Dear Freinds,
Here's a letter from Jake, seems they're going fine-
and making plans. Seems they might be out by the time we're in!!
Today the prosecution's case finished and we entered a submission
of no case to answer based on the fact that our intention was to
stop the logging not to annoy the person in possession of the
barge. The Penan blockade was finally announced in a Brunei
published paper. It's good to know the people of OZ know. I hope
you have received my messages over the past few days-especially
the reports on the Tatau case.
If the judge finds that there is no case to answer; ( which there
may well be) we'd be released tomorrow - then they have the
option to lay down extra charges. If not then we start our
defence; which may, once again, take a couple of days. The
waiting is getting wearying - especially since the verdict may
allready be set!
Anyway, spirits are strong and I'll send more info soon!
For Mother Earth
Anja.
***************************************************************
>From JAGOFF:
Dear RICers,
Just wanted to drop ya'll a note and express my profound
boredom with life in Penjara Pusat ( Central Prison - Miri).
However after six years of being on the activist's treadmill,
seven weeks behind bars has allowed me to take a step back,
reflect and ponder and generally purge my system of life's
temptations and Jagoff's detox period if you will. In the
process of coping with this experience, I've managed to make
some good friends amongst my fellow action participants as
well as the inmates and guards here. The later bunch have
given my wandering mind a window into the reality of life in
Sarawak. Suffice to say, it ain't no picnic!
As for the former, I've gotten to know the two German
activists Ralf Carsten from Robin Wood and Jake Burbridge from
England EF! the best cuz we don't see the women too often.
We're organising an EF! European Rainforest Roadshow focussing
on direct action\deep ecology as a more effective approach to
protecting rainforests and involving interested members of the
genus Homo Shitticus Stupidicus. We've tentatively planned for
January/February of 92 with the tour starting in England and
then heading over to the Netherlands, France, Germany and
Switzerland. I'm looking to land some or an EF! musician as
well as other speakers\activists with backgrounds that lend
themselves to direct action towards rainforest preservation.
Revo, I know Seed's leaving for the States for the 15th but if
you could pass this on to him he may be interested himself or
at least willing to sell the proposal to some of my cohorts 373
back in my neck of the woods.
At Anja's and Angie's trial last week, Anja told me that
Chaelundi is happening, i.e. besieged by loggers and the
Forestry Commission Slimeballs. She said the Rainforest Van
distinquished itself once again. Perhaps when I return to the
far North Coast, we'll have to honor the machine fighting the
industrial mega-machine with a small ceremonial: nothing big,
you know, a few kegs and bottles of sour mush, various green
substances and various speakers, musicians and passengers who
are willing to offer a testimonial to its ethos.
Physically, I feel fine though I've lost ten to fifteen pounds
or so, but my knee seems to be getting stronger. I've been
playing basketball everyday which fulfills Jagoff's athletic
desires and keeps my mind off the situation that we've
enmashed ourselves in. I imagine by now the clamour and shock
waves of our undertaking has died down considerably, but I
feel good that here in Sarawak the issues remain alive despite
the obvious slant against us.
Angie's and Anja's trial.....(who line missing-ed) Chinese
communities. The five of us who will be released on August
21st, Jake B on the 24th and Ralf, Nirbhao (name illegible-ed)
and Nancy on the 30th) are intending to do a press conference
in Singapore on the 2nd of September. Our purpose is to
rearticulate the real reasons why we ventured to Sarawak and
embarked on the action. I feel like we need to refocus the
public's eyes and ears back on the issues of rainforest
destruction and the cultural desintegration of the Dayaks.
Certainly what we did was newsworthy and unprecedented and
spending two months in prison for a criminal tresspassing was
a clear indication of the powers of repression in Malaysia,
but they're insignificant when put in the context of the
bigger picture.
I'd like to spend some time back in OZ doing some more follow
up work with the media in Sydney, Canberra, possibly Melbourne
and certainly locally. Tell Penny and Gummy I'm extremely
disappointed about missing out on my journey to PNG, but alas
there will be other trips of which I hope to be part of.
Jagoff has not and will not forget my previous committments
and responsibilities to this besieged wilderness stronghold!
By now the financial accounts Dept. of Lismore Base Hospital
must be breathing down everyone's neck at the office and #13,
but assure them I'll pay up when I return to OZ. I've got $212
remaining from the $1200 I took over which will only cover my
airfare back to Singapore. The other bummer for yours trully
is that I purchased a special discount ticket for $890 from
the Lismore Flight Center on bulk air which expired on the
30th of July ( only good for 6 weeks). Now I'm going to try
and get a doctor's excuse that says I was medically unfit to
fly but there is no guarantee. Apparently Anja told me she
checked on one way flights back to Australia and was quoted a
price of $1400. I'd sooner fucking swim. It's incredible that 3n3
it costs more to fly back than a return ticket but that's the
airline business. The long and short of this unusually
disgusting plea for money is that I might need ya'll to wire
me some coins to get my scruffy, bearded ass home. I love you
all (even you woo-woo flakes I think) and miss the cosy
confines of #13. 'Look forward to my dubious return! Bury my
heart at Kuala Baram. Jake.