Malaysia and Indonesia<\/p>\n
Having imprisoned his longtime deputy on questionable charges
\nand secured reelection for his ruling party on equally
\nquestionable laws and methods, the prime minister of Malaysia is
\nnow extending his anti-democratic crackdown. Last week his
\ngovernment hauled into court the editor of an opposition
\nnewspaper, a lawyer for the jailed deputy and several other
\nopposition leaders.<\/p>\n
They were charged with various forms of sedition, which is to
\nsay, with making statements displeasing to Prime Minister
\nMahathir bin Mohamad. To criticism from Amnesty International and
\nothers, a Mahathir loyalist responded with the age-old retort of
\ndictators defending the indefensible: \"It is not up to
\ninternational bodies to decide how we should administer our
\nlaws.\"<\/p>\n
Mr. Mahathir is following a classic plot line, but its
\nramifications are particularly sad in Malaysia's case, given that
\ncountry's successful postcolonial history. The long-ruling
\nautocrat unwilling to tolerate thoughts of succession, the
\nturning on a protege who gains too much popularity, increasing
\nisolation and intolerance -- all this has played out many times
\nbefore. But in Malaysia it seems far from inevitable.<\/p>\n
Perhaps Mr. Mahathir looks across the narrow strait to his
\nsouth at Indonesia's perilous passage to democracy, and trembles.
\nThere a newly elected president is bravely confronting a host of
\nproblems, how to tame a military long accustomed to excessive
\npower, how to accommodate regional demands for autonomy while
\nkeeping the country together and more. But Indonesia's challenges
\nare grave precisely because its longtime dictator, president
\nSoeharto, for so long repressed any independent political action
\nor civic organization.<\/p>\n
Mr. Mahathir may postpone Malaysia's day of reckoning, perhaps
\neven until after his own death. But the more repressive his
\nbehavior now, the more difficult for his country that eventual
\nreckoning will be.<\/p>\n
-- The Washington Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-and-indonesia-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }