- S A R A W A K B L O C K A D E S I N P E R I L -
- TO BE REMOVED IN A FEW DAYS -
Since the arrest of Anderson (Andy) Mutang Urud on February 5, 1992, we
have been in direct contact with his family. He is being treated well and has
been permitted to contact his family. Mr. Urud has been detained without
under a local ordinance and not under the Internal Security Act. Under the
local ordinance the detention period is up to 60 days. We believe that he will
either be released or advised of his release date in two weeks' time. Mr.
Urud has asked that no international actions be conducted on his behalf as
such pressure may actually compel the authorities to take strong action against
Mr. Urud. We must divert the pressure from focusing on his detention and
instead to the actions being implemented by the authorities against the
peaceful protesters at the blockade in the Penan homeland. For now, we
must not make mention of Mr. Urud's situation. These are Mr. Urud's
words.
Mr. Urud feels very strongly that his detention is part of the government's
strategy leading to the dismantling of the blockade in the Long Ajeng area.
On January 29, 1992, the authorities gave the people an ultimatum and
announced that they had two weeks before action would be taken to dismantle
the blockades (FEBRUARY 12, 1992). The detention of Mr. Urud has had
a demoralizing effect on the people at the blockades. The government will
have a much easier time implementing their move to dismantle the protest
sites without Mr. Urud being available. Also, it is likely that food provisions
for the protestors may be delayed if not discontinued altogether.
Mr. Urud's wishes are that we divert all of our energies now, linking together
peoples across the planet to draw international attention to this assault
against
the peaceful attempt by the Penan and other Dayaks to prevent the logging in
the last vestiges of their homelands. When Mr. Urud was visiting our
campaign office in Vancouver last September, he made it very clear that these
blockades represent the last attempt by the people to stop the bulldozers. For
10 years they have struggled while losing their traditional homelands,
medicines, and even clean water and food. They are physically and spiritually
exhausted. These blockades are all that stand between the Penan's
homeland and those that are profiting by its destruction. These
blockades are their last hope.
More information will follow.
For more information contact:
Adriane Carr, Executive Director--WILD Campaign; John Kramer; Sue Fox;
or Ramona Tibando;
Western Canada Wilderness Committee
20 Water Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 1A4
Ph: 604-683-8220/669-9453
Fax: 604-683-8229/669-9455
E-mail APC:WEB:wc2wild