Anti-ISA protesters march to Parliament House

 

About 50 protesters marched to Parliament today, demanding that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak fulfil his promise to abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA) and other laws that allow for detention without trial.

The group, led by anti-ISA coalition Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI), gathered at the Lake Gardens at 11am and walked the roughly 700 metres to the gates of the Parliament building.
Fewer than 10 police officers were present, but they did not interfere.

A six-member delegation led by GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh then entered the grounds with several Pakatan Rakyat MPs to hand over two memoranda, one addressed to Najib and the other for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The Pakatan parliamentarians present included Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah, Gopeng MP Lee Boon Chye and Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh.

However, only Anwar came forward to accept the memorandum. He promised to send Najib’s copy to the Prime Minister’s Office, and to finalise today a Private Member’s Bill on the abolition of the ISA that he intends to file.

In addition to the ISA, the group also wants the government to immediately abolish the Dangerous Drugs Act and the Emergency Ordinance, and vowed to oppose any new law the BN regime wants that will allow for detention without trial.

“Or even better, do not have new laws at all, because the existing legislation can handle issues such as terrorism or public order,” said Syed Ibrahim (left).

Najib, during his Malaysia Day eve speech on Sept 15 last year, had said the ISA would be abolished, and that no person should be detained for their political ideologies.

On Oct 3 last year, Najib told  Parliament that the repeal of ISA would be tabled in Parliament during the March 2012 seating to allow two replacement laws to be drafted. The sitting is currently in session, until next week.

GMI complained that it is now April and with the Parliament sitting near its close, nothing has been heard about the repeal of the ISA nor any public consultation on the new laws.

Its other demands are to establish a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’  to serve justice, to compensate victims of ISA detention, and to close the Kamunting Detention Camp where ISA detainees are normally held, and to converte it into a National Heritage site or museum.

GMI also wants public consultation prior to any future legislation being tabled, including the laws slated to replace ISA.

The government, it added, must respect human rights in its anti-terrorism activities, and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment as well.