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.