Suaram slams arrest of minors in Penan blockade bust
| 4:38PM Nov 9, 2013 |
Human rights NGO Suaram has blasted the continuing arrest of Penans at the Murum dam blockades, especially when two minors are amongst those rounded up.
"Suaram is very concerned on the condition of two minors that been detained under the police custody.
"Malaysia has adequate laws in the Child Act 2001 that provides proper procedures of handing arrests and detention of children," said Suaram executive director. Nalini Elumalai in a statement last night.
Reminding the government that Malaysia is a signatory to various UN conventions on human rights, she said "these incidences (in Murum) indicate a blatant violation of child’s rights."
According to Nalini, among the eight arrested yesterday for defending their native rights land as the Murum dam nears completion were Tingang Lingok, 13, Philip Bujang, 16.
The NGO added that yesterday they also received information from a reliable source that another two Penan from Murum were arrested in the afternoon at the Belaga police station.
"Suaram strongly condemns the police on arbitrary arrest and detention of Penan communities in Murum," said Nalini.
She blasted the police for failing to sympathise with the problems of the local Penan communities, who were in fear of their homes being flooded as the dam fills up, affecting roughly 1,500 indigenous people
"We urge the Royal Malaysian Police to safeguard law and justice and to protect the interests of the Penan people instead of taking the side of the exploiters," she said.
Calling on the inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar to "intervene and tell his men not to interfere in the Penan people's struggle for their rights", she reminded the force that their duty was to play a "neutral role" in such disputes.
Over the past months the Penan communities have intensified their protests and erected blockades on roads leading to the dam site, after they found out that the authorities and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) have ignored their demands for compensation and proceeded with the impoundment of the RM4 billion dam last September.
Source: MalaysiaKini
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