KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (AFP) - Freed Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim has called for dozens of alleged Islamic militants detained without trial to be released or charged in court, warning that governments should not use terrorism as a pretext to silence dissidents.
The former deputy premier, who was released two months ago after six years in jail, also hit out at US President George W. Bush's anti-terror war, saying his "radical" unilateral actions and "arrogance" had created a deeper rift between Muslims and the West.
In an exclusive interview with AFP at his home here, Anwar said he had "no sympathies" for terror suspects if there was evidence against them but protested the indefinite detention of more than 80 alleged Islamic militants here under the harsh Internal Security Act (ISA).
Many of the detainees are allegedly members of the Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah regional organisation responsible for a series of bombings in Indonesia, but none has been brought to court.
"You either charge them or immediately release them. Some have been detained for almost four years. They have to be dealt with according to the law, not just because they are suspects and we leave them rotting there for years," said the 57-year-old politician.
"We should not allow this terrorism bogey to be used as a pretext by authoritarian regimes to suppress or oppress them."
Anwar himself was detained twice under the ISA, first in his student days as a Muslim firebrand and again in September 1998 shortly after he was sacked from the government by former premier Mahathir Mohamad. He was later jailed on charges of corruption and sodomy.
Anwar was freed on September 2 when the country's top court overturned his conviction for sodomy following Mahathir's retirement a year ago. He says the charges were fabricated to destroy his political future.
Anwar said the causes of terrorism included the problem of "dispossession" in the Palestinian conflict, the marginalisation of Muslims such as those in Thailand's troubled south and the "repression and denial of basic freedom and absence of democracy" in most Muslim countries.
But he said the "radical approach of the Bush administration and its unilateral actions" had contributed to Muslim anger and "caused a greater rift between Muslims and the United States."
"It is simplistic for President Bush to suggest the world is a safer place because certainly Iraq is not a safer place today. Terrorist cells are actually increasing, mushrooming," he said.
"I am not aware in modern times of an American leader so much resented and hated abroad."
While a tough security stance was necessary, Anwar said Bush must engage the rest of the world and "make necessary amends" so that he would not be seen as "totally oblivious to realities and so arrogant in his manner" if he wants to crush terrorism.
Anwar, who returned two weeks ago from undergoing spinal surgery in Germany, said he hoped to take on an international role to facilitate dialogue between Islam and the West.
He said he had offers from think-tanks and universities in Europe, the United States and Asia and would make a decision on his future soon.
A hectic schedule has been lined up, with speaking engagements in South Africa at the end of the month where he hopes to meet former president Nelson Mandela, in Indonesia next month, followed by Turkey and Britain.
On the home front, Anwar called for a more cohesive opposition to check the government's "utter failure" to fight corruption despite new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's pledges of reform.
He said he had "enough ammunition as a former minister of finance" against corrupt officials if the government was prepared to press charges.
Anwar laughed off being labelled a "traitor" by Abdullah and leaders of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which heads the ruling coalition and of which he was formerly deputy president.
"I am a traitor to the corrupt. What I highlighted was corruption which was endemic, the massive bailouts, the suppression of freedom and basic rights of people, and the media being used as an instrument of propaganda," he said.
Anwar, who is barred from holding public office until 2008 under laws governing convicted criminals, said he remained open about the possibility of working with Abdullah or UMNO towards reforms but had not received a response to his request for a meeting with the premier.
11/10/2004 02:04 GMT - AFP