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UA 49/92 Legal Concern/Health Concern 13 February 1992
MALAYSIA: Anderson Mutang Urud (Andy Mutang)
On 5 February 1992 police authorities arrested Anderson Mutang Urud, a
Kelabit (one of the ethnic groups in Sarawak, Malaysia), and detained him
in the police station in Pissau Garden, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. He is
reportedly suffering from a gastric disorder.
Although the Malaysian government has not made public the reason for his
arrest, Amnesty International believes that he may have been arrested
because of his non-violent activities against logging operations in the
State of Sarawak, Malaysia including participation in local and
international campaigns to stop logging and deforestation in Sarawak.
Andy Mutang, as he is popularly called, is a member of the Sarawak
Indigenous People's Alliance (SIPA), a group established in 1991 to operate
an information and research centre promoting sustainable land use, to work
with indigenous communities affected by logging, to liaise between
organizations and people interested in alternative development and
agriculture, and to promote the trade of local indigenous craft.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The arrest was reportedly made under the Emergency (Public Order and
Prevention of Crime) Ordinance, 1969 which provides for detention without
charge or trial. Under Section 3(1) of this Ordinance anyone may be
arrested without a warrant who is deemed by the authorities "of having
acted or being about to act or being likely to act in any manner
prejudicial to public order". Those arrested may be held for 60 days
without either being charged or having to appear before a court, and may
thereafter be given detention orders specifying any period not exceeding
two years.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telegrams/telexes/express and airmail letters:
- expressing concern at the arrest and detention without charge or trial
of Andy Mutang under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime)
Ordinance, 1969 on 5 February 1992;
- requesting that Andy Mutang be released immediately and unconditionally
if he is not to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence;
- requesting that Andy Mutang be provided immediate access to adequate
medical facilities;
- urging the government to ensure that the fundamental human rights of
Andy Mutang are upheld in accordance with internationally accepted legal
standards.
APPEALS TO: [Salutation]
Prime Minister of Malaysia: [Dear Prime Minister]
YAB Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's Office
Jalan Dato Onn
50502 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(Telegrams: Prime Minister Mahathir, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
(Telexes: 784 33099 PERMA MA; 784 30091 LARAS MA;
784 30098 EPUPM MA (for attention of Prime Minister Mahathir)
Chief Minister of Sarawak: [Dear Minister]
YAB Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud
Chief Minister of Sarawak
Office of the Chief Minister
Kuching
Sarawak, Malaysia (Telegrams: Chief Minister, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia)
COPIES TO:
Minister of Justice:
YB Datuk Syed Hamid bin Syed Jaafar Albar
Ministry of Justice
21st Floor
Bangunan Kuwasa
Jalan Raja Laut
50506 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Attorney-General:
Datuk Sri Datuk Abu Talib Othman
Attorney General
20th Floor, Bangunana Bank Rakyat
Jalan Raja Laut
50506 Malaysia
Embassy:
Ambassador Dato Mohamed Abdul Majid
Embassy of Malaysia
2401 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington DC 20008
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the Colorado office between
9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after
March 30, 1992.
===
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