Oct 30, 2000
www.malaysiakini.com
Anniversary of Operation Lallang
Many voices, one heart
Susan Loone
Spirits were high, the crowd substantial, organised and multi-racial. About 2,000 people jammed the entrance of the infamous Kamunting detention camp yesterday to "celebrate" the 40th anniversary of the draconian Act by demanding the abolishment of the ISA.
"Forty years is enough!" proclaimed Keadilan Youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, holding the crowd enthralled. "We will not give up (until the Internal Security Act is abolished) even if we have to come back another 40 years! (Kami tidak akan undur walau 40 tahun lagi)"
The enthusiastic visitors were of different professional backgrounds, even comprising kids accompanied by their parents, to senior citizens in their 70s. They came from throughout the country, speaking with many voices but with one heart - to see a detestable piece of legislation to its death, whatever it takes.
It has been 40 years, the group lamented. There are 40 reasons why the ISA must be abolished, they cried, though every single one is reason enough.
The group insisted that no amount of government propaganda, from "preventing communist insurgency" to "preserving national security", can convince the nation that the Act must go on.
The increasing number of non-governmental organisations (a total of 71 this year) and individuals who support the abolishment of the Act is a testimony that political awareness and the government's questionable treatment of human rights issues in the country are gaining momentum by the day.
Two years ago, there were only about 200 people who gathered outside the camp with placards and banners, followed by a mere hundred who stayed behind to hear past ISA detainees share their experiences.
This year, PAS' stronghold at Kampung Pasir, 200km from the camp, was packed with supporters carrying Barisan Alternatif party flags, placards screaming messages of "Abolish ISA", "Mahathir resign" and "Forty Years is Enough".
There was a heavy presence of Malay female supporters, which had never been visible in the years before when such gatherings were planned. "This has nothing to do with gender," a Malay woman said. "The ISA hits men and women alike and that is why we are here to give our support."
Calling themselves "Committee Against ISA", the group, led by human rights group Suaram, reiterated their commitment to call for the Act to be castrated. They should be commended for the well-organised programme and exhibition on the history of the ISA, not to mention vocal support from a group of progressive students shouting anti-ISA, anti-Mahathir and reformasi slogans with thunderous choruses.
The peaceful gathering outside the camp ended with the release of 40 multi-coloured balloons into the air. People's Manifesto Initiative (PMI) spokesperson and ex-ISA detainee Irene Xavier read the Abolish ISA Declaration which demanded:
The abolishment of the 1960 ISA and all other acts which provide for detention without trial.
The release of all the detainees under the ISA and other laws which provide for detention without trial.
That a royal commission be convened to investigate all incidents of cruelty and violence against ex-detainees and compensation to be paid to their families accordingly.
No police permit
At 11am the crowd adjourned to Kampung Pasir for a forum where ex-detainees recalled their stories. The speeches started on a serious note but progressed to light-hearted pokes at the BN government, to the great hilarity of all present.
Before the session started, PAS Perak Youth chairman Misbahul Munir informed the crowd: "I tell you honestly, we do not have a police permit for this gathering."
"Why do we need one ... are we carrying guns?" he asked, then adding in jest, "If anyone is carrying a gun with him, show us now and we shall send you off to the detention camp immediately."
"We do not have guns, we only have the people's voices (suara rakyat)," he added.
Misbahul told the people present that the police had inquired who were organising the event.
"Seluruh rakyat Malaysia (every Malaysian citizen)," he had told the police, he said. "If you (police) wish, you can arrest each and every Malaysian and send them to detention camps!"
He expressed his disappointment with recent incidents where police permits and management permission were not granted to the opposition to hold gatherings. A case in point was Parti Keadilan's Bukit Jalil People's Gathering scheduled last month which promised a crowd of 100,000 strong supporters. Their application was rejected twice by the sports complex management without a "logical" reason.
"You can use your power and authority to stop us from gathering," Misbahul lambasted the government. "But we shall use the people's power (kuasa rakyat) to fight you," he added, with much applause and cheering from the crowd, who sat on muddy ground while some stood under the sun all through the two-hour forum.
Surprisingly, unlike recent peaceful gatherings held in Kuala Lumpur, there was no police or FRU personnel with rotan sticks intimidating the gathering in Kamunting, except for a routine road block by the Police Field Force in the morning.
Light moments
PAS MPs took the opportunity to lash out at their BN counterparts in Parliament.
Angered by recent debates in Parliament, PAS Youth leader Mahfuz Omar and MP for Pokok Sena (Kedah) scoffed at the BN ministers for using the Parliament to violate the principles of democracy.
"We witnessed during the Budget 2001, where the Parliament was used to shamelessly endorse Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin's announcement that the oil royalty money belonging to Terengganu will now be called wang ehsan (compassionate payment).
