Monday, February 22, 2010

Allow ISA detainees to meet family members, lawyers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) movement and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) have urged the police to allow Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees to meet family members and lawyers.

GMI chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the call was made through a memorandum handed over to the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan at Bukit Aman on Monday.

He said the memorandum was received by Bukit Aman public relations officer Chief Inspector Mohd Zaki Abu Bakar.

Several ISA detainees, including foreigners, have been denied permission to meet family members and the right to seek legal assistance although they have been detained for 31 days, he said after leading a delegation of 10 GMI and Suaram representatives to hand over the memorandum.

Lawyer Syahredzan Johan said a habeas corpus application had been filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court for permission to meet the detainees and it would be heard on March 10.

“We made the application after learning that there is a plan to deport several foreign detainees although their rights to seek legal assistance had not been granted.

“We also want to ensure that their health, food and welfare are looked after,” he added. [link]

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