Is a major crackdown, exploiting the post-911 scenario, on dissent
and human rights in the works?
Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
(Petaling Jaya, Friday): At least
three events in the past few days raised the question whether a major crackdown,
exploiting the post-911 scenario, on dissent and human rights is
in the works, viz:
-
The statement by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad after
thed Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday that stern
action against militants and extremists will not be confined to those from
a certain religion only, and that the government will not hesitate
to act against anyone involved in militancy and activities that could harm
racial ties or tries to fan racial sentiments.
-
The explanation by the Kuala Lumpur police chief Syed Abdul Rahman Syed
Abdul Kadir yesterday that the police will not allow anyone to exploit
"sensitive issues" and sow seeds of hatred against the government
as a reason for the controversial barring of a briefing on Vision School
at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last week.
-
The announcement by the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Norian Mai
yesterday that the police are looking for 200 people linked to Kumpulan
Militant Malaysia (KMM) and have established that the group had close links
with Jemaah Islamiyah group in Singapore and the al-Qaeda network, as well
as foreign media reports linking the ¡°directing figures¡±
of KMM to the Memali Incident in 1985, resulting in the killing of 14 villagers
including Ibrahim Libya and four policemen.
The IGP¡¯s announcement that the police are looking for
200 people with links to al-Qaeda is most alarming as the Deputy
Home Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin had told Parliament last October
that no link had been established between the Al-Qaeda and KMM, and three
weeks ago, the IGP had said that the police was checking reports
that one of the 13 most recently arrested could have links with al-Qaeda
network.
Up to now, the police has not furnished any information to support the
startling statement by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
in his interview in the Japanese magazine Chuokoron on January 10
openly stating that Osama bin Laden¡¯s Al-Qaeda terrorist network
have recruited about 50 Malaysians into its operations.
Now, the number of people with links to al-Qaeda and who are being hunted
by the police have suddenly galloped to 200!
Although Malaysians have been rattled by the September 11 terrorist
attacks, the government must be warned that it should not undertake a crackdown
on dissent and human rights under the camouflage of an anti-terrorism campaign
- and it owes a duty to the people to give a fuller and more satisfactory
accounting of police investigations and findings with regard to militant
Islamist activities and networks in the country.
(25/1/2002)
*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman