This was today, 13 Nov.2020, on the eve of Deepavali. Family members of 25 detainees are waiting outside the courtroom. Some are still waiting even after 48 days of remands. The detainees are not charged nor sentenced for the entire duration of 48 days. Remands after remands. To make it worse the police have used the Security Offences Special Measurement Act (SOSMA), which have allowed for another 28 days of remands, which expired 2 days ago. The court ordered to release them as there were no charges, but the police continued to detain the suspects and today they imposed POCA (Prevention of Crime Act) on the 25 suspects which have given the police fresh 21 days of remand. This may extend to another 38 days as the total remand days under POCA is 60 days. The magistrate fails to see a clear abuse of power. Last year, almost the same time, the police arrested 12 people under SOSMA, and their family were in the dark, while some others were celebrating Deepavali. This year, another 25 families will be in the dark, while the rest of us prepare for Deepavali.
In Malaysia, we used to have an Internal Security Act (ISA), a detention without trial law. Whenever the authority uses ISA, we often call it dark days. We have seen many dark days since 1960, because of ISA. This law was abolished in 2012 but was replaced by SOSMA and POCA and the arbitrary detention and dark days continue.
Deepavali means “row of lights”, a symbol for good over evil, light over darkness. We still have detention without trial laws, chain remands, sedition act and many repressive laws. Let us fight together against these dark laws to see the light of Human Rights. Happy Deepavali!
Credit : Facebook Sevan Doraisamy
