Here is the latest EU Commission Statement on the ISA Arrests in Malaysia. This is in addition to the European Parliament Resolution of 14 June 2001.

Rgards, PRM
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Statement on behalf of EU Commission condemning ISA detention

"In relation to Malaysia, the Commission has followed closely the events relating to the detention by the Malaysian police of ten pro-reform activists under the Internal Security Act just ahead of the second anniversary, on 14th April, of the conviction of the former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim."

"It strongly regrets that on 2 June the Minister for Home Affairs signed two-year detention orders for four of the ten opposition activists and that three of the other six ISA detainees remain in police custody."

"The Commission is deeply concerned at these events, which it considers contrary to established democratic practice. They reinforce concerns already expressed in the past regarding the general human rights situation in Malaysia."

"In this respect, the Commission welcomes the fact that the Malaysian National Human Rights Commission has questioned the basis of the arrests and that government representatives have stated that the ISA needs to be abolished or at least radically revised."

"It also welcomes the fact that the High Court of Malaysia, in setting free two of the ISA detainees under writs of habeas corpus on 30 May, called on the Malaysian Parliament to review the ISA thoroughly."

"The Commission is ready to support EU action to press the issue of the human rights situation in general, and of the ISA in particular, with the government of Malaysia on all appropriate occasions."

Commissioner David Byrne
Strassbourg
23 June 2001