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Press Statement to Recognise Orang Asli Land Rights and to Preserve Forests

Kelantan Government: Recognise Orang Asli’s Right to Customary Land and Keep the Forest We, the undersigned civil society organizations, strongly condemn the arrest and detention of 47 Orang Asli in the interior of Gua Musang, Kelantan on 29 November 2016 during an operation to dismantle their blockades by some 100 personnel from the police, the General Operation Forces (GOF) and the Kelantan Forestry Department officers. We are shocked and disappointed by the 2-day remand orders of the 47 Orang Asli granted by the magistrate court as they had not committed any crime, but merely exercising their right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of expression to protect their land and forest. We call for their immediate and unconditional release. The Orang Asli community in Gua Musang erected the blockades since 26 September 2016 to protect their customary lands from logging activities. Although the Kelantan government had gazetted the areas for logging as a source of income for the state, the Orang Asli community has long disputed the decision for its failure to recognize the right of the Orang Asli community to their customary land in those areas. It is totally disingenuous for the chief minister of Kelantan, Ahmad Yakob to try to wash its hands over the arrests of the Orang Asli on justification that his government has left the matters to the authorities. Clearly, without the notice and instruction from the Kelantan government, the police, the General Operation Forces (GOF) and the Kelantan Forestry Department officers would not have moved in to dismantle the blockades. We call on the Kelantan government to resume talk with the Orang Asli community, recognize their rights to customary land, degazette the logging areas and leave the Balah Forest Reserves, Perias Forest Reserve and Stong Selatan Forest Reserve intact. Allowing logging in forest reserves is a mockery to the concept of forest reserve. Clearing the forest and depriving the Orang Asli of their land, which they depend on for their livelihood and cultural practices, is tantamount to cultural genocide. While loggings may generate the necessary incomes for the state government, we are extremely concerned with the rate of deforestation in Kelantan due to excessive loggings, which eventually contributed to the massive floods in Kelantan in 2014-2015. In 2015, Kelantan recorded 887,666 cubic meters in log production in 2015, second only to the state of Pahang. We call on the Kelantan government to adopt a more holistic and sustainable development plans for the state that will protect the environment and benefit the larger population in the state instead of the elite few and logging companies. Endorsed by:

  1. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
  2. Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (WargaAMAN)
  3. Baramkini
  4. Bersih Sibu
  5. Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia
  6. Community Action Network (CAN)
  7. Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) Youth
  8. Damn The Dams
  9. ENGAGE
  10. Focus On Sarawak
  11. Friends of Kota Damansara
  12. Greenfriends Sabah
  13. Himpunan Hijau
  14. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
  15. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
  16. Kill The Bill (KTB)
  17. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
  18. Kueng Cheng
  19. Komuniti Muslim Universal (KMU)
  20. LLG Cultural Development Centre (LLG)
  21. Mama Bersih
  22. Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)
  23. Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
  24. Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility (MPSR)
  25. Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)
  26. Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)
  27. Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS)
  28. Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
  29. National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
  30. Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (NSCAH)
  31. Northern Youth Group
  32. Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute (OHMSI)
  33. Partners in Community Organising (Pacos Trust)
  34. Pahang Raub Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Committee
  35. People’s Green Coalition
  36. People Welfare And Rights Organisation (POWER)
  37. Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)
  38. Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM Bahagian Utara
  39. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor, KL dan Perak
  40. Persatuan Masyarakat Sel dan Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
  41. Persatuan Rapat Malaysia (RAPAT)
  42. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
  43. Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (IKRAM)
  44. Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kebajikan Dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia (SEED)
  45. Pertubuhan Rakyat Mukakas Kipouva Sabah
  46. Projek Dialog (PD)
  47. Pusat Komas (KOMAS)
  48. Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
  49. Saccess
  50. Sahabat Rakyat
  51. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  52. Selangor and KL Hokkien Association Youth Section
  53. Sembang-sembang Forum
  54. Seniman Paksi Rakyat (PAKSI)
  55. Seremban Chinese Methodist Church
  56. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  57. Student Progressive Front UPM (GMMUPM)
  58. Suaram Malaysia (SUARAM)
  59. Sunflower Paper
  60. Sunflower Electoral Education Movement (SEED)
  61. Tamil Foundation (TF)
  62. Tenaganita
  63. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
  64. Tindak Malaysia (TM)
  65. University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY)
  66. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
  67. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
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Press Statement to Act on Ethnic Cleansing of Rohingyas by Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia

