Borneo indigenous leaders arrested
January 12, 2011
Police in Sarawak, in the Malaysian part of Borneo, have arrested two indigenous leaders for possession of ‘seditious
materials’. Links: 1. http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/6837
The offices of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) were raided and its secretary, Nicholas Mujah, arrested along
with two others, while indigenous lawyer Abun Sui Anyit was arrested at a Sarawak airport last Thursday. The two men
were held separately and questioned, then released on bail. Abun Sui Anyit was called for further questioning by police
yesterday.
A SADIA staff member and an election observer, who were also arrested at the SADIA office, were not questioned.
Mujah and Anyit both had CDs containing recordings of independent radio and television broadcasts.
Sarawak’s indigenous peoples, including the Iban and the hunter-gatherer [2]Penan tribe, have seen much of their
[3]rainforest destroyed by logging companies licensed by the state government. Palm oil companies, also with government
backing, are now establishing plantations on indigenous land. Links: 2. http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/penan 3. http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/penan/loggingandoil#main
Nicholas Mujah said today, ‘I am asking the international community to focus your hearts on the suffering of indigenous
peoples in Sarawak, Malaysia. The government has renewed its aggressive activities among indigenous activists and rights
defenders because of the upcoming election. We are struggling for survival and fighting legal battles against the
government over our ancestral land, to stop it being taken from us.’
The Sarawak government has repeatedly curtailed the civil rights of those who oppose its policies. More than a hundred
members of the Penan tribe were arrested in 1987 when they mounted road blockades to try to keep logging companies out
of their forests.
Sarawak’s state elections are due to take place by July this year. The state’s Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has been in
power since 1981.
[4]Survival International’s director Stephen Corry said today, ‘Taib Mahmud is facing increasing criticism of his
government’s total disregard for indigenous peoples’ rights. Arresting their leaders is unlikely to boost his
popularity.’ Links: 4. http://www.survivalinternational.org
To read this story online: http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/6837
ENDS