Malaysian police arrest seven rival supporters<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysian police confirmed on
\nWednesday they have arrested seven opposition supporters under
\nthe draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) and said more arrests
\nwould be made.<\/p>\n
Asked how many more people would be arrested, the national
\npolice chief Norian Mai told a press conference: \"That's a
\nsecret.\"<\/p>\n
Norian, reading a statement, said the seven \"Reformasi\"
\n(reform) supporters were detained on Tuesday and Wednesday
\n\"because there was information about their involvement in an
\nactivity which could endanger the security of the country.\"<\/p>\n
He said they planned to launch \"large-scale street
\ndemonstrations in a militant way ahead of the 2004 elections.\"
\nThe ISA allows indefinite detention without trial.<\/p>\n
Supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim planned
\nto present a memorandum on his treatment to the human rights
\ncommission on Saturday, April 14.<\/p>\n
They call the date \"Black 14\" since it marks the second
\nanniversary of Anwar's sentencing on April 14, 1999, for abuse of
\npower.<\/p>\n
Norian said the event could have turned into a riot.
\nFrom Jan. 6 to April 4, he said, some 20 activists had held 12
\nsecret meetings to persuade the public to take part in militant
\nstreet demonstrations.<\/p>\n
\"They plan to gather 50,000 people. The gathering and the
\nprocession has the potential to transform into a riot,\" the
\npolice chief said.<\/p>\n
Norian said activists were prepared to carry out activities
\noutside the constitution to achieve their objectives. Their
\ndetention was to enable the police to carry out in-depth probe.<\/p>\n
\"Reformasi\" activities that began in September 1998 with
\nAnwar's arrest aimed to topple the government by mass
\ndemonstrations, he said.<\/p>\n
Asked if there was a shift in the government's policy of not
\nwanting to use the ISA, Norian said: \"You ask the government.\"
\nThe arrests were initiated by the police, he said.<\/p>\n
Norian said that back in 1998 the Reformasi activists had
\ntried to obtain explosives including rocket launchers and to use
\npetrol bombs and other dangerous weapons to attack security
\nforces.<\/p>\n
The group had tried to garner the support of Malay self-
\ndefense (silat) instructors and former security personnel, he
\ncharged.<\/p>\n
Norian said police took action against 28 activists in late
\n1998 -- when Anwar and 27 others were detained under the ISA --
\nbut only managed to contain them for a short period.<\/p>\n
The movement relaunched its activities in 1999 under the guise
\nof a political party, he said, in a reference to the National
\nJustice Party led by Anwar's wife.<\/p>\n
Norian described the threat posed by the group as serious.
\n\"It must be serious enough to warrant arrest under the ISA.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the wives of Malaysian opposition activists
\ndetained without trial on Wednesday angrily protested the
\narrests, saying \"our loved ones have disappeared into thin air.\"<\/p>\n
The arrests from Tuesday were a \"severe violation\" of basic
\nrights, they said in a letter to the National Human Rights
\nCommission (Suhakam).<\/p>\n
\"As far as we are concerned, our loved ones have disappeared
\ninto thin air. We consider the denial of access and other basic
\ninformation as an extraordinarily brutal and callous act by the
\npolice,\" they said.<\/p>\n
A Malaysian rights group also slammed on Wednesday the arrests
\nof the activists. \"The ISA (Internal Security Act) has been
\nconsistently used against people who criticize the government and
\ndefend human rights,\" said a statement from Suaram (Voice of the
\nMalaysian People). \"It has been the most convenient tool for the
\nstate to suppress opposition and open debate.\"<\/p>\n
A Malaysian workers union on Wednesday refused to back off
\nfrom plans next month for a one day nationwide picket by its
\nnearly half a million members to protest the way their state-run
\npension fund is being managed.<\/p>\n
Low dividend payouts, controversial investments, a reduction
\nin contributions and lower death and injury benefits have fueled
\ndiscontent with the running of the Employee Provident Fund (EPF).<\/p>\n
Zainal Rampak, president of the Malaysian Trades Union
\nCongress (MTUC), told Reuters the picket should go on as
\nscheduled on May 12 after a unanimous decision last week by the
\nunion's working committee.<\/p>\n
The MTUC wants the government to protect the level of
\ndividends paid and ensure the quality of investments made by EPF.
\nPrime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has criticized the MTUC for
\ncalling the protest without seeking dialogue with the government
\nfirst.<\/p>",
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