Malaysia Must Act and Halt Ethnic Cleansing of the Rohingyas by Myanmar government We, the Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia and the following undersigned organizations, strongly condemn the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas in Rakhine state and call on the Myanmar government to immediately stop its military operation that is tantamount to a serious crime against humanity. A senior UN official, John McKissick, accused Myanmar on 24 November 2016 of seeking to ethnically cleanse the country of its Muslim minority following the killing of 9 police officers by armed men. According to the report of the Guardian, thousands of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have reportedly fled to neighbouring Bangladesh to escape military operations that have left scores of people dead and as many as 30,000 displaced. The senior UN official told the BBC that the Myanmar troops were “killing men, shooting them, slaughtering children, raping women, burning and looting houses, forcing these people to cross the river” into Bangladesh. We call on the Malaysian government to summon the ambassador of Myanmar for an explanation and to pressure the Myanmar government to stop its military operations in Rakhine state. The government of Malaysia should also initiate an urgent resolution in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and engage the government of Myanmar to find a durable and long term solution for the Rohingyas. In view of the urgency of the situation, we urge the government of Bangladesh, on humanitarian ground, to open its borders and allow the Rohingyas to cross the borders into Bangladesh to seek refuge. The Malaysian government should also accept the Rohingyas as refugees and asylum seekers to demonstrate its commitment to the International human rights and humanitarian standard. We further call on the United Nations’ Security Council to take immediate actions in stopping the ethnic cleansing operations in Myanmar. The United Nations must not fail the Rohingyas once more. The tragedy of Rwanda and Sudan should not be repeated in Myanmar. Member organizations of Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia:

  1. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
  2. Anak Muda Sarawak (AMS)
  3. ENGAGE
  4. Islamic Renaissance front (IRF)
  5. LLG Cultural Development Centre (LLG)
  6. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
  7. Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen (KAMI)
  8. National Indian Rights Action Team (NIAT)
  9. Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM)
  10. Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)
  11. Pusat Komas (KOMAS)
  12. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  13. Suaram Malaysia (SUARAM)
  14. Tamil Foundation
  15. Tindak Malaysia (TM)
Other civil society organizations:
  1. Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (Warga AMAN)
  2. Bukit Mertajam Tamil Muslim Development Association
  3. Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia Sarawak (BRIMAS)
  4. EMPOWER
  5. G25
  6. Green Friends Sabah
  7. Komuniti Muslim Universal (KMU)
  8. Ipoh Tamil Muslim Development Association
  9. Jaringan Orang Asal Semalaysia (JOAS)
  10. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
  11. JIHAD for JUSTICE
  12. Malaysians against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
  13. Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)
  14. Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
  15. Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility (MPSR)
  16. Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)
  17. Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute (OHMSI)
  18. People Welfare and Rights Organisation (POWER)
  19. Perak Women for Women Society (PWW)
  20. Persatuan Rapat Malaysia (RAPAT)
  21. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
  22. Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kebajikan Dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia (SEED)
  23. Projek Dialog (PD)
  24. Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group (SAWO)
  25. SAVE River
  26. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  27. WE ARE CARING MALAYSIANS
  28. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
  29. WORLD TAMIL MUSLIM FEDERATION
  30. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
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Kenyataan Media Desakan Pengiktirafan Hak Orang Asli ke atas Tanah Adat & Desakan Memelihara Hutan

