PDrMTales

Friday, April 13, 2001
Soldiers recruited to help reformasi activists, say police

KUALA LUMPUR: Soldiers from the army were recruited by reformasi activists in their bid to topple the Government by force, including using arms and explosives.
Police have identified a group of about 28 people led by a businessman who allegedly wanted to cause chaos in the country.

A senior police officer said yesterday the Special Branch had been monitoring since 1998 the activities of the group, which was formed soon after the sacking of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from the Government.

"The group wanted to topple the Government by using force, and recruited, among others, former security officers experienced in handling weapons and explosives, silat masters, teachers and other influential people,'' the police officer said.

Among them was a former army captain, who was entrusted to "negotiate'' with his former colleagues for weapons such as grenade launchers, pistols and explosives.

Several commandos were also contacted to help obtain weapons from army camps.

However, the officer said, quick action by police resulted in the detention of those allegedly involved in the negotiations and planning.

On Wednesday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai said police arrested seven people under the Internal Security Act for allegedly trying to topple the Government through militant demonstrations.

The seven were Parti Keadilan Nasional vice-president Tian Chua, Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor, supreme council member Saari Sungib, vice-chairman Gobalakrisnnan Magapan, Youth exco member Abdul Ghani Harun, Free Anwar Campaign director Raja Petra Raja kamarudin and filmmaker and social activist Hishamuddin Rais.

Police said investigations showed that a senior army officer was also roped in to get military personnel to join the cause.

"That was one reason why several army personnel were among the hundreds that were arrested during the 44 reformasi gatherings which took place in the city in 1998,'' the officer added.

Police said the seven ISA detentions should not be misconstrued as a political move but more as a preventive measure.

"The arrests should not be seen from a political angle but the security aspect. Maintaining law and order is our business,'' the police officer added.

He said despite criticism from some quarters, police were professional in their work.

Police, he said, took a serious view of groups which used force to disrupt public order.

Police said its intelligence unit uncovered another plot by the activists to stage street demonstrations.

"The group held 13 meetings between January and April in the Klang Valley,'' the officer said.

Another police officer said the group held a gathering in Kubang Pasu, Kedah, the stronghold of the Prime Minister, early last month.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Jamil Johari, meanwhile, said police were prepared for any possible action by the opposition.

He said police were prepared for gatherings, including the planned demonstration tomorrow to mark the second anniversary of Anwar's jail sentencing.

"We have been monitoring the situation to prepare for any undesirable incidents that may be sparked by certain groups,'' he said at a function in conjunction with the 194th Police Day celebrations.

Militant group held under ISA

By M. Santhiran
santhiran@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR, Wed: Seven people detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) yesterday and early today are part of a militant-type group which is prepared to use violent means to topple the government.

More arrests are expected in the next few days.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai said the seven are part of a 20-member group comprising mainly reformasi activists which has held 12 secret meetings in the city between Jan 6 and April 4.

He told a news conference at Bukit Aman this afternoon that the group adopted a two-pronged strategy late last year:

‰ continue its struggle through the democratic process; and
‰ use unconstitutional means, including militant-type activities such as street demonstrations, right up to the next general election which is due in 2004.

The group's first militant action is to mobilise about 50,000 people to demonstrate in the city centre this Saturday to mark what it termed as "Black 14" (in reference to April 14, 1999, the day Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to six years jail on four counts of corruption).

Norian said that as a decoy, the organisers have dubbed the rally as "an assembly to hand over the people's memorandum on human rights" to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

He said the rally could develop into riots and advised the public to stay away.

Those detained are Parti Keadilan Nasional Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, youth exco member Abdul Ghani Harun, vice-president Chua Tian Chang @ Tian Chua and supreme council member N. Gobalakrishnan, activist Hishamuddin Rais, Jemaah Islah

Malaysia president Saari Sungib and "Free Anwar" campaign director Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin.

Norian said that in October 1998, the group tried to acquire explosives, including bombs and grenade launchers. It also enlisted the support of silat (Malay martial art) masters and influenced scores of former military personnel to join the demonstrations by supporters of Anwar following the former deputy prime minister's expulsion from the government on Sept 2, 1998 and from Umno the next day.

Police thwarted the group's plans by rounding up 28 hardcore activists between Sept 20 and Dec 24, 1998.

In mid-1999, Norian said, the group tried to make a comeback using a political party as a platform. "This time the group sought to incite racial tension by distorting religious matters.

"One allegation surfaced during the Lunas by-election last November, that a number of Malays were forced to convert to Christianity."

Norian said some of those arrested during the 1998 crackdown were also involved with the militant group. "This shows that the reformasi movement could still pose a threat to national security.

"Their activities and movement are serious enough for us to act against the organisers and stop untoward incidents this Saturday," he added.

Norian said police are also trying to establish whether the group has any links with foreign organisations.

Asked how long the seven would be detained, he said: "It depends on the investigation, but we cannot detain for more than 60 days, Beyond that the (home) minister will decide."