NEWS - Opponents Urge ASEAN to Stop

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Subject: NEWS - Opponents Urge ASEAN to Stop Mahathir Clampdown

Opponents Urge ASEAN to Stop Mahathir Clampdown

BANGKOK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Opponents of Malaysian premier Mahathir
Mohamad accused him on Tuesday of launching a massive crackdown on
dissent and said it was time Malaysia's neighbours acted to stop him. 

At a news conference in Bangkok, Tian Chua, vice president of the
opposition Parti Keadilan Nasional (National Justice Party), and human
rights lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah said the Association of South East Asian
Nations should abandon its policy of non-interference in the affairs of
a fellow member. 

Both men were arrested after street protests in Malaysia last week. They
were among 14 supporters of ex-finance minister Anwar Ibrahim charged
with illegal assembly and then released pending trial next year. 

"We are here to make outsiders understand what is happening in
Malaysia," Sivarasa said. 

He called the arrests last week the start of a new wave of repression by
the Mahathir government. 

"Authorities are hunting more than 40 other politicians. The reason for
the crackdown is to intimidate the opposition and use the legal process
to disqualify them from running for parliament," he said. 

"ASEAN nations should not stick to non-intervention -- non concern
towards the democratic or social development in other countries --
because whatever happens may have an impact in their own countries," he
said. 

"I think Thailand as a neighbouring country should begin to take an
active role in the preserving of human rights and democracy developing
in its neighbour," Tian Chuan said. 

He said he understood governments might feel uncomfortable but
non-government organisations and the media certainly should act. 

Sivarasa said rumours that Malaysian elections would be held in November
were credible. 

"The election will be difficult and full of cheating," he said.
"Watchdogs from ASEAN nations should come in and play an active role to
help preserve human rights and democracy." 

Tian Chua said a coalition of four opposition parties would win despite
the problems and said the rising popularity of the opposition was the
reason for the crackdown. 

"Mahathir is extremely nervous about the rising popularity of coalition
front parties and realises the time of strongman era is over," he said. 

Tian said he and Sivarasa, who are due to appear in court on February
18-19, would travel to other ASEAN nations and Australia to publicise
their cause. 

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.