Welcome to BASE21

We have come together here today to demand the immediate release of Malaysian activists arrested by the Internal Security Act (ISA), and the abolishment of the anti-human rights Security Act.

Through series of arrests that started on 10th April, 10 'Reformasi' activists have been detained and have been denied visits by their lawyers and families. The Malaysian government gave an illogical reason to the arrests saying that the activists 'had planned a violent demonstration, imported molotov cocktails and thus threatened the wellbeing of the state'. But the democratic citizens of Malaysia and the conscientious international community who are watching the situation closely definitely know that the arrested activists are not those trying to overthrow the state, but rather, progressive forces that are trying to abolish and reform the age-long anti-democratic, anti-people laws and policies.

The ISA of Malaysia, when it judges a person to be 'threatening the national security', can arrest and investigate the person for 6 months without trial, and is an anti-human rights law that can extend the length to 2 years merely through the government's arbitrary interpretation. Ever since its enactment in 1960, more than 10,000 Malaysians have been 'bestowed' with this law, and there is even a prisoner of conscience who has been imprisoned for 32 years. Also, the ISA is interrelated with other 'evil' laws such as the Police Act, Societies Act and the University and College Act and are used as tools in thoroughly blocking and suppressing the voices and actions of those yearning for reform and democracy.

However, what is more deploring is the fact that such anti-human rights security laws, like the National Security Law of South Korea or the Anti-Subversion Act of Indonesia, are still prevalent in most Asian countries. There is no doubt to the fact that the security laws, that were introduced by the imperialists of France, Japan, Portugal, US and Great Britain to maintain their economic hegemony in the colonized nations, are now acting to maintain the power of the military dictatorships that have settled in Asian nations after liberation from the imperial forces. The national security laws, that in the past were consistently used to sustain the national system (anti-communism, or in the case of China, communism) and justify development, are today, in the post Cold War period, used as an ideology to suppress the demands of the citizens and workers who are against 'globalization' and the 'neo-liberal economic order'.

These national security laws severely contradict the human rights principles that were already conferred internationally decades ago (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, agreements on civil and political rights etc.) such as the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly and Association, and are accompanied by appalling anti-human rights activities such as torture. After 1998 which marked the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and also the 50th anniversary of the Korean National Security Law, the movement by activists in each Asian country is speeding up and is expanding to international solidarity and actions.

The 10 arrested activists have been working for progress and democracy not only in Malaysia but also in Asia and all around the world. Their activities are beneficial to all except for those who arrested them. The demonstration that the activists were organizing to commemorate the second anniversary of the former deputy prime minister Anwar's trial (on allegations of homosexuality and abuse of power) was indeed a peaceful one. But if Mahatir's government does not immediately release the detainees, it will not be able to avoid criticisms that the government is oppressing the forces that are resisting against economic crisis and corrupt dictatorship just as it did to Anwar through political purge. The Malaysian government must realize that the conscientious civil societies of Asia and the entire world are watching this situation, and if it does not accept our demands it will face a wave of resistance that crosses national borders.

Thus we, Korean activists, demand the following from the Malaysian government :

1. Free All Detainees!
2. Abolish the Internal Security Act!
3. Abide by the International Human Rights Standard!

28th May, 2001

Solidarity for the Abolishment of the National Security Law
Policy and Information Center for International Solidarity
Korean House for International Solidarity