The gruesome deaths in south Thailand was on the mind of Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's most famous dissident and best known moderate Muslim reformist leader, as he set foot on Malaysian soil after spending two months abroad seeking medical treatment for spinal injuries made worse during his time in jail.

The former deputy prime minister expressed grave concern over the escalating crisis and condemned Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's claim that 78 Muslim men who suffocated while in military custody died because they were
weakened by fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The 78 were part of a group of 1,300 protesters crammed into trucks by troops
after they broke up a demonstration in Tak Bai in southern Narathiwat province
last Monday.

At least six others were also shot dead at the protest and three others were
found drowned in a river near the protest site, officials said.

''I urge Thaksin to resolve the problems in a just and fair manner without
relying too much on the security forces,'' Anwar told IPS on Sunday, when he
landed in the capital city after being away in Germany for spinal surgery.

''The Muslim problem (in south Thailand) is related to poverty and lack of
development. I am deeply saddened by the tragedy and urge all parties not to
prolong the conflict as it would escalate out of control,'' he added.

Rousing welcome

While Anwar expressed his concern over the escalating violence in southern
Thailand and promised to fight for justice and democracy in the region and at
home, his supporters, however, had to battle police merely to greet him at the
airport.

The former deputy Prime Minister returned home to a rousing welcome from
thousands of jubilant supporters who had earlier scuffled with police and broke
through several layers of tight police cordon that to some opposition leaders
brought back memories of the heavy handed crackdowns that were common when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister.

Thousands of supporters were turned away at police roadblocks mounted on all
approaches to the airport. Many carried placards that read ''Anwar for a New
Malaysia.''

''Why the heavy security...why the crackdown when they only brought flowers not bullets?'' asked Anwar as hundreds of supporters shouted ''Reformasi!
Reformasi!'' - the old battle cry that had brought thousands into the street
demanding respect for human rights and space for freedom of expression.

''We are all brothers...we reject the politics of using Muslims to scare
non-Muslims and non-Muslims to scare Muslims. We will work for justice and
equality for all races,'' Anwar told cheering supporters.

Anwar was Mahathir's deputy and heir-apparent to the premiership before being
sacked in 1998 and later jailed on charges which he said were cooked up to
prevent him challenging Mahathir for the leadership.

While undergoing interrogation he was beaten by the then inspector-general of
police, which aggravated a spinal injury caused by a horse-riding accident. For
years, he could not walk unaided and had to use a wheel chair and a neck brace to support his spine.

Anwar had already served a sentence for allegedly using his position to cover up charges of sexual misconduct when the country's highest court overturned his
separate conviction for sodomy on Sep 2 and set him free.

The Federal Court, however, upheld a corruption charge, which means that he is barred from holding political office or contesting in elections for five years
until 2008.

Supporters have appealed to the King to pardon him, an act that would lift the ban.

Freeing the judiciary

Anwar said he would press present Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi further to reform the judiciary and to ease the pressure on opposition parties.

''Our judiciary is still not fully independent,'' he said.

Anwar also charged that corruption was still rampant despite Abdullah's pledge
to weed it out.

''A new chapter starts today in our struggle for a just society free of fear, malice and corruption. Corruption is rampant and the economy is in deep deficit,'' he told his supporters standing unaided.

Taken together, some analysts believe Anwar's return to politics, his international standing as a moderate Islamic leader and his charismatic pull on
young, western educated Malays is set to challenge the political establishment
and radically alter the political landscape.

That aside, Anwar has also kept open the option of rejoining the ruling Umnonow headed by Abdullah even as he reiterates he will remain with the opposition.

It is a possibility that some in Anwar's camp hope for and an option that others
fear.

Changes desired

There is also deep division within Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat over how to
relate to the equally reformist minded Abdullah whose soft spoken, common-man style has a huge following. Abdullah is equally respected like Anwar for his
Islamic erudition.

''Even if Abdullah is willing to accommodate Anwar, Abdullah is coming under real
pressure from Mahathir's faction in Umno to check Anwar's political comeback,'' a political analyst told IPS.

''Anwar has to be careful not to appear that he wants to overturn the boat or he might end up imprisoned again.''

But despite such fears there is also hope that Anwar's return opens a new chapter in Malaysian politics.

''What we had waited for has finally arrived, our typhoon to bring the changes we had long desired has finally arrived and he is before us,'' said Hassan Ali, vice president of PAS in a speech to thousands of supporters gathered at Anwar's house on Sunday.

''Anwar will reunite the opposition, he will infuse new vigour into us, he will
change the country's political landscape,'' he said. ''He is the only man who
can pull it.''