Asia's silence on Anwar arrest a concern: Groups

Asia's silence on Anwar arrest a concern: Groups

TOKYO (AFP): Malaysia's treatment of ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who appeared in court on Tuesday bruised and complaining of a severe police beating, has raised little protest in Asia.

Human rights groups said the Asian reaction to Anwar's arrest under national security laws which allow for detention without trial was a worrying reflection of its lack of concern.

Anwar was arrested Sept. 20, shortly after being sacked by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. He denied in court charges of corruption and unnatural (homosexual) sex.

"The tendency in Asia is to treat the question of human rights through the prism of 'Asian values' of which Mahathir is the champion," said Christine Lamarre, human rights expert and Tokyo University professor.

"From that angle, these countries consider there is an Asian version of human rights although these Asian values are often a pretext for Asian leaders to stay in power."

Criticism has been rife in the West, but few have come to Anwar's defense in his own region.

"Our stance, which remains the same as before, is that making any comments on their internal affairs would be inappropriate," said a Japanese foreign ministry official.

In Taiwan, Foreign Minister Jason Hu said there were no signs of chaos in Malaysia and "Taiwan-Malaysia ties will not be affected."

A Thai foreign ministry spokesman said this week the Anwar case was "an internal affair for Malaysia but we are concerned about the recent developments."

There has been little official comment at all from the Philippines.

Hideki Morihara, campaigner for Amnesty International in Tokyo, said he had been seeking to meet Japanese officials to express the group's concern.

"But it is even difficult for us to make an appointment with the Japanese government on this matter," he added. "The Japanese government should act more proactively towards such matters."

Outside of Asia, however, Anwar has found friends.

The U.S. State Department expressed concern about his detention and restrictions clamped on his wife's activities. Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he was worried about Malaysia's apparent "drift towards a more authoritarian approach," earning a sharp rebuke from Mahathir.

French Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Anwar had been "arrested in his country for defending opinions that are not those of Dr. Mahathir."

And former British Hong Kong governor Chris Patten said Anwar had fought for freedom and democracy, asking rhetorically: "Where have Mr Anwar Ibrahim's friends and admirers been over the last few days?"

Amnesty International's development coordinator for the Asia- Pacific region, Davadass Gnanapragasam, said it was "not was very surprising these (Asian) countries have not responded to the situation."

Many of them, he said, had their own national security legislation which they misused to suppress dissent.

Lamarre of Tokyo University said Japan, however, was an Asian economic superpower "giving the image of a country that does not fulfill its responsibilities in defending human rights."