Teresa Kok's release from her ISA detention Friday (19 Sept) comes hot on the heels of international protests. The Associated Press in a despatch from Washington, said the United States strongly criticised Malaysia's government Thursday (18 Sept) for its use of a harsh security law to justify the arrests of opposition figures.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack referred in a special statement to a possibility that the law might be used again by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government to quell dissent.

"The United States views with grave concern recent use by the government of Malaysia of the Internal Security Act and the possibility that it might be used again to detain opposition political figures," McCormack said. "The statement by a government figure that a leading member of the opposition had become 'a threat to the economy and national security' is extremely troubling."

The report said opposition dissent over Abdullah's leadership has caused a climate of political insecurity in Malaysia. An opposition lawmaker, two journalists and at least one Internet blogger critical of the government have been arrested under the security act, which allows indefinite detention without charges.

"The United States firmly believes that national security laws, such as the ISA, must not be used to curtail or inhibit the exercise of universal democratic liberties or the peaceful expression of political views. The detention of opposition leaders under the ISA would be viewed by the United States and the international community as a fundamental infringement of democratic rights and values," McCormack said, according to AP.

Meanwhile, People's Empowerment, a Thai NGO has also joined the chorus of worldwide appeals against the ISA detentions. "The use of the ISA by Malaysian Government is both a violation of the Malaysian Constitution and the ASEAN Charter, as well as international law," said Chalida Tajaroensuk, director of People's Empowerment in a statement released in Bangkok.

Use of draconian measures under the ISA are permitted only under the most grave threats to public security, and not for silencing legitimate political activity and protected free speech, People's Empowerment said.

"In light of this grave breach, People's Empowerment calls on the ASEAN Secretariat to take immediate action in order to secure the release of the remaining two detainees. Such violations of basic rights and norms, no longer remain a matter of "internal affairs" but affect all ASEAN member States."

"We can not remain indifferent to the persecution of civil society in any ASEAN State. Civil society across the region must take a stand to uphold rule of law and good governance in Southeast Asia", People's Empowerment said and called for solidarity and support of the detained.

Thursday, an Indoensian coalition called "Barisan Indonesia For Civil and Political Right" sent a protest to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar against the arrest of blogger Raka Petra Kamaruddin, journlaists Tan Hoon Cheng (who has since been released) and MP Teresa Kok.

It told the minister that the use of the ISA to silenced protests is a violation and contrary the gaurantee of such rights in a democracy.

The protest note was signed by a long list of writers, journalsist, activists and NGO leades, among which is Goenawan Mohamad, who is considered doyen of the Indoensian press.

Following the ISA arrests and show cause letters to three publications last week, the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demanded an immediate release of the three.

"Fears a growing clampdown against the media is under way in Malaysia, with two journalists arrested on 12 Sept under the Internal Security Act (ISA)," it said.

The National Union of Journaliats Malaysia, whichis an affiliate of IFJ, said Tan's arrest was "a high-handed action" that had "severely tarnished the Government's promise to promote greater media freedom and reforms".

It called on IFJ affiliates and defenders of press freedom to send a letter to Malaysian embassies and high commissions in their respective countries to protest the use of the ISA against journalists and media workers in Malaysia.

"The clampdown on independent media voices in Malaysia is clearly intended to intimidate the Malaysian media and prevent it reporting diverse political perspectives that displease power-holders," IFJ said.

"The use of legal frameworks such as the ISA to detain journalists and media workers for the content of their reports is a bullying tactic to enforce media silence and compliance at a time of political volatility in Malaysia. These efforts to restrict independent reporting and the free flow of information must not be tolerated," it added. (By BOB TEOH/ Mysinchew)