Rights group calls for immediate freeze on Sosma
Suaram also asks the government to release a comprehensive list of groups recognised as terrorist organisations.
PETALING JAYA: Rights group Suaram today urged Putrajaya to impose an immediate moratorium on the Special Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
Suaram representative Amir Hadi said the group was disappointed with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s failure to fulfil its promise to reform security laws, which it said was stated in the coalition’s election manifesto.
Amir also called on the government to release a comprehensive list of groups recognised as terrorist organisations to raise awareness among the public, especially those who might lack the right information on such groups.
Twelve people including two DAP assemblymen were recently arrested under Sosma for alleged links to the now-defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) group.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) had expressed concern over the arrests, saying detention without trial, as provided for under Sosma, is “against the core principles of human rights”.
Amir said most people detained under Sosma for alleged links to terrorism were usually “soft supporters” with no comprehensive knowledge of possible terrorist organisations.
He referred to the Islamic State, saying some did not know that it was a terrorist group when it first surfaced.
“We also urge the government to hold to its promise to abolish the Prevention of Crimes Act and draconian provisions in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota),” he added at a press conference here today.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia deputy chairman S Arutchelvam said Sosma was merely a replacement for the now-abolished Internal Security Act (ISA).
He said the government’s assurance that Sosma would not be abused was similar to what the previous administration had said about ISA.
He said police usually claim to have solid evidence before detaining individuals under Sosma.
“If that’s really true, then the punishment should be heavier than under Sosma and Pota,” he added, giving the example of the Criminal Procedure Code.
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He called for a tribunal to be set up to investigate cases of abuse of power by the police and prosecution in Sosma cases.