",,2m x 2.5m cell and sleeps on the floor.." - inhumane conditions for Detention Without Trial victims - PSM6

They are all being detained under a law that allows for Detention Without Trial - with no right to defend themselves, or for a fair trial in an open court. And, they are made to sleep in a 2 X 2.5 meter cell on the floor, and this is unacceptable...and is 'torture'. 

Arrested on 25/6/2011 - and then re-arrested again without being released again on 2/7/2011 under Section 3(1) of the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969, a detention without trial law - and this means that they have deprived their liberty for 21 days already

On 6/7/2011(Wednesday) , they filed an urgent application in court to get their freedom claiming that their detention is unlawful - but strangely and certainly unjustly the court first fixed the hearing on 12/8/2011 - and then on 22/7/2011 (which is still more than 15 days). These kind of applications should have been heard on 7/7/2011 or 8/7/2011 - i.e. as soon as possible.

So, why is the court delaying the hearing? Maybe on instructions from ... or maybe to give time for the Minister to issue his 2-year Detention Order, for after that order comes out, the right to challenge the reasons for the said Detention is no longer possible today...., and even if they are successful in their application filed on 6/7/2011 - they will continue to remain in detention if the Minister's Detention order has been issued. [The detention for the 1st 60 days is by the police, and the court can look at the reasons for detention - and if not justified, can release the 6] 

Now, the police and the government can arrest and detain persons for long time, depriving the individual of their freedom - and there should really be provisions for monetary compensation for the deprivation of liberty... if there is, then the police and the government will not use this power of detention arbitrarily and unnecessarily .... 

R Release immediately and unconditionally Kumar Devaraj, Saras, Chon Kai,  Sukumaran, Letchumanan, Sarat Babu and all others currently being detained in Malaysia under Detention Without Trial laws. Repeal all Detention Without Trial Laws - more than enough normal laws that could be used that will guarantee the right to a fair trial.

PSM detainee: I have everything except freedom

Kuek Ser Kuang Keng
Jul 15, 11

4:09pm  All six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) were allowed to meet their family members and lawyers for the second time today, but for just 15 minutes.

According to the those who visited them, the six were physically well, but suffered mental torture in the form of repeated long-hour interrogation on matters not related to the offence they are accused of.

“He is physically okay and in high spirits. He has everything, except freedom,” said Wong Pei Chin (left), girlfriend of PSM central committee member Choo Chon Kai.

“He is detained in a 2m x 2.5m cell and sleeps on the floor. He is not someone who will complain about this kind of environment. The only thing he desires now is freedom.”

The 23-year-old safety officer said she felt like crying when police stopped her meeting with Choo after 15 minutes.

“I hope he can be released as soon as possible. He still has many things yet to accomplish,” Wong added.

Together with PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan and the lawyers for te PSM 6, the family members called a press conference in Kuala Lumpur after visiting the six late this morning.

Arutchelvan said the six, dubbed 'PSM6', were detained in different police stations and that police had rejected their requests to be kept in one location, making the action to get their signatures on their affidavits more difficult.

The lawyers, and two commissioners of oath, were forced to rush from one police station to another to get the detainees to sign the affidavits, which are necessary for their habeas corpus application.

They managed to get all the signatures, except that of Sungai Siput PSM branch secretary A Letchumanan. The application will be first heard next Friday, Arutchelvan (right) added.

During the press conference, J Raveen Veerase, son of Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar, said his father, who had earlier been hospitalised because of heart palpitations, is in stable condition.

"He did not have much complaint except that the light of the cell was switched on all night long and the toilet was very dirty."

K Indran, 40, younger brother of M Sukumaran, said his brother was mentally tortured by four to five policemen, who repeatedly interrogated him on the same questions, sometimes up to five hours continuously.

"He broke into tears immediately upon seeing us. We were all very sad. He was confined alone in the cell and could not hear what was happening next door," Indran (left) said.

K Gunasegaran, 47, relative to PSM deputy chairperson M Saraswathy, also complained that Saraswathy was subjected to hours-long interrogation, twice a day.

"She was asked the same questions over and over again. She told the police, 'if I had committed any offence, charge me, don't try to tarnish the good name of PSM'," Gunasegaran said.

Saraswathy also complained of chest pains, but she was not given any medication, her niece N Sasintharadevi said.

The mother of PSM Youth leader Sarat Babu said her son was suffering from recurring headaches because of the interrogation.

"He just cannot take the torture... he hopes he can be released by end of this month."

With tears welling in his eyes, the 19-year-old son of Letchumanan, L Devanthiran (left), appealed to the government to release his father as soon as possible.

"My dad has many responsibilities. He needs to take care of his business. Now, my mother is taking care of it for him because my sister and I need to study.

"We can't do anything without our father," Devanthiran said, adding that he was praying for the father, who has become his 'hero'.

The family will join the family members of the other detainees and PSM members and supporters in a 'picnic' in front of the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters later today as a silent protest.

"What else can they do when their family members are detained?" Arutchelvan said. - Malaysiakini, 15/7/2011, PSM detainee: I have everything except freedom