Kerajaan Kelantan: Iktiraf Hak Orang Asli ke atas Tanah Adat dan Pelihara Hutan Kami, pertubuhan-pertubuhan masyarakat madani yang berikut, mengecam keras tangkapan dan penahanan 47 Orang Asli di Gua Musang, Kelantan pada 29 November 2016 semasa satu operasi untuk merobohkan blockade oleh 100 anggota  dari pasukan polis, Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA), dan Jabatan Perhutanan Kelantan. Kami terkejut dan kecewa dengan perintah reman 2 dan 3 hari terhadap 47 Orang Asli yang dikeluarkan oleh mahkamah Majistreet kerana mereka tidak melakukan apa-apa jenayah, sebaliknya hanya sekadar menggunakan hak mereka untuk berhimpun secara aman dan hak untuk menyuarakn pendapat bagi mempertahankan tanah dan hutan mereka. Kami menuntut mereka dibebaskan segera tanpa sebarang syarat. Masyarakat Orang Asli di Gua Musang telah mendirikan blockade sejak 26 September 2016 untuk melindungi tanah adat mereka dari aktivit pembalakan. Walaupun kerajaan Kelantan telah menwartakan kawasan tersebut untuk pembalakan sebagai sumber pendapatan negeri, masyarakat Orang Asli telah lama mempertikaikan keputusan tersebut kerana ia gagal memperakui hak Orang Asli terhadap tanah adat mereka di kawasan tersebut. Adalah tidak jujur untuk Menteri Besar Kelantan, Ahmad Yakob cuba cuci tangan dari penangkapan Orang Asli dengan alasan kerajaannya telah menyerahkan perkara ini kepada pihak berkuasa untuk diuruskan. Tanpa notis dan arahan dari kerajaan Kelantan, polis, Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA), dan Jabatan Perhutanan tidak akan bertindak merobohkan blockade tersebut. Kami menyeru kerajaan Kelantan supaya membuka semula rundingan dengan masyarakat Orang Asli, mengiktiraf hak mereka ke atas tanah adat, membatalkan penwartaan kawasan pembalakan, dan memelihara Hutan Simpan Balah, Hutan Simpan Perias, dan Hutan Simpan Stong Selatan. Tindakan membenarkan pembalakan di hutan simpan itu sendiri adalah satu penghinaan terhadap konsep hutan simpan. Pelupusan hutan dan penafian hak Orang Asli ke atas tanah mereka, yang mana amat penting untuk mereka sebagai mata pencarian dan amalan kebudayaan, adalah bersamaan dengan penghapusan budaya Orang Asli. Walaupun pembalakan mungkin dapat menjanakan pendapatan yang diperlukan oleh kerajaan negeri, kami amat bimbang dengan kadar kehilangan hutan di Kelantan yang disebabkan oleh pembalakan berlebihan, yang juga telah menyebabkan banjir besar di Kelantan pada tahun 2014-2015. Pada tahun 2015, Kelantan telah merekodkan 887,666 cubic meter pengeluaran balak, bertempat kedua selepas Pahang. Kami menyeru kerajaan Kelantan untuk mengambil pendekatan yang lebih menyeluruh dan mapan dalam merangkakan pelan pembangunan negeri yang mampu melindungi alam sekitar dan menguntungkan lebih ramai penduduk negeri dan bukannya sebilangan kecil elit dan syarikat-syarikat balak semata-mata. Pertubuhan-pertubuhan yang menyokong kenyatan bersama:

  1. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
  2. Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (WargaAMAN)
  3. Baramkini
  4. Bersih Sibu
  5. Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia
  6. Community Action Network (CAN)
  7. Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) Youth
  8. Damn The Dams
  9. ENGAGE
  10. Focus On Sarawak
  11. Friends of Kota Damansara
  12. Greenfriends Sabah
  13. Himpunan Hijau
  14. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
  15. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
  16. Kill The Bill (KTB)
  17. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
  18. Kueng Cheng
  19. Komuniti Muslim Universal (KMU)
  20. LLG Cultural Development Centre (LLG)
  21. Mama Bersih
  22. Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)
  23. Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
  24. Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility (MPSR)
  25. Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)
  26. Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)
  27. Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS)
  28. Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF)
  29. National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
  30. Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (NSCAH)
  31. Northern Youth Group
  32. Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute (OHMSI)
  33. Partners in Community Organising (Pacos Trust)
  34. Pahang Raub Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Committee
  35. People’s Green Coalition
  36. People Welfare And Rights Organisation (POWER)
  37. Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)
  38. Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM Bahagian Utara
  39. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor, KL dan Perak
  40. Persatuan Masyarakat Sel dan Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
  41. Persatuan Rapat Malaysia (RAPAT)
  42. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
  43. Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (IKRAM)
  44. Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kebajikan Dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia (SEED)
  45. Pertubuhan Rakyat Mukakas Kipouva Sabah
  46. Projek Dialog (PD)
  47. Pusat Komas (KOMAS)
  48. Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
  49. Saccess
  50. Sahabat Rakyat
  51. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  52. Selangor and KL Hokkien Association Youth Section
  53. Sembang-sembang Forum
  54. Seniman Paksi Rakyat (PAKSI)
  55. Seremban Chinese Methodist Church
  56. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  57. Student Progressive Front UPM (GMMUPM)
  58. Suaram Malaysia (SUARAM)
  59. Sunflower Paper
  60. Sunflower Electoral Education Movement (SEED)
  61. Tamil Foundation (TF)
  62. Tenaganita
  63. Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy
  64. Tindak Malaysia (TM)
  65. University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY)
  66. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
  67. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
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Kenyataan Media Desakan Menghentikan Penghapusan Etnik Rohingya oleh Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia

