By G Vinod
KUALA LUMPUR: Human rights group Suaram will be launching a campaign to urge the government to repeal the Emergency Ordinance (EO) and the Dangerous Drugs Act.The campaign, to be kickstated in Johor on Sept 25-26 , will see Suaram distributing leaflets, educating the public on how detainees are denied access to a fair trial in breach of human rights principles.
“For example, the EO allows the authorities to detain persons without trial for two years,” said Suaram coordinator E Nalini at a press conference today.
She also said more than 1,000 people are currently being detained under both Acts, but the exact figure is not known as the authorities refuse to reveal the figures to the public.
“When an arrest is made under the Internal Security Act (ISA), normally the media will highlight it, helping us to keep track on the headcount.
“However any arrests made under the EO or the DDA are rarely highlighted. Therefore, it is difficult for us to keep track on the numbers,”said Nalini.
She said that Johor was chosen as a starting point as most detainees under the preventive laws are currently held in the state.
“A lot of those arrested under EO are currently detained in Simpang Renggam and Muar detention centres.
"That is why Johor is a good start before we move on to states such as Penang and Selangor,” said Nalini.
Malaysia Tamil Forum chief executive officer N Siva Subramaniam, who was also at press conference, said most people arrested under these draconian legislations are from the lower income community and juveniles.
“In my experience, I have seen many school students and even unemployed people being detained under the acts,” said Siva, a former Suhakam commissioner.
Nation no longer under threat
He added that as most detainees were from the lower income group, it had caused many family institutions to break down as they do not have the means to get their family members released.
“Some had to sell off their houses and others properties, to pay for their legals fees and other expenses. Those arrested are mostly the breadwinners of the families.
“As for the juveniles, their arrests will leave a black mark on their record and this will eventually cause them to endure great difficulties in gaining employment.
"Their futures are destroyed literally,”said Siva who added that juveniles should be sent to correctional and rehabilition centres instead of being detained in prison.
Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general P Arutchelvan said that in contrast to the Internal Security Act, the EO is a legislation passed during the emergency.
"It should not be used as the nation is no longer under any kind of threat. The legislation is not even sanctioned by Parliament,” said Arutchelvan.
He added that the EO, though it was supposed to be used to incarcerate those deemed as a threat to public order is currently being used to incarcerate people for petty crimes.
“Even those stealing mobile devices are being arrested under the EO. The authorities are just taking an easy way out,”said Arutchelvan.
When asked on why Suaram was not focusing on getting the Acts which are now redundant lifted, Nalini said it will take time to educate the public on the matter.
“We took nearly 20 years to get people to understand the ISA. Let us start slowly. We will educate the public on the need to get the legislations lifted in our campaign,” said Nalini.
