Call on IGP to brief Barisan Alternative leaders within the next 24 hours and  to  produce proof that the Reformasi Seven were involved in a militant conspiracy for the violent overthrow of the government like explosives, bombs and grenade-launchers

Media Conference Statement
by Lim Kit Siang 

(Penang, Saturday): The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Norian Mai had been at pains to stress that the arrests of the  Reformasi Seven under the Internal Security Act were strictly a police action  due to their involvement in activities detrimental to public order and national security and not a political move against the opposition parties.

Abdullah even specified that the government was not targeting leaders of Parti Keadilan Nasional, saying that the arrests were not directed at the party or its leaders but against individuals whose activities posed a danger to security and public order.

As Mahathir claims that the government accepts “legitimate opposition”, the Inspector-General of Police should give an immediate briefing to  Barisan Alternative leaders within the next 24 hours and  produce proof that the Reformasi Seven were involved in a militant conspiracy for the violent overthrow of the government like explosives, bombs and grenade-launchers as mentioned by Norian Mai in his media conference on Wednesday.

Having been detained twice under the Internal Security Act, where baseless allegations were made against me to give a colourable excuse to justify my detention although such charges would not  stand open scrutiny or challenge in a court of law, I want to be convinced that Norian Mai’s allegation that the Reformasi Seven were  involved in  a militant conspiracy for the violent overthrow of the government is not a “fairy tale”.

Although Abdullah has failed as Home Minister to stop the use of the infamous Internal Security Act against Opposition activists, which has again  plunged the country into a new chapter of international opprobrium,  he can at least make the ISA more humane by allowing the seven detainees immediate access to  their  family members and lawyers.

All the talk by the IGP that requests can formally be made by the family members and lawyers for access to the seven detainees, which requests would go through the usual channels of official consideration, are just bureaucratic nonsense which is completely  unacceptable when basic human rights are being violated with the use of the ISA.

All that Malaysians want to know is whether as Home Minister, Abdullah can ensure that the family members and lawyers of the seven detainees can get immediate access to meet them to ensure that they are “safe and sound” or whether this is completely out of his hands.

(14/4/2001)

*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman