NEWS RELEASES

August 9, 2000 (3:05 p.m. EDT) No. 196

CANADA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER MALAYSIAN CONVICTIONS

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Finance Minister Paul Martin and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan today expressed Canada's deep concern over the convictions of Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Sukma Darmawan, on charges of sodomy.

Mr. Anwar received a nine-year prison term while Mr. Sukma was sentenced to six years in prison and four strokes of the cane. The convictions are a result of a trial held in Kuala Lumpur that Canada believes was seriously flawed. Minister Axworthy said that the failure of the trial to meet international human rights standards highlights the international community's serious concerns about the Malaysian judicial system.

Mr. Axworthy quoted the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Abid Hussain, who in his report on Malaysia stated that, "the executive should not be permitted to use the judiciary in such a manner that would be seen by the people as an attempt to restrict their rights. The impartiality of the judiciary should not be called into question."

"Canada is concerned over the deterioration of the independence of Malaysia's judicial system. Furthermore, allegations of misconduct against senior judges in that country are diminishing the credibility of the entire legal process," Minister Axworthy said. "We have called in the Malaysian High Commissioner today to register our consternation directly with governmental authorities over Mr. Anwar's trial and sentencing."

"Mr. Anwar is a respected colleague and a man of integrity, who in his capacity as Finance Minister showed strong dedication to enhancing the financial well-being of the Malaysian people," said Minister Martin. "The international community notes with concern the irregularities in his trial, which reflect poorly on the impartiality of Malaysia's judicial system."

"An erosion of confidence in the rule of law in Malaysia not only threatens democracy in that country but also raises questions about the current government's respect for human rights and good governance," said Mr. Chan.

Mr. Axworthy noted that the convictions of Mr. Anwar and Mr. Sukma were the most glaring examples of the deterioration in Malaysia's judicial system over the past few years. He also cited past convictions, as well as current trials of Malaysian opposition and NGO figures, such as Lim Guan Eng, Irene Fernandez, Karpal Singh and journalists such as Canadian Murray Hiebert.

Mr. Axworthy called on the Malaysian government to restore the independence and credibility of the legal system by following recommendations made recently by the UN human rights rapporteurs and by the international legal community in a report entitled, "Justice in Jeopardy: Malaysia in 2000." The report, published jointly by the International Bar Association, the Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers of the International Commission of Jurists, Commonwealth Lawyers' Association and Union International des Avocats, is available on the Internet at http://www.ibanet.org/misc/pressrel.asp.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Hilary Humphrey

Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)

(613) 995-1852

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Nathalie Gauthier

Office of the Minister of Finance

(613) 996-7861

This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca.