The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has been told to investigate whether the recent decision by the Court of Appeal to reject the bail application by Anwar Ibrahim was a violation of the jailed former deputy prime minister's rights.

In a memorandum handed to Suhakam today, the Free Anwar Movement argued that it was common practice for bail to be granted to a person charged for committing sodomy.

"In spite of this, in the case of Anwar, his bail application was rejected despite he having a strong reason for the application, which is to seek medical treatment urgently," said Tian Chua, who led a 30-member delegation to the commission's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

"The Court of Appeal's decision to reject the application has strengthened the perception that the trial against Anwar is flawed," he added.

The group also urged Suhakam to probe the "political motive" behind the court's refusal to grant Anwar bail.

Anwar has completed his four-year jail sentence on corruption charges and is seeking bail while awaiting the outcome of his sodomy conviction appeal, for which he was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Missing alibi notice

The Free Anwar Movement also called the commission to ensure that Anwar's appeal be dealt fairly after the panel of the three judges denied the existence of his notice of alibi - which had been submitted to them in a court proceeding - when his appeal against the sodomy conviction was rejected in April last year.

The notice of alibi sought to show that Anwar was elsewhere when the sodomy offence was committed.

Tian Chua, who is also vice-president of the opposition Keadilan party, said the denial of the notice of alibi would adversely affect Anwar's appeal.

He told Suhakam to probe the matter to ensure that the jailed politician's right for a fair hearing is fully respected.

The former deputy premier has since lodged a police report against the three judges - Federal Court Pajan Singh Gill and Court of Appeal judges Richard Malanjun and Hashim Yusof - claiming that they had perverted the course of justice.

On Anwar's deteriorating health condition, the movement urged Suhakam to pressure the authorities to accede to Anwar's repeated requests for surgery on his bad back overseas.

The memorandum also asked the commission to give due concern on several recent gatherings organised by Anwar's supporters where a number of participants had claimed that they had been assaulted by the police.

Others at the function today were Keadilan vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub and National Human Rights Society (Hakam) secretary-general Elizabeth Wong.

30-minute demonstration

Commissioners KC Vohrah and Ranita Hussein received the memorandum on behalf of Suhakam.

Responding to the memorandum, Vohrah said that Suhakam had issued a media statement in May 2001 which stated that Anwar should be accorded rights as a prisoner, including the right to seek medical treatment.

He also reiterated that the right to hold peaceful assembly should be respected as provided under the federal constitution.

On the allegation of an unfair trial, Vohrah said commissioners were constrained from commenting on such matters as they were still pending in court.

After submitting the memorandum, the delegation were greeted by about 70 supporters outside the Suhakam's office.

The crowd was briefed on the contents of memorandum and short speeches were made under the watchful eyes of plaincloth police officers.

During the half-hour demonstration, the protestors also symbolically 'released' Anwar from jail as they chanted reformasi slogans.

Keadilan leaders took a picture of Anwar out of a bird cage to be replaced by a portrait of a person named 'M'.