Three minors released from Sosma detention, Suaram wants moratorium

 

Three minors detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) were released on March 13, along with three other detainees, according to the rights group Suaram.

Suaram executive director Azura Nasron said the organisation’s lawyers had recently met with two out of the three minors detained for allegedly attempting to revive the ideology of the militant group Islamic State.

“Our lawyers had asked them about the questions that they were asked while in detention. From the questions (asked to them), we will identify the gaps under Sosma and why it should not be used.

“Our intention is to pressure the government to enforce a moratorium on the use of Sosma against minors,” said Azura during a press conference at Suaram’s office in Petaling Jaya.

The three minors included two 17-year-olds arrested at their homes in Alor Setar and Langkawi in Kedah last month, and were brought to Bukit Aman for investigations.

Suaram executive director Azura Nasron

Bad conditions even for adults

Representing one of the detainees, lawyer Farida Mohamad said she had met with her client, who revealed worrying conditions while under detention.

“The minor was detained for 28 days, with questioning held continuously [...] I was informed that the minor was placed in a cell with the lights turned on 24-7 and poses a risk to their health and safety.

“There were things that even when done to an adult would be considered a breach of the law, let alone against a minor,” she said.

“I was also informed that the Social Welfare Department had only visited the minor once in 28 days, with no follow-up action to ensure their safety,” she said.

Another lawyer involved in the case, Shashi Devan, said he received information that the minors were handcuffed multiple times during the course of the investigation.

“These allegations, if found to be true, are in breach of the law and practices of how we are supposed to deal with children in conflict with the law upon arrest and while in detention,” he said.

Shashi said he was informed that his client was not ready to personally share his experience in detention, an indication of unresolved trauma.

“This in itself is something that we should take as a red flag because if everything were fine, there could be access for further questions from the lawyers,” he added.

Promised reforms stalled

Meanwhile, Suaram adviser Sevan Doraisamy recalled how the first Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 had committed to reforming anti-terror laws, including Sosma, based on a parliamentary reply in 2019 that revealed that over 100 children had been held under preventive detention legislation.

Suaram adviser Sevan Doraisamy

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However, he said there has been no significant progress in the reform process since, and instead, children continue to be arrested under the law.

“Fast forward, the current government is supposed to have already drafted an amendment bill, but they have not.

“Instead, they continue to allow the police to abuse the processes under the law, including against children,” he claimed.

“The arrests of children under security laws are the lowest point that a government can go, and the Madani government has reached it.

“So, today, we no longer direct our call to the home minister, but we directly appeal to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to intervene and implement a moratorium on arrests of minors under Sosma,” he stressed.

Suaram had previously argued that the detention of minors under the security law contradicts provisions in the Child Act 2001, which recognises anyone under 18 as a child.

Sections 83 and 84 of the Child Act state that children are not allowed to be detained under any other Act other than the Child Act. - Mkini