Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUALALUMPUR1694
2007-12-11 09:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

EMBASSY RAISES CONCERNS OVER FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY,

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8571
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #1694/01 3450933
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 110933Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0354
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2429
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0361
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001694 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS MY
SUBJECT: EMBASSY RAISES CONCERNS OVER FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY,
ISA

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 1691 - HUMAN RIGHTS DAY ARRESTS


B. KUALA LUMPUR 1684 - GOM TRIES TO KEEP LID ON

C. KUALA LUMPUR 1664 - WARNINGS ON FUTURE PROTESTS

D. KUALA LUMPUR 1647 - POLICE BREAK UP PROTEST

E. KUALA LUMPUR 1646 - ARRESTS AHEAD OF RALLY

F. KUALA LUMPUR 1613 - BERSIH RALLY DRAWS TENS OF

G. THOUSANDS

H. KUALA LUMPUR 1377 - TERENGGANU RIOT

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001694

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS MY
SUBJECT: EMBASSY RAISES CONCERNS OVER FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY,
ISA

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 1691 - HUMAN RIGHTS DAY ARRESTS


B. KUALA LUMPUR 1684 - GOM TRIES TO KEEP LID ON

C. KUALA LUMPUR 1664 - WARNINGS ON FUTURE PROTESTS

D. KUALA LUMPUR 1647 - POLICE BREAK UP PROTEST

E. KUALA LUMPUR 1646 - ARRESTS AHEAD OF RALLY

F. KUALA LUMPUR 1613 - BERSIH RALLY DRAWS TENS OF

G. THOUSANDS

H. KUALA LUMPUR 1377 - TERENGGANU RIOT

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).



1. (C) Summary: Embassy raised concerns over freedom of
assembly with two senior Malaysian officials on December 6
and December 11, respectively, in light of the continued
arrests of opposition and civil society organizers of rallies
critical of the government. An advisor to the Prime Minister
on internal security matters noted that PM Abdullah is under
pressure from hardliners within his ruling UMNO party to take
tough action against anti-government protest organizers. PM
Abdullah would invoke ISA detention without trial if advised
to do so for the sake of national stability, and this would
trump any international concern. A Foreign Ministry official
stated that an ethnic Indian group's exaggerated claims of
"ethnic cleansing" threatened racial harmony in Malaysia.
End Summary.


2. (C) Polchief met on December 6 with Wan Farid, Political
Secretary to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi in Abdullah's

SIPDIS
role as Minister for Internal Security, and raised the issue
of recent public protests and the Malaysian government's
response. Wan Farid focused on the November 25 demonstration
by ethnic Indians and said the GOM recognized a risk that the
situation could deteriorate into inter-racial conflict,
adding the government would continue to take serious measures
to prevent this outcome. The GOM did not want
counter-demonstrations by Malays, and had stopped two
attempts by groups affiliated with the ruling United Malays
National Organization (UMNO) party to stage protests,
including one associated with rumors of a December 16 Malay

rally. A martial arts association sponsored by UMNO,
Perkida, was one such group.


3. (C) Wan Farid stated that UMNO party rank-in-file are
extremely angry at recent protests, particularly that by the
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf),and want Abdullah to
take tough action against past and would-be demonstrators who
are perceived as threatening Malaysia's multiracial social
compact. GOM officials are balancing these political
pressures with the realization that harsh actions could
backfire and make matters worse, Wan Farid acknowledged.


4. (C) PM Abdullah recently told Inspector General of Police
Musa Hassan and Wan Farid that he (the Prime Minister) is
willing to approve use of the Internal Security Act (ISA,
which provides for detention without trial),and he will not
hesitate to make that decision if he receives "professional
advice" that ISA is needed to preserve national stability.
(Comment: PM Abdullah has repeated this general point in
public. End Comment.) Wan Farid recognized that ISA
detention could create martyrs out of government opponents.


5. (C) Polchief told Wan Farid that the Malaysian
government's tough law enforcement approach to the public
rallies was attracting negative international attention and
questions regarding democratic freedoms in Malaysia. While
noting the GOM's expressed intent to safeguard public order
and security, Polchief raised concerns that a Malaysian
decision to invoke ISA against government critics would be
perceived very negatively outside Malaysia, and could
inadvertently increase the political stature of those
detained without trial. Wan Farid responded sharply that
"political stability outweighs international concerns," and
reiterated that the Prime Minister would authorize use of ISA
if "professionals" advised him to do so.


6. (C) Polchief met with Ambassador Ramlan Ibrahim, head of
the Americas Division at the Foreign Ministry, on December
11, and highlighted the adverse international attention to
Malaysia's recent handling of public rallies and the arrest
of organizers. Polchief noted U.S. principled support for
basic civil liberties, such as freedom of assembly. (Note:
This meeting followed the arrest of opposition party
officials and lawyers attempting to carry out a Human Rights
Day march on December 9, ref A. End Note.) Malaysia was
attracting criticism for curtailing freedom of assembly and
threatening to use ISA against opposition and NGO organizers,

KUALA LUMP 00001694 002 OF 002


Polchief said. Ramlan stated that Hindraf in particular was
spreading lies regarding Malaysia, including outrageous
claims of "ethnic cleansing," and this threatened racial
harmony and national stability. The GOM would enforce the
law in the interests of the wider public. Of course, Ramlan
added, it was important to remember that these events were
playing out in the run up to the next national election.


7. (C) Comment: Senior Embassy officers will continue to
raise concerns over respect for basic civil liberties with
Malaysian officials. In doing so, we will be careful to make
clear that we are not in anyway interfering in partisan
politics, a critical point given Malaysia's pre-election
environment. Septel reports the December 11 arrests of over
20 persons in connection with an aborted demonstration at
Parliament. Those arrested include a number of senior
opposition party officials.
KEITH