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Anwar verdict: More unhappy reaction from US, rights NGOs
Published:  Jul 11, 2002 11:11 AM
Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM

The United States government today expressed its disappointment with the Federal Court decision to uphold the conviction of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim on charges of corruption.

"As our annual human rights report noted, the legal process in his original trial was questionable. We urge the Malaysian government to ensure that justice is served in Anwar's case," said the spokesperson for the United States Department of State in a press statement.

Yesterday, a Federal Court panel unanimously dismissed Anwar's final appeal against his conviction and six-year sentence for tampering with police investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

Anwar is currently serving the third year into his jail sentence for graft. He is also sentenced to serve an additional nine years for committing sodomy.

On whether the US has given Malaysia the "green light" to crack down on human rights issue in view of warming relations, the spokesperson said the US will continue to support democracy, the rule of law and human rights globally as these are "crucial to eliminating conditions under which terrorism thrives".

"We have made clear in recent meetings with Malaysian leaders that the US remains committed to monitoring and promoting respect for human rights in Malaysia and elsewhere in the world," added the spokesperson.

The US administration has maintained that it considers Anwar's 1999 trials on charges of corruption and sodomy to be politically motivated.

Court of Public Opinion

Meanwhile, several local non-government organisations questioned the impartiality of the judiciary in handling the appeal case.

Human rights organisation Suaram said the Federal Court judges had "failed to redeem honour, integrity and moral courage for the judiciary".

"We denounce the judiciary for miscarrying justice and for destroying a fundamental hallmark of a free and democratic society. Worst of all, the judiciary has failed to stand up to its fundamental functions to protect the liberty of an individual against state powers," said Suaram in a press statement.

National Human Rights Society (Hakam) and social reform movement Aliran also said the judges' decision is unlikely to be accepted by the public.

"Our judicial system has been put on trial by the public. The court of public opinion will now convene. The jury is still out there," Hakam asserted.

Penang-based Aliran said the Federal Court verdict will "never satisfy the Court of Public Opinion which has consistently held that the Anwar trials were the worst cases of travesty of justice in Malaysia".

"Few Malaysians will ever believe that Anwar was not a victim of a plot hatched at the highest levels of power in this country. That the Federal Court could find no evidence of such a plot or conspiracy will remain a big mystery for all students of Malaysian law in decades to come," Aliran added.

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