Anti-U.S. fervor grows ahead of Anwar's trial
Anti-U.S. fervor grows ahead of Anwar's trial
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Anti-U.S. sentiment gained pace in Malaysia on Sunday after the detention of four supporters of ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, whose corruption trial resumes here next week.
In northern Perlis state, hundreds of people burnt an effigy of U.S. Vice President Al Gore and carried banners condemning him at a one-hour gathering on Sunday, the official news agency Bernama reported.
The government, meanwhile, plans to launch a nationwide campaign next week which it says will allow people to vent their frustrations over alleged foreign meddling.
"The purpose is to get a true picture of the feelings of the 20 million Malaysians about problems facing the country," Information Minister Mohamed Rahmat was quoted as saying in the Sunday Star.
But opposition leader Lim Kit Siang warned of a government crackdown against dissent following the Saturday arrest of Tian Chua, who heads an opposition coalition.
Chua was among four people detained after police used water cannons loaded with chemical-laced yellow dye to disperse up to 200 protesters at a Moslem neighborhood here late Saturday.
In a statement, Lim said Chua's arrest may "mark a massive crackdown against dissent in Malaysia, ushering a new dark age for democracy in the country" and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Human rights group, Voice of the Malaysian People (Suaram), charged that Chua was "singled out and arbitrarily arrested." Suaram coordinator Elizabeth Wong voiced concerns that Chua and the other three detainees would only be brought to court on Monday and warned this might constitute an "illegal detention."
"Suaram cautions this delay as anyone arrested must be brought to a magistrate within 24 hours. No one, especially the police, is above the law," she said in a statement.
Since Anwar's September sacking and arrest on 10 charges of corruption and sodomy, his supporters have mounted weekly demonstrations calling on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to end his 17-year rule.
The protesters received a boost from Gore, who on a visit here last week praised "brave" Malaysians calling for reforms.
Malaysia has warned Washington will be made accountable for any "rupture" in its multiracial harmony.
However, Gore's remarks have instead sparked a wave of patriotic fervor, with Kuala Lumpur awash with national flags and indignant politicians and newspapers continuing their anti-U.S. tirade.
The leading Malay newspaper Utusan Mingguan in its Sunday editorial said it would not be shocking if the United States wanted to topple Mahathir.
"To America, Mahathir is a difficult leader to deal with because he is not stupid and not a follower," it said.
The newspaper cautioned Malaysians against what it said were efforts by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to break up the country, noting an advertisement by the CIA in a London newspaper to recruit new agents in Islamic countries.
"According to a report in Jakarta, the troubles in Indonesia and Malaysia are the work of big political powers carried out by the CIA through its agents," it said.
"CIA is everywhere. Their job becomes easy when the local people are prepared to become agents or allowed themselves to be used," it warned.
"The situation in Indonesia is now fragile. Not only are the people split but there is also infighting among the security forces. Be careful all of us in Malaysia."
The New Sunday Times slammed the U.S. vice president, saying only a "mentally incapacitated person of Gore's stature would suggest that street violence is the legitimate way of bringing down a democratically elected government.