Malaysia Mesti Bertindak dan Menghentikan Penghapusan Etnik Rohingya oleh Kerajaan Myanmar Kami, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) dan pertubuhan-pertubuhan yang menandatangani berikut, mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya tindakan penghapusan etnik terhadap etnik Rohingya di negeri Rakhine dan menyeru kerajaan Myanmar agar menghentikan operasi tenteranya yang sudah jelas menrupakan satu jenayah serius yang bertentangan dengan kemanusiaan. Pegawai senior Persatuan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), John McKissick pada 24 November 2016 mendakwa bahawa Myanmar cuba melakukan penghapusan etnik terhadap masyarakat minoriti Muslim selepas 9 orang pegawai polis dibunuh oleh sekumpulan anggota-anggota bersenjata. Menurut laporan akhbar Guardian, beribu-ribu warga Muslim Rohingya di Myanmar telah dilaporkan melarikan diri ke negara jiran Bangladesh untuk menggelak operasi tentera kerajaan Myanmar yang telah menyebabkan jumlah kematian yang besar dan lebih daripada 30,000 orang kehilangan tempat tinggal. Pegawai senior PBB tersebut memberitahu BBC bahawa askar-askar Myanmar “membunuh lelaki, menembak mereka, membunuh kanak-kanak, merogol wanita, membakar dan merompak rumah, memaksa mereka merentasi sungai” ke Bangladesh. Kami menyeru kerajaan Malaysia agar memanggil duta Myanmar untuk membuat penjelasan dan untuk memberi tekanan kepada kerajaan Myanmar untuk menghentikan operasi tenteranya di negeri Rakhine. Kerajaan Malaysia patut mengusulkan satu resolusi tergempar di peringkat ASEAN dan menghubungi kerajaan Myanmar untuk mencari satu penyelesaian jangka panjang untuk orang-orang Rohingya. Disebabkan keadaaan yang semakin cemas, kami menyeru kerajaan Bangladesh membuka sempadannya berdasarkan prinsip kemanusiaan bagi membolehkan orang Rohingya mendapat suaka dan perlindungan politik di Bangladesh. Kami juga menyeru Majlis Keselamatan PBB untuk mengambil langkah segera bagi menghentikan operasi penghapusan etnik di Myanmar. PBB tidak boleh menhampkan orang Rohingya sekali lagi. Tragedi di Rwanda dan Sudan tidak harus berulang di Myanmar. Disokong oleh: Ahli-ahli pertubuhan Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia:

  1. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
  2. Anak Muda Sarawak (AMS)
  3. ENGAGE
  4. Islamic Renaissance front (IRF)
  5. LLG Cultural Development Centre (LLG)
  6. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
  7. Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independen (KAMI)
  8. National Indian Rights Action Team (NIAT)
  9. Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM)
  10. Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)
  11. Pusat Komas (KOMAS)
  12. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  13. Suaram Malaysia (SUARAM)
  14. Tamil Foundation
  15. Tindak Malaysia (TM)
Pertubuhan-pertubuhan masyarakat madani yang lain:
  1. Angkatan Warga Aman Malaysia (Warga AMAN)
  2. Bukit Mertajam Tamil Muslim Development Association
  3. Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia Sarawak (BRIMAS)
  4. EMPOWER
  5. G25
  6. Green Friends Sabah
  7. Komuniti Muslim Universal (KMU)
  8. Ipoh Tamil Muslim Development Association
  9. Jaringan Orang Asal Semalaysia (JOAS)
  10. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
  11. JIHAD for JUSTICE
  12. Malaysians against Death Penalty and Torture (MADPET)
  13. Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS)
  14. Malaysian Indians Transformation Action Team (MITRA)
  15. Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility (MPSR)
  16. Malaysian Youth Care Association (PRIHATIN)
  17. Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute (OHMSI)
  18. People Welfare and Rights Organisation (POWER)
  19. Perak Women for Women Society (PWW)
  20. Persatuan Rapat Malaysia (RAPAT)
  21. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
  22. Pertubuhan Pembangunan Kebajikan Dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia (SEED)
  23. Projek Dialog (PD)
  24. Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group (SAWO)
  25. SAVE Rivers
  26. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  27. WE ARE CARING MALAYSIANS
  28. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
  29. WORLD TAMIL MUSLIM FEDERATION
  30. Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
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