Two reformasi websites - the Free Anwar Campaign and Black14 - which were removed by its British-based web hosting provider 12 days ago, has been reinstated.

According to International Free Anwar Campaign director Raja Petra Kamarudin, webhost Easyspace had closed his site on Dec 11 without any prior indication.

Contacted today, Raja Petra said he had been informed this morning that Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had taken up the matter with Easyspace, which then pledged to put the site back up. This was done within 30 minutes.

His information could not be independently verified by malaysiakini, but a check confirmed that the site is now accessible.

The website served primarily as the international lobby network for the release of the jailed former Malaysian deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, and has provided vocal support for the reformasi movement since July 2000.

Anwar is currently serving a nine-year prison term for sodomy after having served a six-year sentence for corruption. His applications for bail and against the conviction are pending.

Meanwhile, the Black14 website, which was launched to commemorate the day when Anwar was convicted for corruption on April 14, 2000, is also back online.

Complainant named

Raja Petra said that Easyspace had acted on complaints by a Malaysian now residing in Australia, regarding an article posted last month on the website.

He also said the web host had clarified that the complainant had alleged the website contained "defamatory" - not "inflammatory" - material, as indicated in its earlier email to him.

"(Easyspace) said it will review the content and advise me whether it shares the complainant's view," Raja Petra said.

"If they feel that it is defamatory, they may take it out from the website's archives. But it does not matter to me if they do this."

The article, written by Raja Petra, alleged a conspiracy involving the Sydney-based Malaysian, Australian television channel Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) and Malaysian national news agency Bernama.

This was in relation to reports in October that linked FAC and Anwar to terrorist organisations, a charge that both have denied.