MALAYSIA: Human rights activist at risk of torture

Badaruddin Ismail, a member of leading human rights organisation Suaram, had been assisting the families of the victims of {arbitrary arrest} and documenting an inquiry into police brutality. No reasons for hisarrest have been given and he is at risk of {torture.}

"The Malaysian government has cracked down on its critics by lockingaway ten activists, mostly from the opposition National Justice Party, inthe last two weeks. None of the activists have access to their families orlawyers and all are at risk of police brutality," the organization saidcalling for the ten, who are prisoners of conscience, to be releasedimmediately.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has denied the arrests of NationalJustice Party members were politically motivated, saying that police hadevidence that they planned to use explosives and weapons in streetdemonstrations to overthrow the government. No such evidence has been madepublic or presented in court.

The Malaysian Human Rights Commission, Suhakam, which called for therelease of the detainees, has been denied permission to visit them.

Suhakam, the Malaysian Bar Council, leading opposition parties,non-governmental organizations and Amnesty International have all expressedconcern for the safety of the detainees and intensified their calls for therepeal of the ISA. A new coalition has been formed called the "Abolish ISAMovement".

"The Malaysian government should not ignore calls for the repeal ofthe ISA. Using it to silence critics is a regressive move which inflictsgreat damage on human rights in a free society," Amnesty Internationalsaid.

More than 9,300 people around the world have signed AmnestyInternational's online petition (www.stoptorture.org) expressing concernfor the safety of the detainees. The organization's members will continueto write directly to the Malaysian authorities urging the detainees bereleased and the ISA be either repealed or amended so that it no longerallows for detention without trial of those exercising their right tofreedom of expression or assembly.