Malaysian police arrest more Anwar aides

Malaysian police arrest more Anwar aides

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian police moves to arrest
acquaintances of ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim are part of
a government campaign of fear and an "omen" of more to come, a
human rights group warned on Wednesday.

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang warned separately of mass
detentions under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA)
following the arrests of more associates of Anwar.

"The arrests, in light of the current tense political
situation in Malaysia, (are) not only an opportunistic attempt by
the government to create fear but they are also politically
motivated," the rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) said.

Suaram noted that unlike the earlier arrests of Anwar's
adopted brother and a private secretary, the latest arrest of a
Pakistani publisher was under the ISA.

"The recent endeavors by the police and the use of the ISA is
an omen that more widespread arrests will follow," a statement
said.

"Suaram fears that more people will be arrested under the ISA
-- an act which conveniently allows for detention without trial,"
it added, noting that the act also legitimized "gross violations
of human rights."

Anwar himself said on Wednesday he expected to be detained
after the Commonwealth Games, accusing Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad of trying to "harass" him by arresting his friends, staff
and family members.

Asked if he expected to be picked up, Anwar told the BBC: "The
idea is to wait until the Queen of England leaves Kuala Lumpur at
the end of the games."

Queen Elizabeth II is due to take part in the closing
ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games in the Malaysian capital on
Monday.

Anwar says the allegations against him -- ranging from sexual
impropriety, bribery and jeopardizing national security to
interfering with police investigations, abuse of power and
sedition -- are part of a high-level conspiracy.

"These are very serious allegations indeed and they could not
have happened without the approval of the highest authorities in
the land.

"That could only prove my earlier assertion that there is a
high-level political conspiracy against me and that the
allegations are a series of fabrications," he told the BBC.

Anwar said his supporters had been contacted by prostitutes
who said they had been threatened with detention if they did not
give evidence against him.

Police may press charges against Anwar for holding public
gatherings without permission, newspapers reported on Wednesday.
Police Inspector-General Rahim Noor was quoted as saying that
Anwar's gatherings since his dismissal two weeks earlier had
contravened the law.

"Being a former cabinet minister, he should know better than
to set a bad example. We will take legal action against him if he
flouts the law," he said.

Rahim also told reporters to "be patient" when they asked if
Anwar would be arrested in connection with various allegations
against him.

He confirmed the detention under the ISA of the Pakistani
acquaintance of Anwar, identified as Munawar Anees, the editor of
a defunct English-language quarterly covering Islamic affairs.