(18 Feb 2001) Natural Sound
XFA
Police hurled tear gas canisters and sprayed chemically-laced water on Sunday on more than 250 anti-government demonstrators outside a Malaysian court where opposition leaders were facing charges.
At least seven protesters were arrested during scuffles, and organisers from the National Justice Party said at least 12 were injured by police who hit or kicked them.
The protesters gathered at the gates of the courthouse in Kulim, 217 miles north of Kuala Lumpur, waving banners denouncing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has led the country for 19 years.
They ignored police orders to disperse and shouted "Mahathir step down, Mahathir step down!" as riot officers moved in with batons and rattan canes.
Nine National Justice Party leaders were in court for a preliminary hearing on charges of interfering with a by-election last year.
They are accused of illegally detaining busloads of pro-government supporters to prevent them from voting in the November 29 by-election in Mahathir's home state of Kedah.
Mahathir's United Malays National Organization lost the by-election.
Hearing of the clashes outside, the defendants disrupted the hearing by walking out of the courtroom.
They agreed to return after the rally quieted.
Sunday's protest was the third opposition rally to be broken up by police this week.
On Saturday, police wielding canes and backed by water cannons chased about 500 anti-Mahathir protesters through the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
On Wednesday, police used tear gas to disperse about 5,000 people at a rally in Mahathir's parliamentary constituency.
The President of the Youth National Justice Party, Mohamad Ezham, said he believed orders had come from the highest level to disrupt their protest.
Police officials approached at the demonstrations declined to comment.
Many of the protesters on Sunday wore badges reading "Free Anwar" - a reference to the jailed former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
Ibrahim founded the National Justice Party after he was fired by Mahathir in 1998 following disagreements about economic policy.
He was later convicted of corruption and sodomy on charges he insists were trumped up by Mahathir's government.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We make a gentleman's agreement this morning. They allow us to assemble peacefully. I think we are peaceful enough but suddenly they get the direction from the political master to disperse by force our people."
SUPER CAPTION: Mohamad Ezham, President of the Youth National Justice Party
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