charged the government's most prominent challenger
Malaysian prosecutors have again charged the government's
most prominent challenger, alleging that he and two allies broke
various laws during a massive street rally to demand electoral fairness.
"It is clearly a politically motivated charge. Elections are around the corner," Anwar told reporters.
The charges are the first against Anwar since he was acquitted in January of sodomizing a male former aide. The government has denied Anwar's claims that the sodomy trial was engineered to undercut an opposition alliance that made unprecedented inroads in 2008 elections.
Two others charged were Azmin Ali, the deputy president of Anwar's opposition People's Justice Party, and party youth official Baharul Hisham Shaharin.
They were among tens of thousands of Malaysians who joined an April 28 rally calling for an overhaul in electoral policies. Police used tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators after some of them breached a barrier at a public square that had been declared off-limits.
The opposition frequently accuses the ruling coalition of corruption and economic mismanagement, while the government says its rivals lack the ability and experience to administer a country.
The charges filed Tuesday against Anwar Ibrahim
come just four months after he was acquitted of sodomy charges that he
claims were an attempt to damage him politically. He said the new
accusations, ahead of national elections that many speculate will be
held by September, have the same motive.
"It is clearly a politically motivated charge. Elections are around the corner," Anwar told reporters.
Anwar and the two allies were charged in a Kuala Lumpur
court with defying a court ban against assembling at a public square in
Kuala Lumpur last month and inciting other demonstrators to breach a
police barricade.
They pleaded innocent and face a maximum jail sentence of six months
and fines totaling 12,000 ringgit ($3,800) if convicted. The court
scheduled a preliminary hearing on July 2 to determine further trial
dates.
Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the
charges against the opposition leaders "don't inspire confidence that
the Malaysian government is committed to protecting basic free expression rights."
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland
said the U.S. was monitoring the case closely. She urged Malaysian
authorities "to ensure that due process is protected and that any trial
is conducted in a fair and transparent manner."
The prime minister's office rejected Anwar's claims of a political
plot, saying in a statement that the charges were based on police
investigations. It noted that two policemen and other people were
charged previously in connection with violence during the rally.The charges are the first against Anwar since he was acquitted in January of sodomizing a male former aide. The government has denied Anwar's claims that the sodomy trial was engineered to undercut an opposition alliance that made unprecedented inroads in 2008 elections.
Two others charged were Azmin Ali, the deputy president of Anwar's opposition People's Justice Party, and party youth official Baharul Hisham Shaharin.
They were among tens of thousands of Malaysians who joined an April 28 rally calling for an overhaul in electoral policies. Police used tear gas and water cannon against demonstrators after some of them breached a barrier at a public square that had been declared off-limits.
Prime Minister Najib Razak
and other officials have accused the opposition of trying to create
chaos at the rally, which was organized by opposition-backed civic
groups. Some people claimed Anwar and Azmin goaded peaceful
demonstrators into charging at police.
If Anwar and Azmin are fined the maximum amount, they also risk losing their Parliament seats.The opposition frequently accuses the ruling coalition of corruption and economic mismanagement, while the government says its rivals lack the ability and experience to administer a country.
National polls are not due until 2013 but speculation has been rife
that Najib will dissolve Parliament soon. Najib's coalition, which has
led Malaysia
since 1957, has slightly less than a two-thirds parliamentary majority
after it suffered its worst electoral performance ever in 2008.
The rally's organizers had demanded the resignation of Election
Commission officials, claiming they are biased. Demonstrators also
wanted a clean-up of voter registration lists allegedly tainted with
fraudulent names and fairer rules to ensure all parties get access to
mainstream media.
Government officials insist the activists' concerns are overblown. The
Election Commission last week said it hopes to help ease the criticism
by potentially securing voting rights for 1 million Malaysians living
overseas and inviting international observers for the elections.
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