The Monthly ISA Watch, Trafalgar Square, London
The UK chapter of Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA took to the streets of London on Saturday, 26 June to demonstrate peacefully in front of the Malaysian Tourism office in Trafalgar Square.
The demonstration was held to coincide with the United Nations Day for Victims of Torture.
More than two dozen Malaysians of all ages held placards and chanted slogans such as “Stop Detention Without Trial”, “Stop human rights abuses in Malaysia”, “Down with the ISA” and “Yes to Tourism, No to Torture”, as throngs of Londoners and tourists passed by on foot, taking advantage of a rare summer’s day in the capital.
The gathering included a poignant illustration of the abuse often suffered by ISA detainees as one demonstrator, Hiu Woong-sin, stood on a stool, dressed as a detainee in prison uniform, with hands bound and mouth taped shut while sporting a black eye.
The chanting occasionally gave way to feature a makeshift ‘Malaysian speakers’ corner’ (inspired by the recent Speaker’s Corners in Penang and Universiti Malaya), where demonstrators took turns to recite aptly-themed poetry and sing ISA-inspired songs.
Demonstrators handed out hundreds of flyers to passers-by, highlighting human rights abuses perpetrated by Malaysian authorities under the ISA.
To further express concern over previous instances of the threats, torture, ill treatment and abuse suffered by ISA detainees, a petition addressed to the new High Commissioner of Malaysia to the United Kingdom, Zakaria Sulong, was also carried out.
The petition also urged the Malaysian government to repeal the ISA and to sign and ratify the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).
One demonstrator explained that the group had been inspired by the 40,000 strong anti-ISA march held on 1 August last year in Kuala Lumpur, where peaceful protestors were met with tear gas, water cannons and arrest as they marched into the capital. “The bravery and courage of those at home will never go unnoticed and the least we can do for our Malaysian brothers and sisters is to show solidarity and raise international awareness regarding the plight of ISA detainees and the cruel injustice of the Internal Security Act,” the demonstrator said.
