Abolish ISA UK Campaign Monthly Picket

Location : Malaysian Tourism Office, Malaysian House, 7 Trafalgar Square, London, England WC2N 5DU

This year, the Malaysian Internal Security Act (ISA) celebrates its 50th birthday. Since its inception it has been used with impunity as a political weapon by the ruling elite against opposition politicians, human rights activists, journalists and ordinary civilians. It remains one of the most chilling and feared weapons of oppression – and understandably so. Under the ISA a person can face arbitrary detention for up to 2 years without charge. This detention order can then be renewed at the whim of the Home Minister, effectively extending the detention period indefinitely. Detainees are often mistreated, tortured, kept in solitary confinement and denied access to due legal process. Since its inception, more than 10,000 people have been detained under the ISA. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have produced numerous reports on the serious threat to human rights posed by this act. In a report from 2005, Human Rights Watch noted that ‘Its provisions violate fundamental international human rights standards, including prohibitions on arbitrary detention, guarantees of the right to due process, and the right to a prompt and impartial trial’ (Human Rights Watch report 2005 http://www.hrw.org/en/node/11608/section/2).

A group of concerned Malaysians living in the UK have pledged to come together to demonstrate again the Internal Security Act on a monthly basis until this draconian law is abolished. We would like to invite you to join us in showing solidarity to all ISA detainees and their families, both past and current, and to hold the government of Malaysia accountable, reminding our public servants that the world is watching and detention without trial in Malaysia must be brought to an immediate end.Let us ensure that the ISA isn’t allowed to perpetuate fear and injustice for another 50 years.
 
We will be meeting on the last Saturday of each month at 12pm outside the Malaysian Tourism Office in Trafalgar Square. Trafalgar Square has been host to a number of important demonstrations in the past, including the campaign to free Nelson Mandela from 27 years of political detention under the apartheid regime in South Africa.  We will demonstrate from 12.15pm-1.15pm. Our first demonstration will be on Saturday, 24th of April 2010.
 
We look forward to seeing you there
 
Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA, UK
(Abolish the ISA Movement, UK)