Sivarasa Rasiah for Subang » GMI general election demands

Joshua Foong and Llew-Ann Phang, The Sun

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 27, 2008): The Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) which consists of 83 organisations announced 15 demands from political parties and candidates contesting in the 12th General Elections here in the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall today.

The demands are:

To respect the Federal Constitution, especially Article 10, as primary reference to the rights of the people.
To respect one’s rights to be presumed innocent until proven guilty , the rights to trial and the rights to be defended.
To provide security to all levels of society.
To support and uphold efforts to abolish detention without trial laws especially the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960.
To place high priority on campaigns to abolish ISA.
To support demand for the immediate release of all ISA detainees.
To support and escalate Human Rights Commission’s (SUHAKAM) recommendation for the repeal of ISA and its annual report to Parliament.
To avenge the welfare of family members of ISA detainees.
To bring justice perpetrators who have victimised ISA detainees and their family members.
To take into consideration recommendations made by the Independent Commission to improve the operations and management of the Police to establish an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
To close down the Kamunting Detention Camp.
To respect judiciary system and return freedom to the judiciary.
To deny the misuse of powers that has tarnished the integrity of the Government.
To practice separation of powers in totality.
To provide more space for the civil society bodies to garner people towards the upholding of justice and truth.

GMI Chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh who read out the 15 demands in the presence of SUARAM executive director Yap Swee Seng, Jamaah Islah Malaysia President Zaid Kamaruddin and Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president R.Sivarasiah.

Sivarasiah pledged his party support to the GMI’s demands. Relating to the court decision to reject the habeas corpus applications of five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) yesterday, he said: “We can see that there is no solution in court. The only way ISA can be repelled now is through political change.”

“If PKR and other opposition parties win 125 seats in parliament this general election, ISA will be abolished immediately, the Kamunting detainees would be released or be given fair trial if there are any charges on terrorism,” he said.

The GMI demands will be sent to all parties contesting in the 12th General Elections on March 8.