Angie Zelter, a forty year old British woman from East Runton in
Norfolk, has been sentenced to eighty days imprisonment by a Malaysian
court. She will also serve a further seven days in preference to
paying a five hundred Malaysian dollars (one hundred British pounds)
fine.
Angie is one of eight first world environmental activists who
undertook a peaceful protest in Sarawak on 5th July against the
logging of Sarawak's rainforests. The eight had climbed aboard logging
barges, hung banners, and chained themselves to cranes in the port of
Miri. Angie and one other first world activist pleaded not guilty to a
charge of criminal trespass and public nuisance.
SARAWAK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE RECEIVE HEAVY JAIL SENTENCES
FOR ATTEMPTS TO PROTECT THEIR LAND FROM LOGGERS
Angie and the other jailed rainforest protesters from the first world
join a number of Sarawak's indigenous people in jail. Eight indigenous
people were recently sentenced to between six and nine months for
peacefully blockading logging roads in an attempt to protect from
destruction the rainforest territory which represents their
livelihood. They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge of criminal
intimidation. All have dependent families.
In the ruling, the magistrate said that the severity of the sentences
reflected a "deterrent factor" and that this was a matter of "public
policy". He also indicated that these types of cases (attempts to
protect indigenous territories against logging operations) are
"rampant" in Sarawak. He stated that they "cannot take the law into
their own hands.... There are other ways to settle disputes."
Over the last two and a half years, one hundred and fifty families in
Sarawak have erected between twenty and thirty blockades. During this
time, they have made repeated appeals to the local authorities and
timber camps, and to the rest of the world, to stop the logging.
Attempted legal action to stop the logging has been frustrated by
delays of years in complaints coming to court.
Sarawak has the highest rate of rainforest logging anywhere in the
world, and is expected to be completely logged out within seven years.
Its timber is extracted almost entirely to meet consumer demand in
Japan, and the other developed countries including Britain. Hundreds
of thousands of indigenous people from various tribes are now
suffering from the resultant destruction of food sources and the
pollution of rivers on which they depend. Despite international
protests against the devastation, the rate of logging has actually
increased.
RESOURCES FOR MEDIA USE
Colour slides and broadcast quality video footage of the Sarawak
indigenous people's blockades are available on request. This recent
video footage (filmed on 22nd July) shows 30 minutes of a blockade by
533 people of the Penan tribe, accompanied by two pigs and
thirty-three dogs. It includes interviews with tribal headmen. This
blockade is thought to still be in place.
Photographs and video footage of the Sarawak protest by first world
activists is also available, including broadcast quality footage of a
five minute interview with one of the activists arrested, during her
time on bail.
Angie Zelter's diaries are available for media use. These detail her
experiences in Sarawak, including the protest and her eighteen days
already served in prison. There is also a briefing on the legal
arguments relating to her detention.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Earth First! Tel/Fax 081-806-1561.
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