[asia-apec 725] Amnesty International - Statement on Malaysia

[jkellock at amnesty.org]

AI INDEX: ASA 28/26/98News Service 189/98
29 SEPTEMBER 1998 -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


MALAYSIA:  Anwar?s ill-treatment in custody raises serious concern

Amnesty International today condemned the reported severe ill-treatment of
former
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim while in detention, and
reiterated its
call on Prime Minister Mahathir to release him, and other prisoners of
conscience held
under the Internal Security Act (ISA), immediately and unconditionally.

     The organization also expressed serious concern about eye-witness
testimony of
beatings of detained pro-reform protesters

     Reports that Anwar had been severely beaten while blindfolded and
handcuffed, and
denied access to a doctor for five days heighten concern for the safety of
at least 16 of his
political associates who continue to be denied access to lawyers and their
families.

     "Anwar?s treatment at the hands of the police shows the government?s
blatant disregard
for basic human rights.  If a high-profile figure can be subjected to such
treatment, we fear for the
safety of those who are not so well known and who continue to be denied
access to lawyers and
their families," Amnesty International said.

     "Prime Minister Mahathir must order an immediate investigation into
these reports and
bring those responsible to justice. He must also allow all detainees held
under the ISA immediate
access to lawyers, medical personnel and families -- in line with
international legal standards."

     "The continuing arrest of Anwar? associates under the ISA, which was
also cited to deny
Anwar bail after he was charged today with the bailable offences of
?unnatural sex acts? and
corruption, reinforces Amnesty International?s belief that this is a
politically motivated prosecution,"
the organization argued.

     "News that the two Anwar associates recently sentenced to six months
in jail for ?allowing
Anwar to sodomize them? have retracted their confessions saying they were
not given voluntarily,
is yet another indication that the charges against Anwar have no real
basis."

     Under the Malaysian penal code homosexual acts between consenting
adults are
deemed to be "against the order of nature" and punishable by up to 20
years? imprisonment and
whipping.  Amnesty International is also calling for the immediate and
unconditional release of
prisoners of conscience Sukma Darmawan and Munawar Ahmad Aness  -- the
Anwar associates
jailed for six months for sodomy.