4th October 1993
Malaysian Security Forces Attacked Penan Blockade !
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Reliable sources from Sarawak alerted that the 9 month old strong
blockade set up by the Penan people at Long Mobui had been destroyed
with brute force in the afternoon of 3rd October 1993.
It was also reported that 28 Penans from the blockade had been
arrested. However, it is not clear whether anyone had been injured in
the attack. The police and the airforce are believed to be responsible
for this violent attack against the Penan people who have been staging
a peaceful blockade to protect the rainforest in the area which they
depended on for survival. No other information is available at this
stage but the Penan people in the area have sent messages out to all
concerned organisations and individuals around the world about their
plight. They are urging the international community to protest to the
Malaysian government for this violent treatment and they also wish to
draw your attention to the connection between the tropical timber
trade and genocide.
This blockade was set up in January this year and had survived
many attempts by the Sarawak authorities to have it dismantled. In
recent months the Penan people at the blockade have been taking turns
to mind the blockade with 200 people stationed at the site at all
times. Logging company is reported to be trying to make in road
from other areas to access one of the few remaining primary
forests in Sarawak.
It was also reported that on the 28th of September, the police
used tear gas against the Penans at the blockade and arrested 11
people. They were taken to Marudi for detention.
What you can do
(1) Alert organisations and individuals concerned with human rights
and rainforest about this violent attack;
(2) Protest to the Malaysian consulate or embassy in your local area;
(3) Write to the following leaders in Malaysia, condemning their
violent action and gross violation of human rights;
Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohammad Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji
Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdul Taib Mahmud
Jabatan Perdana Menteri The Chief Minister of Sarawak
Jalan Dato Onn Bangunan Tunku Abdul Rahman
50502 Kuala Lumpur Petra Jaya
Malaysia 93300 Kuching
Sarawak
(4) Call for an immediate ban on the Malaysian timber;
(5) Do whatever you can to publicise the plight of the Indigenous
peoples in Sarawak and in particular protest against the use of
force against Penans who were trying to protect their rights
to their culture and land using peaceful means.
Thank you for your attention. Please respond as soon as you can !
For more information please contact Lee of Hak Hak Manusia at
61-3-417 7448 (tel/fax)
Note : This is an amended version of the previous Urgent Alert put out
several hours ago after further communication with the messenger in
Malaysia. It was felt that the 'bombing' of the blockade may not be
taken literally. At this stage it is very difficult to verify what
actually happened at the blockade site as communication between the
messenger and the source was discontinued due to technical problems.
We will endeavour to keep you informed of any updates when they become
available. In any case, it is evident that the blockade has been
broken up, people have been arrested and all these were carried out
with much force and violence. Thanks again for your attention.