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Mahathir defends use of security law to thwart violent protest

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (AFP) - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Thursday defended the use of a security law to arrest seven opposition activists, saying they were suspected of planning a violent protest including the use of explosives.
Mahathir said this week's arrests of supporters of his jailed ex-deputy Anwar Ibrahim under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial, was a police action and not a political move.

"Police have decided that they are not going to deal with this huge demonstration on so-called Black 14 of April because such demonstrations invariably result in violence and they don't know what kind of damage will be done," he told reporters.

"They have evidence that there are plans to use explosives and the likes, so we don't want that to happen."

But the premier acknowledged he did not know if the detainees "have the explosives or not but there have been instances when molotov cocktails were made and tried before."

Black 14 refers to the second anniversary of the sentencing of the ex-deputy premier to six years' jail for abuse of power.

Mahathir said the ISA was invoked because it was more effective.

"Normal laws require certain evidence, procedures and processes which I suppose from the police point of view is not effective in preventing something from happening," he said.

Asked about further arrests, he said: "That's upto the police but they have said this morning that maybe some more will be arrested."

He said the detainees could be held for 60 days and kept in custody for another two years if they were still found to be a threat to security.

Mahathir brushed aside concerns by the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) over the arrests, saying "Suhakam is not responsible for the security of this country but the police are."

He said the government focused on the human rights of the majority and not that of a "small group which has certain interests that block the rights of other people."

The premier denied the ISA arrests were a crackdown on the opposition.

"It so happens to be opposition. We accept legitimate opposition, people who use the normal democratic procedures. We don't think demonstrations and the use of violence constitutre democratic processes."

Despite international criticism, the premier said the ISA was still useful as a preventive tool.

On how this would affect Malaysia's image, he added: "The usual thing. The foreign media will bash at us. They have never said anything good about us even if we are very nice. But we have a duty to our people, our country."

Mahathir says activists arrested to thwart violent protest

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (AFP) - Seven opposition activists detained without trial are suspected of planning a violent protest including the use of explosives, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Thursday.
Mahathir defended the use of the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial, against supporters of his jailed former deputy Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the aim was to forestall a pro-Anwar protest meeting planned for Saturday and acknowledged there was no evidence at present to charge the seven under normal laws.

Mahathir and his current deputy described the arrests as purely a police action. Opposition leaders accused police of making up "fairy tales" to save the premier's political skin.

Police chief Norian Mai Wednesday said more people were being hunted. Norian said supporters of the "Reformasi" (reform) movement sparked by Anwar's 1998 arrest had planned to use explosives and weapons in violent protests to topple the government.

Amnesty International and local rights groups, including the government-appointed human rights commission (Suhakam), strongly criticised the use of the ISA -- a colonial relic designed to fight a communist rebellion half a century ago.

Mahathir was unrepentant. "The police statement said they have evidence that there are plans to use explosives and the likes so we don't want that to happen," he told a press conference.

Asked if there was any evidence, he replied: "I don't know whether they have the explosives or not but there have been instances when petrol, Molotov cocktails were made and tried before.

Mahathir denied he was cracking down on the political opposition. Most of those arrested are from the National Justice Party (Keadilan) headed by Anwar's wife.

"We accept legitimate opposition people who use the normal democratic procedures," he said. "We don't think demonstrations and the use of violence constitute democratic processes."

He added: "They could have been arrested under normal laws but normal laws require certain evidence and procedures and processes which is, I suppose, from the police point of view not effective in preventing something from happening..."

Mahathir said the ISA was useful to prevent trouble. "If it has happened, if there is already damage and maybe people killed, then it will be too late."

Asked if there would be more arrests, he said: "It's up to the police."

Mahathir's deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also home (interior) minister, said police had not consulted him before making arrests.

"I do not know if there will be any more arrests," he told reporters. "This is all police action. I leave it to the police to decide."

Abdullah said Norian must have had "certain information" before making his comments. "He is a responsible officer."

Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the Democratic Action Party and himself twice a former ISA detainee, said police should produce evidence of planned use of weapons.

Otherwise they would be accused of making up "fairy tales."

Syed Husin Ali, president of the Malaysian People's Party, said police were making up "ridiculous" allegations.

The police chief "seems to have allowed hismelf and the police force to do the bidding of the prime minister who is obviously very concerned and woried about his own political survival."

Mahathir has held power since 1981 but suffered a big erosion of support in November 1999 polls, over Anwar's treatment.

Fadzil Noor, president of the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia, said the "cruel action" was damaging the economy.

"Once again the abuse of power through the use of an act which violates human rights and in a totally unreasonable situation clearly reflects a (ruling party) position that is under pressure and desperate."

Anwar is serving a 15-year jail term after being convicted in separate trials of abuse of power and sodomy.

He says he was framed on the orders of Mahathir because he was seen as a political threat. Mahathir denies interfering in the courts.

Mahathir raps Internet paper for links to 'foreign agent' Soros

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (AFP) - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday ticked off a reporter from the Internet newspaper Malaysiakini, saying she was working for "foreign agent" George Soros.
The reporter asked Mahathir at a press conference about calls for seven opposition activists detained this week without trial to be immediately released.

But the premier, after being told by the reporter that she was from Malaysiakini, said: "You are working for some foreign agent. You can tell Mr. Soros not to come and interfere with our politics here."

Malaysiakini has come under criticism from the government for allegedly accepting indirect funding from currency trader Soros, with their staff barred from government functions.

Mahathir did not try to exclude the reporter from the press conference.

The paper denies accepting any money from Soros' "Open Society Fund" but a former staffer has said it had in fact taken money from funds linked to Soros.

Mahathir has said Malaysiakini behaved "like traitors" for allegedly accepting Soros' money.

The premier, who once described currency trader Soros as a "moron," accused him and fellow traders of creating the East Asian financial crisis of 1997/98.