“The police used excessive force to arrest the villagers by pointing their weapons at the unarmed villagers which comprised of men, women and children. Besides being arrested, 11 of the villagers’ vehicles were also seized by the police and brought to the Miri Central Police Station. To add insult to injury, one of the villagers, Adrian Micheal, was assaulted before being arrested together with one of his sons who is still nine years of age.”
Labelling communities as criminals on their native customary rights land is common practice by the state government in Sarawak. These are not criminals, these are desperate communities who are fighting for survival in a state completely controlled by one man. Sarawak Report strongly urges the police to immediately release Chaya Ak Abang, Sudin Ak Minggat, Elvister Ak Entir, Fabian Ak Jati, Robin Ak Siri, Adrian Ak Micheal and the two boys who have been arrested. Freedom of speech is not against the law, but encroaching on the native customary rights land of these communities is!