By Baradan Kuppusamy
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 2004 (IPS)

The gruesome deaths in south Thailand was on the mind of Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s most famous dissident and best known moderate Muslim reformist leader, as he set foot on Malaysian soil after spending two months abroad seeking medical treatment for spinal injuries made worse during his time in a local jail.

The former Malaysian deputy prime minister expressed grave concern over the escalating crisis and condemned Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s claim that 78 Muslim men who suffocated while in military custody died because they were weakened by fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The 78 were part of a group of 1,300 protesters crammed into trucks by troops after they broke up a demonstration in Tak Bai in southern Narathiwat province last Monday.

At least six others were also shot dead at the protest and three others were found drowned in a river near the protest site, officials said.

”I urge Thaksin to resolve the problems in a just and fair manner without relying too much on the security forces,” Anwar told IPS on Sunday, when he landed in the capital city after being away in Germany for spinal surgery.

”The Muslim problem (in south Thailand) is related to poverty and lack of development. I am deeply saddened by the tragedy and urge all parties not to prolong the conflict as it would escalate out of control,” he added.

While Anwar expressed his concern over the escalating violence in southern Thailand and promised to fight for justice and democracy in the region and at home, his supporters, however, had to battle police merely to greet him at the airport.

The former deputy Prime Minister returned home to a rousing welcome from thousands of jubilant supporters who had earlier scuffled with police and broke through several layers of tight police cordon that to some opposition leaders brought back memories of the heavy handed crackdowns that were common when Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister.

Thousands of supporters were turned away at police roadblocks mounted on all approaches to the airport. Many carried placards that read ”Anwar for a New Malaysia.”

”Why the heavy security…why the crackdown when they only brought flowers not bullets?” asked Anwar as hundreds of supporters shouted ”Reformasi! Reformasi!” – the old battle cry that had brought thousands into the street demanding respect for human rights and space for freedom of expression.

”We are all brothers…we reject the politics of using Muslims to scare non-Muslims and non-Muslims to scare Muslims. We will work for justice and equality for all races,” Anwar told cheering supporters.

Anwar was Mahathir’s deputy and heir-apparent to the premiership before being sacked in 1998 and later jailed on charges which he said were cooked up to prevent him challenging Mahathir for the leadership.

While undergoing interrogation he was beaten by the then inspector-general of police, which aggravated a spinal injury caused by a horse-riding accident. For years, he could not walk unaided and had to use a wheel chair and a neck brace to support his spine.

Anwar had already served a sentence for allegedly using his position to cover up charges of sexual misconduct when the country’s highest court overturned his separate conviction for sodomy on Sep. 2 and set him free.

The Federal Court, however, upheld a corruption charge, which means that he is barred from holding political office or contesting in elections for five years until 2008.

Supporters have appealed to the King to pardon him, an act that would lift the ban.

Anwar said he would press present Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi further to reform the judiciary and to ease the pressure on opposition parties.

”Our judiciary is still not fully independent,” he said.

Anwar also charged that corruption was still rampant despite Abdullah’s pledge to weed it out.

”A new chapter starts today in our struggle for a just society free of fear, malice and corruption. Corruption is rampant and the economy is in deep deficit,” he told his supporters standing unaided.

Taken together, some analysts believe Anwar’s return to politics, his international standing as a moderate Islamic leader and his charismatic pull on young, western educated Malays is set to challenge the political establishment and radically alter the political landscape.

That aside, Anwar has also kept open the option of rejoining the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) now headed by Abdullah even as he reiterates he will remain with the opposition.

It is a possibility that some in Anwar’s camp hope for and an option that others fear.

There is also deep division within Anwar’s National Justice Party over how to relate to the equally reformist minded Abdullah whose soft spoken, common-man style has a huge following. Abdullah is equally respected like Anwar for his Islamic erudition.

”Even if Abdullah is willing to accommodate Anwar, Abdullah is coming under real pressure from Mahathir’s faction in UMNO to check Anwar’s political comeback,” a political analyst told IPS. ”Anwar has to be careful not to appear that he wants to overturn the boat or he might end up imprisoned again.”

But despite such fears there is also hope that Anwar’s return opens a new chapter in Malaysian politics.

”What we had waited for has finally arrived, our typhoon to bring the changes we had long desired has finally arrived and he is before us,” said Hassan Ali, vice president of the Parti Islam se Malaysia in a speech to thousands of supporters gathered at Anwar’s house on Sunday.

”Anwar will reunite the opposition, he will infuse new vigour into us, he will change the country’s political landscape,” he said. ”He is the only man who can pull it.”

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