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Change Your Life! |
Anwar supporters vow to march |
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News
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April 15, 2000
KUALA LUMPUR, APR 14 (AP) - Authorities began arresting opposition leaders before dawn Friday and riot police, some toting machine guns, hit the streets in an apparent attempt to prevent a rally in support of jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim.
At least three opposition leaders were arrested and police said they had orders to arrest another four, described as the main organizers of a rally on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of Anwar's conviction on charges of abuse of power.
The government says the protest must be blocked to prevent violence.
Organizers said the demonstration would be a peaceful protest of the High Court ruling that sent the former deputy prime minister to prison for six years. Anwar says the charges against him were trumped up to end his chances of becoming prime minister.
"We hope that the government will not create a confrontation. We hope they will be open-minded enough," said Tian Chua, vice president of the opposition National Justice Party headed by Anwar's wife, Azizah Ismail. Tian was one of the leaders police wanted to arrest.
Azizah was not planning to attend the rally because she has the flu, an aide said. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's administration has vowed to stop the rally, by force if necessary.
Mahathir's critics say Malaysia's ruler for 18 years is trying to crush dissent and intimidate his opponents with a huge show of force.
The government began curbing anti-government newspapers earlier this year and prosecuted several opposition figures on charges of sedition. Last month, authorities announced a blanket ban on public rallies.
Mahathir sacked Anwar in September 1998 and later ordered his arrest.
From a courtroom where he is on trial for allegedly sodomizing his former family driver, Anwar accused authorities on Thursday of muzzling his supporters with an unnecessary show of force.
Huge protests followed Anwar's arrest last year, and Mahathir's United Malays National Organization party lost a chunk of support to the opposition during national elections in November.
Police have warned of stern treatment - arrest and prosecution - for those who join the protest, which was expected to commence at the city's main mosque and culminate in a march to the king's palace to demand an end to Mahathir's rule.
On Friday, dozens of blue police trucks lined up in a downtown square and a truck fitted with a water cannon, used in the past to spray chemicals on protesters, was parked nearby.
Police armed with machine guns patrolled nearby commuter train stations and shopping malls in an obvious attempt to intimidate those planning on joining the protest.
Opposition activists said police erected roadblocks on highways to prevent people from other parts of Malaysia from joining the protest.
A senior Justice Party official, Ruslan Kassim, was arrested before dawn and later brought to a magistrate's court, which ordered him returned to jail for a week for investigation.
Opposition activists said they expected more arrests.
"It appears to be preventive," said Ruslan's lawyer, Sankara Nair. "This is the first time someone has been detained for instigating protests that have yet to occur."
Two other Justice Party officials, Mohamed Ezam Nor and Gobalan Krishnan, were also arrested, the national news agency Bernama said.
The rally will be a legitimate protest by people angered by last year's judgment, said Chandra Muzaffar, Justice's deputy leader. "It is something that happens in every democracy."
Mahathir is trying to regain his hold by "crushing the opposition," Chandra said.
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