Malaysia arrests 10 for 'terrorism'

Asian Defense News: KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - – Malaysia said Wednesday it had arrested 10 people including nine foreigners for "acts of terrorism", saying they were members of an international terror outfit and threatened national security.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the 10 were being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
"I can confirm that 10 people have been arrested under the ISA for acts of terrorism," he told a press conference.
"They are internationally linked and will affect the security of our country if we do not take action," he said. "We have worked with international intelligence organisations in this operation."
Hishammuddin said that "all 10 are involved in international terrorism" but would not reveal whether they had planned or carried out attacks. He also declined to say when and where they were arrested.
Neither would he say which intelligence organisations had helped in the arrests, but said that "if they are with an international terror organisation and if they are caught in Malaysia, then we will take action on them."
Malaysia's controversial ISA has been used in the past against alleged militants, including members of regional terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) which is linked to Al-Qaeda.
Government officials said there were now 25 people, including the 10 new detainees, being held under the ISA. Detainees are typically held at the Kamunting detention centre in the northern state of Perak.
The ISA dates back to the British colonial era when it was originally designed to be used against communist insurgents.
But it has also been used to muzzle government opponents, and in 2007 five ethnic Indian rights activists were detained for organising anti-government protests, and held for almost two years.
Rights activists condemned the new detentions and said that suspected militants should face the normal justice system.
"We oppose the new arrests. We are against detention without trial and the use of ISA on these 10 individuals. We want the government to charge or release them," said E. Nalini, coordinator of the Abolish ISA Movement.
"If the government has evidence that they pose a threat to national security, please bring them to court and put them through an open trial, don't use ISA on Malaysian citizen or any other individuals."
In September last year, five alleged JI members were released from ISA detention. The government said they had been rehabilitated after spending between two and seven years behind bars without trial.
AFP - Thursday, January 28