Mahathir cracks down on Malaysian opposition
The Malaysian government has begun an attack on opposition groups. The United Malays National Organisation/National Front government of Prime Minister Mahathir is arresting leaders of opposition groups and is attempting to close down opposition newspapers.
These attacks are aimed at discouraging popular protests against corruption and to stop Malaysian workers and democratic rights activists from organising independent campaigns. It is feared that they may be the beginning of a wider attack against all opposition groups, and against remaining democratic rights in Malaysia.
The following people have been arrested: Mohamed Ezam Mohd Noor, Parti KeADILan youth chief, arrested on charges of sedition under Official Secrets Act, presumably for writing articles against government corruption; Karpal Singh, Democratic Action Party MP, lawyer to jailed ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, arrested for comments made in court alleging an attempt to poison Anwar; Zulkifli Sulong, Harakah editor, arrested under the Sedition Act; Chia Lim Thye, owner of the company that prints Harakah, arrested under the Sedition Act; and Marina Yusof, Parti KeADILan vice-president, arrested on charges of sedition.
Police have issued reports against the newspapers Utusan Malaysia and Harakah.
Protest statements have been issued by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance Reporters and the Sans Frontieres Committee to Protect Journalists. Messages of solidarity can be sent to: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), 383, 1st floor, Jalan 5/59 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Fax 60 3 7784 3526. E-mail <suaram@geocities.com>. Web site <http://www.suaram.org> or <http://www.c2o.org/mirrors/suaram/>. For more information, visit <http://www.malaysia.net/aliran> and <http://www.malaysiakini.com>.
[From Australia Asia Worker Links, <aawl@ozramp.net.au>.]