Bersih 2.0 amat terkejut mendapat tahu bahawa Jabatan Perhutanan Kelantan (JPK) sekali lagi telah memusnahkan sekatan Orang Asli di Simpang Petei dan menahan lima orang aktivis pada 23 Januari 2017.
Tindakan yang tidak bertimbang rasa ini adalah suatu ancaman terhadap kehidupan masyarakat Orang Asli, dan bersifat ketamakan. Sebagai peringatan, penduduk Orang Asli di Simpang Petei telah diiktiraf sebagai pemilik sah kepada tanah tersebut dalam suatu keputusan mahkamah pada 17 Januari 2017.
Tindakan Jabatan Perhutanan jelas sekali telah mencabul hak asasi manusia dan menjejaskan hak kehidupan Orang Asli kerana kehidupan mereka berkait rapat dengan tanah adat.
Bersih 2.0 juga dimaklumkan bahawa aktivis-aktivitis yang ditahan tidak dibawa ke balai polis, tetapi dibawa ke pejabat Jabatan Perhutanan. Pegawai-pegawai turut merampas barangan peribadi seperti motosikal dan telefon bimbit, dan menghalang perhubungan luar dengan komuniti Orang Asli di sana.
Pagi 24 Januari 2017, 16 lagi orang aktivis dan dua wartawan juga telah ditahan. Jabatan Perhutanan juga dilaporkan sedang bersedia memusnahkan satu lagi sekatan Orang Asli.
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Perbuatan Jabatan Perhutanan Kelantan adalah keterlaluan. Mereka telah melampaui bidang kuasa serta mengabaikan semua prosedur dan proses undang-undang berkaitan. Kelakuan mereka menyerupai samseng dan melanggar undang-undang Malaysia. Ini tidak boleh digalakkan atau ditoleransi lagi.
Kerajaan negeri Kelantan mesti memohon maaf dengan serta-merta dan mengiktiraf secara terbuka hakmilik Orang Asli ke atas tanah adat mereka.
Segala penindasan dan pemusnahan harta yang dilakukan terhadap masyarakat Orang Asli juga mesti dihentikan segera. Semua aktiviti pembalakan haram di hutan simpanan kekal Balah juga perlu dihentikan kerana bertentangan dengan undang-undang dan hak masyarakat Orang Asli.
Ahli-ahli jawatankuasa pemandu Bersih 2.0.
Stop harassing the Orang Asli
Bersih 2.0 is horrified to learn that the Kelantan Forestry Department has once again destroyed the Orang Asli blockade at Simpang Petei and arrested five activists on 23 January 2017.
Their heartless action shows once again a complete disregard for Orang Asli life and livelihood in favour of greed. It bears reminding that the Orang Asli are the rightful owners of the land, a right that was supported by the court’s decision on 17 January 2017.
What the Forestry Department is doing is a flagrant abuse of human rights, threatening the Orang Asli’s fundamental right to life as their way of life is tied to their ancestral land.
Bersih 2.0 has also learned that the arrested activists were not taken to the police station, but rather to the Forestry Department office. The officers confiscated personal effects such as motorcycles and handphones and were actively trying to isolate the Orang Asli community.
On the morning of 24 January 2017, 16 more activists and two journalists were also arrested. There are also plans to destroy another Orang Asli blockade.
The Forestry Department has gone too far. They have overstepped their authority and jurisdiction ignoring all due process and protocol. Their conduct is that of thugs and gangsters and is simply against the law. It must not and will not be tolerated.
The Kelantan state government must immediately apologise and publicly declare its recognition of the Orang Asli’s right to their land.
All harassment and destruction of their properties must stop immediately. All logging activities in the Balah permanent forest reserve must also cease as such actions are illegal and against the rights of the Orang Asli.
Bersih 2.0 steering committee members
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
