Malaysia jitters over pro-Anwar rally

Anwar says Mahathir's government made up graft and sex charges against him

In this story: National security Controversial law 'Reformasi' challenge Critical year RELATED STORIES, SITES

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A rally in support of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim is to go ahead despite a string of arrests of opposition activists.

The Black 14th of April rally commemorates the first guilty verdict handed down on Anwar, who has been sentenced to15 years jail on sex and corruption charges.

Speaking to CNN on the eve of the rally, Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said she was set to present a memorandum to Malaysia's human rights commission (SUHAKAM) protesting the continued detention of her husband and the alleged misuse of public funds to bail out crony companies.

Anwar has said the charges against him were fabricated to thwart his political challenge to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Wan Azizah, who formed the opposition group Parti Keadilan Nasional (National Justice Party), stressed that she was not leading Saturday's demonstration.

Wan Azizah formed the National Justice Party after her husband was jailed

"I am leading … parliamentarians and NGO's (non-government organizations)" in presenting the memorandum to the SUHAKAM, which is likely to attract outside support and media attention.

Wan Azizah has also been pleading for the urgent release of Anwar for back surgery abroad, after a police beating in jail.

Mahathir has accused Anwar of using a bad back for political gain.

Mahathir expected the foreign media to criticize his latest move.

"The foreign media will bash at us. They have never said anything good about us even if we are very nice. So we have a duty to our people, our country. They can go and fry their faces."

National security

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has justified the arrest of opposition activists in the name of national security, citing a police report that they were carrying explosives.

"The police have decided we are not going to deal with this huge demonstration on so-called Black 14th of April because such demonstrations invariably result in violence and we don't know what kind of damage will be done."

Mahathir has seen the power of mass protests in the Philippines and Indonesia and apparently has no intention of letting it happen in Malaysia.

However, Wan Azizah doubted the government had any proof and called its accusation "hearsay."

"We have not advocated violence at all .. Where is the evidence ? … Then they should have been charged in court."

Controversial law

Mahathir invoked the British-era Internal Security Act (ISA) to justify the indefinite detention of activists without charges.

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail called the ISA "barbaric" and an "atrocious act that denied detainees access to family or counsel."

She added that the government's "oppressive move" was meant to curb growing support for the opposition.

Human rights and legal organizations have joined opposition parties in condemning the use of the ISA.

Lawyers of some of the jailed activists have filed writs of habeas corpus, demanding the detainees be presented in court to plead charges.

'Reformasi' challenge

Mahathir has been stung by efforts by people in the 'reformasi' movement, seeking political change, to make a hero out of Anwar.

"The government wants the appearance that reformasi is dead. But every time it says it's over, something happens to show it's not," opposition front spokesman Rustam Sani said.

Last week, thousands turned up at the funeral of Anwar's mother, where Anwar cut a sorry sight, in mourning under guard and wheelchair-bound with a bad back.

The country's ethnic majority Malays remain deeply split over the plight of Anwar.

Critical year

Raja Petra Kamaruddin, editor of the Free Anwar Campaign website and among those locked up, told the Singapore Straits Times in March: "We are becoming more hardline. If they throw teargas at us, our people are going to pick it up and throw it back."

Raja Petra also said 2001 was the year to oust Mahathir.

In late February, Anwar's former aide Keadilan Youth Wing leader Ezam Mohd Noor, the most high-profile among those arrested, laid out the opposition's strategy for a year he regarded as critical for Mahathir's future.

Ezam said if the opposition applied enough pressure, members of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) will fret over ebbing support and could turn against Mahathir.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Malaysian PM defends arrests
12 April 2001
Doctor supports surgery abroad for Anwar
April 7, 2001

Office of the Malaysian Prime Minister
Free Anwar Campaign

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