NEWS UPDATE: Malaysian indigenous leaders released on bail
Dear friends,
we are just receiving the notice that all 15 indigenous leaders arrested
earlier today for trying to send a memorandum to Sarawak Chief Minister Taib
Mahmud have been released on bail (3000 Malaysian Ringgits each). They have
been summoned to appear in court on 29 September 2009.
The Bruno Manser Fund, along with a great number of NGOs in Malaysia and
worldwide, is asking the Sarawak authorities to drop all charges against the
arrested indigneous leaders and to apologize to them for such a conduct.
Thank you for your support and consideration,
Your BMF team
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(earlier message as of 16 September 2009:)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,
Bruno Manser Fund has just received the news that 15 environmental advocates
and indigenous leaders have been arrested for handing out a memo to Sarawak's
Chief Minister Taib Mahmud in protest against Sarawak's devastating dam
projects. We ask you to urgently protest with Malaysian embassies woldwide
against the arbeitrary arrest of civil society advocates. Please find miore
information below.
In a separate development, we have come to know that the Sarawak police have
dismantled the Penan's logging road blockades in Malaysia's Lower Baram region.
We currently lack detailed information on this and will provide more news soon.
The Bruno Manser Fund condemns the Sarawak political leadership's incapacity to
deal with citizens who use their democratic rights in a civilized way and asks
the police to immediately release all the arrested citizens.
Your BMF team
More information will follow
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URGENT ALERT – ARREST OF JOAS LEADERS
16 September 2009
As Malaysia commemorates its 46th anniversary, 15 indigenous Sarawakians have
been detained by Kuching police at 2:45pm today for trying to send a memorandum
of protest to the Sarawak Chief Minister. Among those arrested are Mark Bujang
(BRIMAS), Raymond Abin (BRIMAS) and Hellan Empaing (WADESA), all leaders of the
Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia) as well
as representatives from the Kayan, Kenyah and Penan communities of Sarawak.
The contingent, consisting of 6 Penan, 4 Iban, 2 Kayan and 3 Kenyah are all
representatives of communities who will be affected by two major dams which are
being built in their areas. They had prepared a memorandum on the issue and were
delivering it to Wisma Bapa Malaysia, the office of the Chief Minister. While
waiting for endorsement of the document, they were arrested by local police.
They are currently being held in the Kampung Gita Police Station in Petra Jaya,
Kuching, Sarawak. It is uncertain whether they are being charged, or what
reasons are being given for their detention.
Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia strongly condemns the detention of its members
who were attempting to deliver a memorandum on behalf of the indigenous peoples
of the Baram and Murum areas of Sarawak. The memorandum protested the State
Government’s actions to build hydro electric dams in these areas without the
free, prior and informed consent of the communities affected and without due
regards to the status of the native lands involved. The actions of the State
Government are in clear contradiction to the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, which Malaysia strongly supports.
We also condemn the use of arrest to intimidate and silence the voices of the
communities who are questioning the construction of large dams on the area.
This demonstrates the unwillingness of the State Government to ensure the full
and effective participation of indigenous peoples in projects that affect them.
We call upon the Sarawak State Government to immediately release all fifteen
Sarawakians and engage in a proper consultative process with the affected
communities. We also call for the respect of the constitutional native land
rights of these communities. It is also in violation of the right to peaceful
assembly, guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.
Take action:
1. URGENT: Please phone the Gita police station and ask after the well-being of
the activists, ask what they are being charged with and demand their
unconditional release in line with Constitutional guarantees of freedom of
assembly (Article 10). Tel: ++6 082-254417
2. Write to the following:
Chief Minister of Sarawak
YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud
Chief Minister of Sarawak
22nd Floor, Wisma Bapa Malaysia,
Petra Jaya, 93502 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
mustaphah@sarawaknet.gov.my
FAX: +6082-444566
2. YB Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot
State Secretary of Sarawak
20th Floor, Wisma Bapa Malaysia
Petra Jaya, 93502 Kuching,
Sarawak, Malaysia
wilsonbd@sarawaknet.gov.my
FAX: +6082-441677
3. Datu Haji Abdul Razak Tready
Sarawak Attorney-General
State AG’s Chambers
Level 16, Wisma Bapa Malaysia,
Petra Jaya
93502 Kuching,
Sarawak, Malaysia
razakt@sarawaknet.gov.my
FAX: +6082-440525
4. Tan Sri Musa bin Dato’ Hj Hassan
Ketua Polis Negara
Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia
Bukit Aman,50560 Kuala Lumpur
musa@rmp.gov.my
FAX: +603-22731326
5. Datuk Mohmed Salleh
Ketua Polis Negeri
Ibupejabat Polis Kontinjen Sarawak
Polis Diraja Malaysia
Jalan Badruddin,93560 Kuching,
Sarawak, Malaysia
mohmad@rmp.gov.my
FAX: +6082-257664
(16 September 2009)