"How dare the BN politicians call us hooligans and say that we do not respect the law and order of Parliament. If they themselves (BN MPs) do not follow the law and order of democracy, then ‘go to hell' with the laws of Parliament."
Mohammad Sabu, MP for Kuala Kedah (Kedah) expressed similar sentiments. He said, "During the 1987 Operasi Lalang, when former MCA deputy president Lim Kim Sai and the then Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak was holidaying in Australia after creating riots in the country, the opposition leaders and NGOs also went for a holiday - in the Kamunting detention camp under the ISA.
"This year, Barisan Nasional tried to create a similar riot by using NEAC (National Economic Action Council) II vice-president David Chua, followed by Umno Youth exploiting Suqiu's 17-point election appeal. But their attempts failed when the opposition refused to react because we do not want to fall into their trap and re-enact another Operasi Lalang," he added.
On the evils of ISA, Suaram representative Koh Swee Young said comically: "Even though we are released from detention, we are still not free from the prying eyes and ears of the Special Branch officers who call on us now and then." He related how Special Branch officers had called on him a day earlier and harassed him to give them details of the peaceful gathering. They had actually asked him, "Mau pergi Kamunting, ke?" he said.
PMI's Xavier, who never failed to participate in any of the "Abolish ISA" campaigns, commended PAS for being supportive of ISA detainees by sending fruits and food to the camps.
"I have made many friends while in and after detention," she said, adding, "this I must thank Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for the ISA," drawing laughter from the crowd.
"ISA does not respect anyone. Men and women are treated violently in the same manner by policemen who are not 'gentlemen'," she added.
"Other countries ask for democracy and they are given more democracy but in Malaysia, when we ask for democracy we are not given any. That is why the struggle must go on".
Keadilan publicity officer Ruslan Kassim presented a fiery speech as he questioned the relevancy of the Act.
"The ISA is no longer relevant. There are no more communists. Instead of detaining people as a deterrent, the government exercises selective prosecution, detention, punishment and witnessing to create a culture of fear. But none of the ex-detainees have expressed fear of, or regretted, being detained (not that they are asking to be detained again); rather, the detention is seen as not a problem but an opportunity," he said.
"The ISA is a law of the jungle where people are punished before investigation is carried out on them. Perhaps we should organise an alumni of ex-ISA detainees soon?" he sneered.
Ezam, in his usual fiery presentation, addressed the excited crowd. "I am not an ex-detainee but I am here to respect the past ISA detainees for their brave acts," he assured them.
"Every day I get threatening calls telling me that I have done wrong, committed treason and smeared the reputation of the prime minister overseas. But I do not need to do that, the prime minister's reputation is already so bad," he said.
"I hope he (prime minister) does not think that criticising him is criticising Malaysia. The prime minister is not Malaysia and Malaysia is not the prime minister," he added, while the crowd jeered "Undur Mahathir! (Mahathir, resign)".
He challenged the police to arrest him and said that Mahathir should not go on threatening him through the media but to confront him if he had really committed an offence.
'They make you tell lies'
DAP vice-chair Lim Guan Eng, who received a rousing welcome from the crowd, reiterated his stand: "The ISA goes against truth, religion and human rights. While in detention, I was asked to lie in front of the TV. I was asked to lie that what the prime minister is doing is right and that BN is right. I told them (police) that I am not an actor. If I were, I would have been a famous movie star. But the only skills I have is that of fighting for democracy.
"Thirteen years ago I was detained because I was considered a threat to national security. What a joke. I didn't know I was so dangerous. That if I were not detained, the whole country would be in chaos. I believe now I am more dangerous, not that I am asking to be detained again," he added with a mischievous grin.
"DAP recently demanded MCA to hand over the JE Fund accounts for inspection. In the record, we found that there were 600 recipients of the funds who were Malays. Now, is it possible for Malays to be pig farmers? I am not well versed with Islam but I do know that rearing pigs is 100 percent haram for Malays. Maybe those in the list who were pig farmers are Umno Malays," he said, to hilarious laughter from the crowd.
The forum was also attended by PRM executive member and Suaram representative R Sivarasa, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, Parti Sosialis Malaysia pro-tem committee president Nasir Hashim, Suaram coordinator Arutchelvan and Aliran president P Ramakrishnan.
It ended with PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali's (photo, white shirt) recollection of his experience.
"When I was detained, there was a handful of Malays and Chinese. We were beaten and asked to name a few Indians who could also be taken in as detainees. I didn't think that even in detention camps, the government wanted to play the racial game.
"I was asked to confess that I was a go-between for Mahathir and the communist. If I had said yes, the history of this country would have been different and we would not have this problem with Mahathir today.
"But if I had lied and said yes, I would have been branded a communist and would probably be held longer. They do not only beat you and torture you, they also tell you lies and make you tell lies."
Photos by Susan Loone and Sam Chong
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