Five Orang Asli from the interiors of Gua Musang have been arrested today over anti-logging blockades.
Lawyer Roger Chan, when contacted, said the arrests were in relation to the Forestry Department's demolition of a blockade set up by the Temiar people in Simpang Petei.
"They were arrested allegedly for blockading to safeguard their ancestral land," Chan told Malaysiakini.
He believed that of the five detained, at least three had been arrested previously on a similar charge.
However, as they had not been charged in court in the matter, Chan said their arrest was unlawful.
"You can't be arrested twice for the same offence if they're not charged," he said.
He said he is currently trying to secure the detainees' immediate release, failing which they would be taking action against the police.
At the time of writing, the Gua Musang police and Kelantan Forestry Department has not responded to requests for comments.
[More to follow]
-Mkini
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