SUARAM is appalled at the discovery, through yesterday’s court proceedings, of the police brutality inflicted on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim whilst detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). We condemn the police for inflicting such violence on a citizen under police custody, as well as the violence used by the police on peaceful protesters over the last week.

Earlier, both the Prime Minister and the Inspector-General of Police gave assurances that Datuk Anwar Ibrahim was well.Yesterday’s evidence clearly shows our Prime Minister and Inspector-General of Police have misled the public. In addition,the Prime Minister’s statement today, stating that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim injuries may be self-inflicted, goes against every basic principle of sanity and logic.

In light of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s fate at the hands of the police, we remain very concerned for the safety and well-being of the other 16 men detained under the ISA since 20th September.

Already, there are widespread reports of police brutality against peaceful protesters who were arrested by the police at Dataran Merdeka and other parts of Kuala Lumpur. Mr. Tian Chua from SUARAM, who was sent to observe the situation on Sunday evening, was arrested with other bystanders and subsequently beaten by the FRU with batons, punched and kicked in his chest and stomach. This increasing violence by the police is shameful, unprofessional and shows their total disrespect for the rights of the public.

The police assault on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is nothing new in Malaysia. Eleven years ago during Operation Lallang, in 1987, affidavits and testimonies of a number of ISA detainees showed that they were physically and mentally tortured, yet no action was taken against the Home Minister and the Inspector-General of Police at the time.

We are sceptical about any internal police investigation into this matter. The Home Minister and the Inspector-General of Police must take full responsibility for the police violence that we are experiencing.

SUARAM calls for the following:

• the immediate resignation of the Inspector-General of Police; - the immediate formation of an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the police violence;
• the abolition of the Internal Security Act and the immediate unconditional release of all ISA detainees.
• for all ISA detainees be treated humanely and according to the highest human rights standards and be allowed family visits, access to their lawyers and immediate medical assistance

Elizabeth Wong
Coordinator
SUARAM