Activist tells of lock-up ordeal after entry blocked by Malaysia
A Hong Kong human rights activist claimed yesterday she was deported from Malaysia after being thrown into an airport lock-up for almost 14 hours without food or water.
Mabel Au Mei-po said she was given no explanation for her treatment but suspects it may have been because her fiance is a political activist imprisoned in Malaysia.
Ms Au, 33, was detained by immigration officers when she arrived at Kuala Lumpur airport from Bangkok on Friday night to visit her fiance, Gian Chua Tian-chang, 39, vice-president of the National Justice Party (Keadilan).
Ms Au, who is based in Bangkok with the Committee for Asian Women, a non-governmental organisation, was trying to visit Chua at the Kemunting detention camp.
'An immigration officer told me the computer showed a 'security reason' as why I was not allowed to enter but they would not explain why,' she said. 'He told me I was on 'the list'. I don't know what it means but I'm sure they've blacklisted me. I was allowed to make one brief call to my fiance's sister who was waiting to pick me up, but I was not allowed to call my lawyer.'
Of the airport lock-up, she said: 'It was freezing. There were no chairs or bed, and a toilet with no doors. There were about 20 women in two rooms who all had to sleep on cardboard. I was shocked to see a pregnant woman and children.'
Keadilan's youth vice-chief, Low Chee Chong, said it would lodge a report with the officially appointed Human Rights Commission of Malaysia today. 'Denying Au a meeting with Tian is torture. We demand her right to meet Tian,' he said.
In April, six supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, including Chua, were detained for up to two years under the Internal Security Act.
Ms Au will present a complaints letter to the Malaysian Consulate in Hong Kong tomorrow. Malaysian Consul Ahmad Rasidi Hadivi did not return calls yesterday.
