MALAYSIA: 41 arrested on 100th day of ISA detentions
July 15, 2001
UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL
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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM
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Forwarded Appeal 16 July 2001
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FA-06-2001: 41 arrested on 100th day of ISA detentions
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MALAYSIA: Denial of right to freedom of association and expression, continuous arrests under the ISA, fear of torture (incommunicado detention)
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Dear Friends
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We are forwarding you the following Urgent Appeal from Suaram, a highly respected human rights organisation in Malaysia.
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Yesterday, July 15th - marked 100 days since the government of Malaysia started arresting those perceived to be their political opponents under the infamous Internal Security Act.
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In the last 100 days, 12 persons have been arrested, two of whom have been released by the police after signing secret statements, and two others released by the Shah Alam High Court by Justice Mohd. Hishamuddin Moh. Yunus, who ruled that the detentions were unlawful, unjustified and in contravention of the constitutional rights of the detainees. The latest victims of the ISA were two students arrested on 5-6 July for allegedly inciting students to demonstrate militantly against the government. They are labelled 'subversive' for exercising this democratic right, and are being held incommunicado without access to legal representation, a situation where torture is highly likely to be used to force them to sign incriminating statements.
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Today marks the 20th anniversary of the rise to powere of Prime Minister Mahatir, who has become increasingly autocratic in his rule. True to this trend, he has marked his anniversary with the arrest of 41 people protesting the 100 days of detention of the latest group of political prisoners. Please read Suaram's appeal and act appropriately. Don't forget you can still sign AHRC's on-line petition until 20th of August at:
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http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/malaysia/isa/petition.htm
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Thank you for your action,
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Urgent Appeals Desk
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Urgent Appeal: 16 July 2001
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41 Arrested During 100th day of ISA arrests
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KONVOI PERDANA, organised to commemorate 100 days of the detention of political and reform activists under the draconian Internal Security Act (1960), was brought to an abrupt end at about 3.10 pm on 15 July 2001 when police moved in with water cannons, forcing the large crowd gathered outside the Kamunting detention camp to disperse, resulting in 41 persons being arrested.
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More than 1500 people gathered outside the detention camp yesterday afternoon, in a show of solidarity with family members of the six activists, who had made their weekly trip to visit their loved ones, who have been detained without trial for two years. Hundreds of cars had made their way to this small town at the foot of Maxwell Hills, coming from Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang and Kedah.
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The 41 persons arrested are now being held at the Taiping police station. Among them are 10 women and 31 men. Aliza Jaafar, the wife of ISA detainee Hj. Saari Sungib, is also among those arrested. She was able to meet with her husband for a visit prior to her arrest. Three persons among those arrested are teenagers, aged 14, 15 and 16 respectively.
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The names of those deatined are as follows:
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Mohd Zariddin
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Sulaiman bin. Meor Abdul Rahman
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Ahmad Sazli bin. Saad
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Zuraini bte Abdullah (woman)
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Keh Sue Yek
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Rosdi bin Mohd
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Osman bin Mohd
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Azmi bin Hashim
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Norlela bte Baharin (woman)
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Rahman bte Yatin (woman)
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Mohd Zarin Khairy bin Zainuddin
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Mohd Zainur bin Osman
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Aliza bte Jaafar (woman)
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Normah bte Che Mat (woman)
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Siti aminah bte Mat (woman)
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Ahmad Tarmizi bin Abdullah
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Seok Loy
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Kassim bin Yahya
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Abdul Majid bin Ahmad
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Redzuan bin Abdul Samad
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Baharuddin bin Abdullah
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Mior Johor bin Mior Abu Bakar
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Mat Zahudi bin Mohd Nor
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Saharuddin bin Razak
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Tajul Arifin bin Mohd Yusof
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Mohd Saifianuddin bin Mohd salleh
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Mohd Akhir bin Arifin
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Zul Helmi bin Yahya
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Mohd Azam bin Mekhtar
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Mohd Lokman bin Mohd Ali
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Noraini bte Mokhtar (woman)
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Norashikin bte Baharin (14 years old)
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Ahmad Shahrani bin Che Azmi
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Abdul Rahman bin Mohd Nor (16 years old)
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Atipah bte Uri (woman)
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Mohd Kamis bin Abdullah
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Mohd Jallaludin bin Mohd Taib
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Mamor bin Yahaya
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Mohd Shuib bin Ismail
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Abdul Ghani bin abu Yamin
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Rohaida Ayu bte Arifin (15 years old)
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It is believed that the 41 persons have been arrested for illegal assembly, and will be brought before a magistrate within 24 hours. The reasons for their arrest could not be confirmed according to a Suaram personnel who was in Kamunting.
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There were also eye-witness accounts of people being beaten with batons and dragged away into police trucks, during the commotion.
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Suaram strongly protests the high handed actions of the police and demands the immediate release of all those detained. It is shameful that a peaceful gathering carried out in solidarity with those detained was met with brute force and arrests of innocent Malaysians.
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FREE ALL 41 DETAINED FOR EXERCISING THEIR RIGHTS TO PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE!
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ABOLISH THE ISA!
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FREE ALL ISA DETAINEES!
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Action Required
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- Demand for the immediate release of all those detained
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- Express gravest concern over their well-being
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- Drop all charges against the detainees as they were only exercising their basic rights to freedom of assembly
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- Call on the Malaysian Human Rights Commission to intervene and restore democracy and human rights.
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Letters Can Be Addressed:
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Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
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Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister
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Ministry of Home Affairs (Menteri Dalam Negeri)
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Aras 13, Blok D1
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Parcel D, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
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65202 Putrajaya, Selangor
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Malaysia
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Fax: + 60 3 8886 8014
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E-mail: tpm@smpke.jpm.my
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Inspector General of Police
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Tan Sri Norian Mai
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Headquarters of Royal Police of Malaysia
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Bukit Aman
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50560 Kuala Lumpur
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Malaysia
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Fax: +603 22731326
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Ybhg Tan Sri Musa Hitam
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Chairperson
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National Human Rights Commission,
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29th. Floor, Menara Tun Razak,
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Jalan Raja Laut,
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50350 Kuala Lumpur.
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Fax- 603-26125620
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Tel-603-26125600
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email: humanrights@humanrights.com.my
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Kofi Annan
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Secretary-General,
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United Nations Room S-3800,
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New York NY 10017
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Fax: 1-212-963 4879/2155
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Email : ecu@un.org
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Mrs. Mary Robinson
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Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
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Palais des nations
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8-14 avenue de la Paix,
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CH 1211 Geneve,
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Switzerland
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Fax : (41) 229170213
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Email: webadmin.hchr@unog.ch
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(Please cc. a copy of your letter to the above authorities to SUARAM at wkpeng@pc.jaring.my if possible, for documentation purposes.)
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