Group calls on Indonesians to give support to Anwar

Group calls on Indonesians to give support to Anwar

JAKARTA (JP): A group led by a prominent lawyer and human
rights activist called on the public on Wednesday to lend their
support to the detained former Malaysian deputy prime minister
Anwar Ibrahim.

Lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said that the Committee of
Indonesian Solidarity for Anwar Ibrahim (Komite Sianwar) was set
up after Anwar's arrest on Sunday and was based on the principle
of "innocent until proven guilty".

"The committee cares because the struggle for democracy is
everyone's cause," Buyung told a media conference at the
Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in Central Jakarta.

Buyung said Anwar was close to the activists and their
prayers, sympathy and moral support would be needed and
appreciated.

He said that pro-democracy activists in Malaysia were facing a
great challenge in the form of the Internal Security Act (ISA),
which allows the state to hold anyone indefinitely without trial.

The group issued a press release signed by 30 founding members
including Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid, former Jakarta
governor Ali Sadikin, Moslem scholar Nurcholish Madjid and deputy
chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights Marzuki
Darusman.

LBH chairman Bambang Widjojanto, lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis and
a number of rights activists and economists were also included in
the list.

"We call on all Indonesian people who are willing to fight for
truth and justice in Malaysia to contact and join the Komite
Sianwar," the release said.

Nasir Tamara, a member of the Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals, said he had spoken with Anwar recently by
telephone. He said Anwar had told him he was seeking support to
uphold democracy and human rights in Malaysia.

"Anwar told me that Mahathir is getting more autocratic,"
Nasir said, adding that Anwar felt the local media in Malaysia
had been very "unsupportive."

Anwar, 51, who was sacked as deputy prime minister and finance
minister by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sept. 2, is facing
allegations ranging from sexual misconduct with men and women to
threatening state security. He has denied all accusations.

Buyung said the accusations were being made deliberately by
Anwar's foes to end his political career.

"It is because Anwar demanded the Malaysian government launch
reforms to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism," Buyung
said.

Anwar has been able to attract tens of thousands of people to
his reform campaign rallies.

A reform campaign was the rallying point for the uprising
against former president Soeharto which eventually led to his
resignation in May. Mahathir has accused Anwar of plotting an
Indonesian-style uprising.

After the media conference, Nasir and Buyung led dozens of
people to protest Anwar's arrest at the Malaysian embassy on Jl.
H.R. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta.

Holding banners saying "Mahathir equals Soeharto," "Free
Malaysian people from Mahathir's dictatorial regime," the
demonstrators yelled "Free Anwar!" in front of the embassy's
closed gate.

The protesters, wearing white headbands inscribed with "Free
Anwar", dispersed peacefully after embassy staff met with their
representatives and they handed over a copy of the press release.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
Association (PBHI) on Wednesday condemned the use of the Internal
Security Act to arresting Anwar.

"It is clear the arrest was politically motivated and not
because of the criminal acts Anwar has been accused of," PBHI
executive director Hendardi said in a statement. (byg)