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)