APEC meets in shadow of pro-Anwar agitations

The crowd was seen carrying banners calling for “reformasi”, or reforms, the same call which toppled veteran Indonesian leader Suharto in May.

“This is the beginning of our struggle for Malaysians to be on the international stage, struggling for democracy, human rights and against imperialism,” Malaysian opposition coalition leader Tian Chua said.

It was the second day in a series of protests after hundreds of people tried yesterday to march on the hotel where United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was staying. Some of them were brandishing banners calling on the US President Bill Clinton to intervene in thecountry’s worst political crisis in decades.

If Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had hoped to quell the protests over the ousting of his long-time protege more than two months ago, weekly demonstrations at home and international concern have ensured that it has stayed firmly in the spotlight.