Asian leaders, rights groups pan Anwar verdict

Asian leaders, rights groups pan Anwar verdict

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Asian leaders joined human rights groups on Wednesday in denouncing the six-year prison term given to Malaysia's convicted deputy prime minister.

Philippine President Joseph Estrada called Anwar Ibrahim's conviction on four corruption charges "very unfortunate" and said he hoped that Anwar might be cleared on appeal.

"My message is, keep on fighting. If he's not really guilty, the truth will come out in the end. The truth will free him," Estrada added.

Estrada was the first Asian politician to comment on Wednesday's verdict and sentence, which were roundly criticized by human rights groups.

Amnesty International, calling Anwar a prisoner of conscience, said the verdict reflected a "disturbing pattern of misuse of law and of state institutions by the Malaysian executive for political purposes."

Malaysia's opposition leader in Parliament, Lim Kit Siang, said he was shocked and called the verdict a stain on Malaysia's reputation.

Hendardi, an Indonesian human rights lawyer and head of the Legal Aid Institute, said on Wednesday the trial of Anwar showed that Malaysia is not yet fully democratic.

He also said the six-year sentence showed that the Malaysian court system was not free of government influence.

"The difference in political perception (between Anwar and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad) was not resolved through democratic means, instead judicial punishment was used," Hendardi told AFP.

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said in London that aspects of the trial "give real cause for concern, in particular, the relationship between the executive and the judiciary in Malaysia.

"We shall be studying the judge's detailed verdict and discussing the case further with our European Union partners," he said, adding that he hoped Anwar's appeal would be handled "quickly and fairly" and that he was writing to Anwar's wife expressing his sympathy.

Australia's foreign minister, Alexander Downer, said he hoped that the appeals process would reflect the principles of natural justice, due process and the rule of law.

A Thai government spokesman said there was no official comment. "If this court's procedures are unjust, the international community will cry out," said Akapol Sorasuchart.

The New York-based Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, which like many similar groups watched Anwar's seven-month trial closely, said it was not surprised by the verdict.

"All indications are that the charges were brought as part of a politically motivated campaign against Mr. Anwar," the Lawyers Committee said in a statement.

In Kuala Lumpur, where protests erupted even before the judgment was pronounced, human rights activists reeled at the severity of the sentence.

"It's so ridiculous. The guy who admitted to almost killing him hasn't even been brought to court. It is a clear indication that the judiciary is not independent," said Irene Fernandez, an activist who herself faces prosecution for questioning the government's treatment of illegal immigrants.

Fernandez was referring to the former police chief of Malaysia, who confessed to beating up Anwar on the night of his arrest, which followed Anwar's calling a huge rally to demand the dismissal of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

"This was already decided seven months ago," said Tian Chua, vice president of the National Justice Party, a political group formed earlier this month by Anwar's wife to challenge Mahathir's 18-year rule.

"I think the sympathy of the people has been increased. People are all over Kuala Lumpur demonstrating right now," Tian said just before he was whacked by policemen trying to break up a demonstration in front of the courthouse.

Chandra Muzaffar, an outspoken political science professor and Anwar supporter recently sacked from his state university job, had this to say: "The political actors in this conspiracy wanted to render Anwar totally impotent."

Anwar has repeatedly argued that he was framed by his political enemies for challenging his former mentor and threatening the cozy relationship between the government and the Malaysian corporate world. But during the trial his lawyers were barred from using political conspiracy as a defense.

Anwar's lawyers criticized High Court Judge Augustine Paul's decision not to include the seven months that their client has already spent in prison. The verdict also bars Anwar from running for public office for five years after he serves his sentence, effectively barring him from politics for more than a decade.

There was no official comment from Mahathir or the government. Prosecutors and the judge left the courtroom abruptly after the verdict was read and declined to speak to reporters.