Malaysia: Arrest of four Penan people The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ Case MYS 240397 The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Malaysia. Brief description of the situation: The International Secretariat has been informed by various reliable sources of the grave concern over the arrest of four Penan people of Sarawak by the Malaysian police on 13 March 1997 while trying to negotiate with the logging company Samling, near their village at Long Kerong. The four persons arrested are: Pusu Bujang, aged 30, from Long Benali, Jangin Jalong, aged 30, from Long Benali, Wan Musong, aged 40, from Long Sait and Beripin Wan, aged 20, from Long Sait, According to information received, the four Penan people arrested were held in Miri Divisional police station. After two nights, they were sent to the Marudi district police station remand under the Penal code 117: Theft and Mischief. They were then charged on illegal assembly instead of the earlier accused of the Miri police that they were involved in destroying the logging company's truck. Immediately after they were released on bail, they were re-arrested on 21 March 1997, under the suspect of stealing a chainsaw from the truck of the logging company According to the same information, it is believed that the four Penan people have been exposed to violence in at Miri Police station. A presumed eyewitness saw jangin Jalong taken away with a bleeding nose. It is believed that 2 of the persons are reportedly sick Their relatives and lawyer have requested for a medical examination of the four arrested, but the police still have not responded to this request. The families have been denied access and food brought by relatives has been turned away Relatives and community heads deny that the four persons arrested have been involved in any of the above described events. It is feared that these arrests are part of the suppression by the authorities of the struggle of the Penan people of Sarawak to save the rainforest from commercial logging. Action requested: Please write to the authorities of Malaysian urging them to: i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Jangin Jalong, Wan Musong, Beripin Wan and Beripin Wan and ensure that they are guaranteed appropriate medical attention; ii. order the immediate release of the four Penan people arrested in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times; iii. open a full impartial inquiry into the events, identify all those responsible and bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and /or administrative sanctions provided by legislation; iv. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international standards. Addresses: Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Prime Minister's Department, Jalan Dato' Onn, 50502 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fax : + 60 3 298 4172 Datuk Megat Junid Megat Ayub, Deputy Minister of Home Affaira, Jalan DatoŽOnn, 5202 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fax : + 60 3 230 1051 YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister of Sarawak. Fax: +60 082-245 522 Inspector General of Police: Fax: +60 03-291 0707 Geneva, 24 March 1997 Kindly inform us of any action taken quoting the exact number of this appeal in your reply. Ben Schonveld Projects Manager OMCT-SOS-Torture Fax 4122 733 1051 Ph 4122 733 3140 OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture The World Organisation Against Torture OMCT@IPROLINK.CH http://www.omct.org/