[asia-apec 692] Newsflash on malaysia (fwd)

[David Webster]

Dear friends, 

Having seen nothing on this list about turmoil in malaysia, i'm reposting
an item from the act-indonesia list. Any info from the organizers of
events planned for this year, and/or advice on how outsiders can be of
help if that would be useful, would be very valuable.... 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 23 Sep 1998 05:06:29
From: tapol at gn.apc.org
Reply-To: "Conference act.indonesia" <indonesia-act at igc.org>
To: Recipients of indonesia-act <indonesia-act at igc.org>
Subject: Newsflash on malaysia

From: tapol at gn.apc.org (TAPOL)

newsflash on malaysia


Subject: Political Crisis

POLITICAL CRISIS - SOME THOUGHTS!

Events that have transpired since the dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim from
the government and the Party are a cause of great concern.  On Saturday,
Sukma and Munawar were charged and sentenced; on Sunday a huge crowd
participated in a rally at the Dataran Merdeka and on Sunday night
crowds protested at the PWTC and attempted to march on to Sri Perdana.
On Sunday night Anwar was arrested under the ISA and ISA detentions of
others associated with the Reformation Movement continue to take place.
On Monday the police despite the use of teargas, water cannons and
several charges were unable to disperse crowds that gathered at the
Courts from 9. 00 am till about 4.30 pm.


How are we to view what is taking place?

1. Anwar has been vilified  in both the print media and the electronic
media.  Despite this he has much sympathy at the popular level - as has
been demonstrated by large crowds at rallies that have taken place
throughout the country.  Nothing more clearly demonstrates this sympathy
and unhappiness with what is going on than the huge crowds that turned
up for the rally at the Masjid Negara and the Dataran Merdeka.

It is important to note that 10s of thousands of Malaysians were
prepared to participate in an "illegal" gathering and "break the law" in
a place where there was obviously going to be a heavy police presence. 
More importantly this outpouring of support for Anwar came in the wake
of Saturday's guilty pleas by Sukma and Muniwar.  These 10s of thousands
were demonstrating their total disregard and lack of faith in what had
been "determined" in the courts. 

2. What we saw taking place on Sunday night at the PWTC and Sri Perdana
and on Monday morning at the courts cannot be viewed as a problem of
"law and order".  People participate in "illegal" assemblies and in
processions at great risk to life and liberty.  They would not do this
if they did not feel strongly about what is taking place.    

What happened  was merely a symptom of the frustration that is felt by
many people at the way in which Anwar is being treated; in particular
the way in which the media has been manipulated and used and the way in
which the police appear to be partisan.  Many people are also frustrated
because they believe the courts to be biased and not a place where they
can get justice.

3. This feeling of unhappiness is now compounded with the use of the ISA
against people involved in the Reformation Movement and the brutal way
in which the protesters were put down on Monday at the courts.  

Perhaps some explanation needs to be made about what took place on
Monday.  There were no clashes or street battle - this word conjures up
the impression that the crowd is attacking the police or fighting back. 
All that took place was people spontaneously trying to demonstrate their
unhappiness with what is taking place.  The people were peaceful and
unarmed.  All that they did was to stand around and chant slogans.  In
response they were subjected to tear gas, water cannons and police
charges.  The more unfortunate members who had gathered there were
beaten up, kicked and dragged off. 

The crowd responded to all this violence in a completely non violent
manner. They responded by running, hiding and then regrouping.  For them
what was important was that they be allowed to continue to make their
presence felt and to do this for long as possible.

4. Who is to be blamed when people lose faith in the system?  When
people have a complete lack of trust and faith in those institutions of
state that are supposed to uphold justice - the police, the AG's office
and the judiciary - who is to be blamed?  The answer is fairly obvious -
the Executive - or more specifically the political elite.


WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

There are some who continue to view the situation as nothing more than a
political struggle between Mahathir and Anwar.  Both they argue are two
sides of the same coin.  Fine, if you feel this way then stay out of it. 

It is better to stay out of it than to write articles or make statements
that will in anyway support and endorse the Prime Minister in what he is
doing to the Country!

If you however feel that something has to be done and some kind of
position needs to be taken then these are some of the things that we can
campaign on. Groups and individuals will have to decide for themselves
how far they want to go.  In any event to work on #1 alone or #1 and #2
only or #1, #2 and #3 will be infinitely  better than not doing anything
at all.  

1. We have to deplore the use of the ISA.  We have to demand that ISA
detentions cease and all those who have been detained are released
immediately and unconditionally.  The use of the ISA to crush the
Reformation Movement just lends credence to the allegation made by Anwar
that there is a "political conspiracy" at work.  The ISA must be
repealed.

2. We have to deplore the use of force and violence by the police
against crowds that gather to show their support of Anwar and
frustration against what has been happening.  Let us remember that these
so called "mobs" are simply our fellow Malaysians who have all these
years not seen the need to take the risk of taking to the streets and
breaking the law.  We must urge restraint on behalf of the police and
condemn any unwarranted violence perpetuated by the police.

3. Perhaps we should call for the conducting of fair trials, or a Royal
Commission or the setting up of a independent Parliamentay Committee to
address what has happened. But will any of these, in the present
climate, function in a neutral, independent and non partisan manner?
This is the problem in making such a call. I do however believe that
making such a call is better than not saying anything at all.  

But perhaps it is now also time to become more direct in our approach. 
Somebody has to be held accountable for the manipulation of the media
and the eroding of all the institutions of state - from the Police and
the AG's office to the Judiciary. When more than 50,000 people can
gather peacefully in Dataran Merdeka and call on the PM to resign,
perhaps this is a call that we should also consider making.

The speed in which events have taken place over the past few weeks is
truly amazing.  I don't think that we have the luxury of  waiting for
things to "settle down" before we decide to take a position and act.  I
think that based on what information we have, we can already in our own
small way make a limited response.

The way in which the media can be manipulated and used, the complete
lack of independence of the institutions of state are not new issues to
many of us in the NGO movement.  But what we have seen taking place is
the acceptance of these ideas at the popular level.  At the popular
level, there is a great reaction and revulsion to the way in which Anwar
has been treated.  

It is now time for us to do our little 2 cents worth!  If not now then
when?



Rajen & Stephanie
22 September, 1998

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