The South China Morning Post, HK 12th April 2001

Seven held on suspicion of planning anti-government protests ahead of Anwar anniversary In the largest clampdown this year on anti-government activists, police said yesterday they had arrested seven people on suspicion of organising demonstrations against Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's Government.

Police chief Norian Mai said six of the seven were officials of Keadilan (the National Justice Party), and all were being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which empowers police to detain people indefinitely without trial.

Keadilan leaders said the crackdown was an attempt to stifle political dissent and stem criticism of Dr Mahathir.

Asked how many more people would be held, Mr Norian replied: "That's a secret."

Rights groups yesterday criticised the arrests.

A police statement said the seven "Reformasi" (reform) supporters were detained on Tuesday and yesterday "because there was information about their involvement in an activity which could endanger the security of the country".

It said they planned to launch "large-scale street demonstrations in a militant way ahead of the 2004 [next general] elections".

The arrests were timed to derail weekend protest meetings to mark "Black 14" - the second anniversary of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sentencing on April 14, 1999, to six years' jail for abuse of power.

The activists' wives angrily protested against the arrests, saying: "Our loved ones have disappeared into thin air." The arrests were a severe violation of basic rights, they said in a letter to the government-appointed National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam). The commission expressed "deep regrets" over the detentions and called for the men's immediate release. "The present crackdown is cause for concern," it said after a special meeting.

The ISA, a colonial relic designed to defeat a communist rebellion, allows indefinite detention without trial. "It's a draconian law which they are using to stifle dissent," said Chandra Muzaffar, deputy president of Keadilan, which is headed by Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Ismail. "Keadilan has been singled out [in the arrests] in an attempt to crush the party."

The police statement named the seven as Keadilan youth-wing leader Ezam Mohamad Noor, 34; his deputy, N. Gopalapkrishan, 41; Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, 37; Saari Sungip, 43, a member of its policy-making council; activists Hishamuddin Rais, 50, and Abdul Ghani Haroon, 36; and Raja Petra Kamarudin, 49, director of the FreeAnwar Campaign.

Police suspect they are part of a 20-member secret society that has allegedly been planning to topple the Government through street demonstrations.

"Between January 6 and April 4, 2001, a total of 12 secret meetings have been held by this group with plans to influence the people to cultivate militant-style street demonstrations and illegal gatherings," Mr Norian claimed. Anwar's supporters had tried in the past to buy explosives and weapons for street protests, he said. The focus of the group, he said, was Saturday's demonstration over Anwar's continued imprisonment. "They plan to gather 50,000 people. The gathering and the procession has the potential to transform into a riot," he said.

This is the first widespread use of the ISA against political figures since Anwar and numerous supporters were detained in September, 1998. Mr Norian said the arrests were "purely a police action". But opposition leaders said they suspected Dr Mahathir himself ordered the crackdown, saying his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, earlier appeared unaware that the ISA was being used.

Last week, the veteran premier accused opposition parties and their "foreign sympathisers" of trying to topple his Government through street violence. He said the Government was ready to break from "so-called international norms" to preserve peace.

Dr Mahathir's former protege, Anwar is serving a total of 15 years in jail after being convicted in separate trials of abuse of power and sodomy. Anwar says he was framed on Dr Mahathir's orders because he was seen as posing a political threat to him. Dr Mahathir says he sacked Anwar in September 1998 for immorality and denies interfering in the judicial process.

Opposition supporters planned to gather outside the city office of the national human rights commission on "Black 14" to present a memorandum on Anwar's case.

But, speaking at a ceremony at which four police water cannon were brought into service, Mr Norian said the planned gathering had been declared illegal.

Police launched a massive operation to derail "Black 14" protests last year, setting up roadblocks, mounting helicopter flights and posting armed officers at train stations.