest, the doctors have checked on them on a daily basis.
The lawyer said they will continue to visit the affected detainees despite being given the runaround by the authorities after coming at the centre at 10am, but only being allowed to visit the detainees at 4pm.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the eight detainees who staged a hunger strike at the Kamunting detention camp have stopped their protest voluntarily.
Lawyer Afiq M Noor, who visited the detainees at the detention centre this afternoon with lawyer Farhana Abdul Halim, said they stopped the hunger strike on Wednesday after they became very weak after almost two weeks of not consuming food.
“Five locals and three Sri Lankan nationals took part in the hunger strike since June 23. The three Sri Lankan nationals are being detained on allegations of human trafficking,” he said.
“One of them, Razali, had been assaulted and spat on by the prison warders. Another detainee had also been threatened by the prison warden against staging the hunger strike for more than three days as this will somewhat be seen as challenging their authority.”Afiq (right) said when they started the hunger strike, the detainees were placed in a separate room where there is no fan and it is stuffy.
This, he added, resulted in the detainees feeling very uncomfortable and after they stopped the hunger strike they were then returned to their normal cells.
He said that throughout their protest, the doctors have checked on them on a daily basis.
The lawyer said they will continue to visit the affected detainees despite being given the runaround by the authorities after coming at the centre at 10am, but only being allowed to visit the detainees at 4pm.
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