FAC News - Friday, February 15, 2002 9:34 PM

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT

ALTERNATIVE FRONT

14 February 2002

Mahathir and the Politics of National Security

For nearly four years, we have heard Dr Mahathir rail against "envious foreign powers," blaming them for everything that has gone wrong with this country, especially the economic crisis that began with the July 1997 meltdown.

Now, at last, he has found a new bogey – terrorism. Since the cold-blooded September 11 attacks against the United States, Dr Mahathir has taken out his war drums, beating out a warning against groups which are sometimes referred to as "extremists," sometimes as "militants," but more and more as "terrorists." And the tempo has quickened as each day dawns.

Dr Mahathir has not missed the opportunity to project himself as the true anti-terrorist champion. Seizing upon the current worldwide fear of terrorism, he has tried to justify the arrest under the Internal Security Act of people accused of being members of the so-called Kumpulan Militan Malaysia, saying they were threats to national security.

However, the alleged militants are yet to be charged in open court. No evidence against them has been forthcoming. They are detained without trial.

It was therefore strange that he should respond the way he did to a Newsweek allegation about Malaysia being a launch pad for the September 11 attacks. Dr Mahathir - the same man who has refused to prove that those he has detained without trial are indeed dangerous militants - rejected the Newsweek report and demanded that the magazine prove its allegation.

To make matters even more confusing, the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, has given us a different – in fact contrary -- picture. According to a January 30 article on the New Straits Times website, Datuk Seri Najib said: "As far as we know, we have crippled the activities of the militant groups but we still do not know to what extent they have agents or other terrorists."

It seems that different people react differently to the fast-spreading anti-terrorism fever. The Israelis use combat helicopters to try to bring their temperature down. But the so-called terrorists they are trying to annihilate are in fact patriots fighting to free their people. In Malaysia, too, the fever has spread to the brains of those in power. However, instead of helicopters, they press the Internal Security Act into service. In both cases, power is used to oppress. The victims cannot defend themselves and human rights are ignored.

Indeed, there is little to distinguish between oppressive governments and terrorists. Both assert their power arrogantly and belligerently. Both resort to force in order to get what they want and deny others their rights. The only difference between them is that the oppressive government has at its disposal all the instruments of state to run amok with.

In this country, examples of the ruling party’s readiness to use terror tactics against its opponents are too many to enumerate. One only has to review the campaigning during the recent by-election in Indera Kayangan to realize how serious the situation is.

It is Barisan Alternatif’s conviction that the most effective weapons against terrorism and the best guarantees of national security are well-founded democratic institutions and unassailable democratic processes, which would include the firm and transparent administration of justice.

These are the elements and principles that have made such successful democracies of countries like Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark. Terrorists breed in places where democratic space is narrow and autocrats and despots reign. One example is Algeria, where intense terrorist activity began soon after a blatant denial of citizens’ democratic rights. An oppressive government is a government playing with fire.

The situation in this country is worrying. In a report dated last January 18, Amnesty International placed Malaysia in its list of countries where human rights violations are worsening. It said the anti-terrorism fervour has provided oppressive regimes with a convenient excuse to turn the screw on dissidents.

The issue of national security becomes complicated when those holding political power try to crush their political rivals by accusing them of threatening that security. This is a dangerous ruse, for it shifts the focus of investigation from probable targets to phantoms created by those interested only in preserving their political power.

The current administration should be reminded that threats to national security can also come from the ruling party. In the past, Umno leaders have been among those detained on charges of being communist agents. Indeed, in 1981, Dr Mahathir’s own political secretary was arrested on charges of being a foreign agent.

The leadership of Barisan Alternatif demands that the government stop using the ISA as a shield against its inability to engage its opponents and dissidents in open debate. Those accused of involvement in militant activities must be brought to a fair and open trial immediately. And we urge SUHAKAM to play a more active role as an agency that is supposed to uphold human rights. It is in critical situations like this that citizens need an independent body to champion their cause.

Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, recently released a statement that is worthy of close attention. She said:

"While we recognize that the threat of terrorism requires specific measures, we call on all governments to refrain from any excessive steps which would violate fundamental freedoms and undermine legitimate dissent. In pursuing the objective of eradicating terrorism, it is essential that states strictly adhere to their international obligations to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms."

Barisan Alternatif urges the Barisan Nasional not to politicize the issue of national security. We call for the establishment of a royal commission to study the issue thoroughly. And we urge that all ISA detainees be brought to fair and open trial and given their right to defend themselves.

DATO’ FADZIL NOOR, President, Parti Islam SeMalaysia

DR. WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL, President, Parti Keadilan Nasional

DR. SYED HUSIN ALI, President, Parti Rakyat Malaysia