|
|
|
|
Anwar Ibrahim
The arrest and trials of Anwar Ibrahim have dominated the Malaysian political landscape for the last two years. Now in jail, Anwar has become a symbol at home and abroad of the Malaysian government's heavy-handed reprisals against its potential challengers. What has happened to Anwar and his supporters has brought to light the absence of guaranteed civil and political rights in Malaysia.
Anwar Ibrahim, who was formerly the Deputy Prime Minister and who was widely believed to be poised to succeed Prime Minister Mahathir, was dismissed on September 2, 1998, following allegations of sexual misconduct. In the months preceding his arrest, Anwar's supporters had grown increasingly critical of Prime Minister Mahathir's economic policies.
On September 20, 1998, after Anwar addressed thousands of anti-government protestors in the capital, he and six others were arrested under the Internal Security Act. When, in his first public appearance after arrest, he appeared in court with his face and hand black and blue, his case made international headlines. Inspector General of Police Abdul Rahim Noor later admitted to beating Anwar in jail and was sentenced to two months jail. He is currently appealing the sentence.
Many of Anwar's associates were arrested soon after his arrest. Rallies continued with police arresting hundreds of pro-reform demonstrators for illegal assembly.
Anwar was charged with corruption and sodomy on September 29, 1998: the prosecution alleged that he had had illegal sex and that he had abused his government office by interfering with investigations into his alleged misdeeds. The trial began in November 1998. After the prosecution presented its case, the sodomy charges were severed from the abuse of power charges, preventing the defense from addressing the sodomy charges. Anwar was convicted on four counts of corruption on April 14, 1999, and sentenced to six years of imprisonment.
The sodomy trial of Anwar and his adopted brother Sukma Dermawan, who was charged with aiding Anwar, began soon after. Several key witnesses by this point had recanted their confessions, claiming that they were coerced by police.
|
|
