BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS
Tian Chua was detained by Malaysian authorities on April 10 under the Internal Security Act which has been in force in that country since 1960. Under the ISA, the Mahathir government is empowered to jail any person without trial for up to two years. The act has been used liberally against opponents of the repressive regime.
Tian was detained by security forces following the "Black 14" commemorative demonstration, held each year around the anniversary of the sentencing of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Tian was not present at the 2001 commemoration.
Following a seven-day interrogation, Tian was charged with offences relating to other (illegal) gatherings. The charges have not been followed through with, and more recently have been dropped. Yet, under the provisions of the ISA, Tian still remains in jail.
Tian Chua was one of the organisers of the 1999 "people's power" demonstration at Anwar's sentencing in Kuala Lumpur on April 14, 1999.
In a letter from prison written in October, Tian says of this protest, "The intention of the people's mass gathering was nothing but to proclaim 'Rakyat Hakim Negara' — the people are the judges!"
"Such a proclamation was obviously provocative to the ears of the dictator. The spontaneous and peaceful display of people's concern was met with violent suppression from the police.
"The pronouncement of Anwar's nine-year sentence marked another dark day in Malaysian legal history. Coupled with massive arrests and suppression of peaceful protesters, the day revealed the naked repressive nature of Mahathir's regime. Thus this day was appropriately called the 'Black 14'."
Tian was assaulted by police at the protest as he sat in front of water cannon aimed at demonstrators. He was later detained, charged with the farcical crime of "attempted suicide". Tian was detained for a short period following the 2000 commemoration of Black 14, which also met severe repression from the Malaysian security apparatus.
Prior to his arrest, Tian was an organiser of the Labour Resource Centre and had a long history of organising workers in Malaysia. Tian was also a vice-president of the National Justice Party.
During the mid-1980s, Tian Chua was a student activist in Australia. As an overseas student Tian was a strong opponent of the Hawke government's introduction of fees — both visa charges for international students in 1985, but also the introduction of the $250 fee for Australian-based students in 1986.
As a leader of NOSCA, the National Overseas Student Collective in Australia, Tian also distinguished himself as a leader of a mass student protest in Sydney against fees on March 25, 1987. Tian was a leader of the protest, including the occupation of the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme office at the end of the rally.
[The Australian solidarity campaign for Tian Chua and other activists being detained without trial under the ISA is being coordinated by Australian Asia Worker Links (AAWL) in Melbourne. Letters of support can be sent to Tian Chua at Kamunting Detention Centre, Taiping, Perak, Malaysia. AAWL can be contacted at <aawl@ozramp.net.au>.]
From Green Left Weekly, December 5, 2001.
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