KAMUNTING: Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees M. Manoharan, K. Vasantha Kumar and P. Uthayakumar have been released from the Kamunting detention camp.
Manoharan and Vasantha Kumar, leaders from the banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) left the camp at 2.30pm in umarked cars.
Twenty minutes later, Uthayakumar left the camp.
K. Vasantha Kumar left the Kamunting detention camp in a car.
Lawyer Uthayakumar who left in a family member's car, later stopped by the roadside, to speak to the press.
The Hindraf legal adviser, who thanked his friends and supporters but not the government (because ISA still in force), added that he would not adhere to conditions set for his release but did not say what the conditions were.
Earlier, several ISA detainees were also believed to have been released from the Kamunting detention camp.
The first batch were seen leaving in an Immigration Department van at about 12.40pm on Saturday while more left in an unmarked van which was accompanied by four cars about 40 minutes later.
Meanwhile, IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan confirmed that all 13 ISA detainees slated to be released were being freed Saturday.
Hindraf leader P.Uthayakumar waving to his supporters shortly before he was released from the Kamunting detention camp.
The six local ISA detainees were being released with conditions. If they flouted any condition, they would be hauled back in, he said.
The other three locals are Zulkepli Marzuki, Jeknal Adil and Admi Pindatun.
The seven foreigners have been handed to the Immigration Department for deportation to their respective countries.
It is learnt that five of them are alleged Abu Sayaff members while the others are suspected Darul Islamiah members.
The foreigners are two Indonesian nationals - Zainun Rasyid and Aboud Ghafar Shahril - and five Filipinos - Sufian Salih, Hasim Talib, Abdul Jamal Azahari, Yusof Mohd Salam and Husin Alih.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had announced on Friday that 13 ISA detainees would be released soon.
On Saturday, several family members of the Hindraf leaders were also present at the camp.
Among them were K. Vasantha Kumar’s mother, R. Manomani 62 and his sister K. Parameswari, 37 and P. Uthayakumar’s fiancee S. Indradevi.
“I am very relieved and very happy. I have a flu but I had to come and see my son,” said a tearful Manomani.
Press members, meanwhile, started gathering outside the camp as early as 8am.
Two Hindraf leaders V. Ganabatirau and R. Kengadharan were among another 13 detainees released in the first batch announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when delivering his maiden speech as Prime Minister on the night of April 3.
Star Online
09/05/09
No comments:
Post a Comment