Activists protest rights abuses

Activists protest rights abuses

BANGKOK (DPA): A group of Asian political activists staged
protests at the Myanmar, Malaysian, Indonesian, Philippines and
Singapore embassies in Bangkok on Thursday against growing
violations of human rights in Southeast Asia.

Prompted by the recent arrest and apparent beating in
detention of dismissed former Malaysian deputy prime minister
Anwar Ibrahim, about 16 demonstrators gathered outside the
Malaysian embassy to wave placards and hand over a protest letter
addressed to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The protesters waved banners outside the Malaysian embassy
reading: "Why the madness Dr. M., Why?" and "We question your
judgment, Dr M.," in reference to Mahathir's detention of Anwar
and the serious charges brought against the man who was once his
political heir.

The Thai activists called on Mahathir to end the police
crackdown on pro-Anwar demonstrations in Malaysia, to release
Anwar from jail and to scrap Malaysia's draconian Internal
Security Act, which allows authorities to arrest and detain
suspects without charges.