URGENT APPEAL: ISA Detention Nov 5t

[altsean@xxxxxxxxxx]

SUARAM URGENT APPEAL

SN: 02/11/97

DATE:           Nov 5th, 1997
RE:             ISA Detention 

NAMES:	        Kamarulzaman Ismail

AGE:            45
             
VIOLATIONS:	Arbitrary Detention/Detention Without Trial

LOCATION:	Muar (Johor), W. Malaysia

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Another man was arrested last night under the Internal Security Act (ISA)
for reasons still unknown for the time being. This comes almost immediately
after the detention of two elderly men on November 3, 1997.

Kamarulzaman Ismail, 45 years, believed to be a member of an opposition
party, Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) was picked up from Muar, Johor. He was
detained before for two years without trial under the same act during the
Operation Lalang 1987. 

On 3rd November 1997, two men were arrested. Ustaz Abdullah Hassan, believed
to be above 50 years of age and a member of the opposition party - PAS; and
Paharuddin Mustapha, 62 years of age. Paharuddin, a former activist with
another opposition party - Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), now a scrapyard
dealer, is suffering from severe diabetes and is almost blind. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The ISA allows the Minister of Home Affairs to order indefinite detention
without charge or trial of any person suspected of threatening national
security in Malaysia. 

In 1987, over 100 people including opposition parties activitists and
members of parliament, trade unionists, religous leaders, Chinese
educationists, community workers etc. were arrested and accused of provoking
racial and religous tensions. From 1993 to 1996, hundreds of members of the
now banned Al Arqam Islamic sect were arrested under the ISA. 

Since then, there has been a decline of ISA detainees held for political
reasons and presently there are 207 ISA detainees, most of them held for
identity and passport forgeries.

However, there have been regular threats to invoke the ISA such as when NGOs
attempted to organise a forum on police abuse last December; and more
recently when financial analysts were threatened with ISA during the
Malaysian currency and stock market crisis. 

On Oct 27th, 1997, a 10-year commemoration of the 1987 ISA arrests was
organised by the NGOs. Once again the call was reiterated to abolish the ISA
and that "37 Years is Enough!". 


RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Please send letter, faxes, telegrams
1. expressing your concern at the continuous use of the ISA;
2. urging the immediate release of Ustaz Abdullah Hassan, Paharuddin
Mustapha and Kamarulzaman Ismail from ISA detention and charge them in open
court for any alleged offences;
3. urging the release of full information to the public on the grounds of
their detention
4. calling the government to ensure that the men are not ill-treated or
tortured and that Paharuddin receives complete medical treatment for his
illness;
5. calling the government to repeal the ISA and all other laws allowing for
detention without trial.


APPEALS TO:

1. Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs
Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad
Prime Minister's Department
Jalan Dato' Onn
50502 Kuala Lumpur
Faxes: 60-3-2383784
Telegrams: Prime Minister Mahathir, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

COPIES TO:

2. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
Datuk Mohd Tajol Rosli
Jalan Dato' Onn
50502 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Faxes: 60-3-2301051

3. Inspector General of Police
Tan Sri Rahim Noor
Bukit Aman Police Station
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Faxes: 60-3-2910707

and to diplomatic representatives of Malaysia accredited in your country. 

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please check with Suaram if sending appeals
after 5 December 1997. Please also kindly send a copy of your letter(s) to
us. Thank you. 
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		FIGHTING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Suara Rakyat Malaysia - SUARAM
(Voice of the Malaysian People)
add: 11, Jalan 1A/71E, Jalan Carey, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor,Malaysia
tel: 60-3-7943525
fax: 60-3-7943526
email: wkpeng@xxxxxxxxxxxx
homepage: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/1577  (still
underconstruction)


A L T S E A N - B U R M A
ALTERNATIVE ASEAN NETWORK ON BURMA
*tel: [662] 275 1811/693 4515 *fax: [662] 693 4515 *e-mail: altsean@xxxxxxxxxx
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