Q.C. to observe

Press, 23 November 1987, Page 6

Q.C. to observe

The Christchurch lawyer and Queen’s Counsel, Mr Barrie Atkinson, will be an International observer in a Malaysian court today when nine detainees challenge the grounds for their arrest. The nine are among more than 100 detainees held under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act after recent mass arrests by the Government Another New Zealander, a senior law lecturer at Victoria University, Dr Andrew Ladley, and observers from the United States, Australia and Europe will also attend the hearing. Filing writs of habeas corpus was the only legal recourse open to persons held under the Internal

5 Security Act to challenge i- the .grounds for their ari, rest, said a Christchurch 1 spokesman for the Emer- » gency > Committee for a Human Rights In Malays sia, Mr -John Boanas. „ ' The hearing today B would* be a crucial test * case for Malaysia apd 5 would provide the first r details of the Govern--3 ment’s case against the detainees, he said. » If the detainees were . successful in their appeal they would be released, I said Mr Boanas. I The arrests began at I the end of October, inwhat Government officials > said was an effort to reI duce racial tension bei tween Malays and ethnic I Chinese.