Unlawful arrests and forced evictions in breach of Selangor chief minister’s directive

We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the arrests of activists S. Arutchelvan and Mythreyar, as well as resident Logeswaran at around 16:00 on 12 November under Section 186 of the Penal Code. These arrests were unwarranted.

Together with Kampung Papan residents, they had clearly informed the police that the Selangor chief minister had authorised that occupied houses are not to be demolished.

This directive was issued through a 23 October media statement titled Kerajaan Negeri Cakna Isu Penempatan Peneroka Jalan Papan, which affirmed:

Kerajaan negeri menegaskan bahawa kerja-kerja perobohan hendaklah dihadkan kepada rumah dan premis perniagaan yang kosong serta tidak mempunyai penghuni sahaja selaras dengan arahan dan semangat penyelesaian secara berhemah yang telah dipersetujui bersama melalui perundingan semua pihak berkepentingan yang dipengerusikan YAB Dato Menteri Besar sendiri pada Selasa, 21hb Oktober yang lepas. 

Yet yesterday, homes still occupied by residents were forcefully cleared – belongings removed and residents physically pushed out – directly contravening the chief minister’s and the state’s directives.

The three individuals arrested were acting on the Selangor State Government’s directive that occupied houses should not be demolished until an amicable solution was achieved.

Instead, officers of Klang Selatan police headquarters, including the officer-in-charge, defied the chief minister’s directive by assisting the developer, Melati Ehsan, to forcibly evict occupants.

The arrests are therefore unnecessary and unlawful, as the three acted in accordance with the advice and directive of the chief minister and the state government.

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of S Arutchelvan, Mythreyar and Logeswaran.

We further call on the Selangor state government to intervene and ensure that the demolition is halted with no further forced evictions undertaken until all residents receive adequate alternative housing.

Endorsed by:

1. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
2. Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA)
3. Ruang Kongsi
4. Karunjattai
5. Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Swasta Perkhidmatan Sokongan di Hospital Hospital Kerajaan dan Jabatan-jabatan Kerajaan Semenanjung Malaysia
6. Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (Pesawah)
7. Forum Kedaulatan Makanan Malaysia (FKMM)
8. Parti Sosialis Malaysia
9. Gabungan Marhaen
10. Pemuda Sosialis
11. Third World Network
12. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
13. Alliance of River Three
14. Agora Society Malaysia
15. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
16. Aliran
17. Freedom Film Network
18. Pusat Pelajar Marhaen (PPM)
19. Pertubuhan SiraguGal
20. Gegar
21. Jaringan Pekerja Kontrak Kerajaan (JPKK)
22. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
23. Angkatan Kesatuan Siswa Sosialis (Aksi)
24. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
25. Jaringan Orang Asli Negeri  Sembilan (JOAN)
26. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
27. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
28. People Like Us Support Ourselves (Plusos)
29. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
30. Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM)
31. Hindu youths organisation Port Klang
32. Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia (Muda)
33. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim)
34. Cahaya Society
35. Filsufi & Co
36. Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center)
37. Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged)
38. Justice For Sisters
39. Sis Forum Malaysia
40. Article 19
41. KLSCAH Youth
42. Bersih
43. Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia
44. Liga Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya
45. Gerakann Perempuan Melawan
46. Liga Rakyat Demokratik
47. Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan
48. Mandiri
49. Maju
50. Pro-siswa Kolej Komuniti
51. Projek Ruang Lawan Malaysia
52. Hayat
53. Amnesty International Malaysia
54. Tenaganita
55. North South Initiative (NSI)
56. Community Action Network (CAN)

Individuals:

1. Dr Aaron Denison Deivasagayam
2. Mayna Ramesh Patel
3. Thilaga Sulathireh
4. Beverly Joeman

Support our work by making a donation. Tap to download the QR code below and scan this QR code from Gallery by using TnG e-wallet or most banking apps: