Three Temiar Orang Asli men who were arrested earlier today after clashing with loggers have been released.
The Centre for Orang Asli Concerns said the men were released by the police at about 3 pm.
COAC coordinator Colin Nicholas said the Temiar plan to rebuild their blockade at Kampung Sungai Papan which was torn down by the loggers who were escorted by police this morning.
"The Temiars plan to rebuild the blockade tonight. Forestry rules seem to be ignored here. We even suspect the logging is illegal because they refuse to put up signboards or show permits," Nicholas told Malaysiakini.
The COAC had earlier said that not putting up signboards and not holding consultations with the villagers were not in accordance with criteria set by the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCC).
Nicholas (above) claimed the loggers were bold because of alleged support by the Perak state government and that logging had also been hastily approved for the neighbouring Pos Piah area.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy had condemned the arrests.
He said the Federal Court has recognised that Orang Asli customary land rights supersede the rights of the state governments.
"Until the legal boundary of Orang Asli’s land rights is determined, I am of the view it is illegal for state authorities to unilaterally grant permits for logging concerns to encroach and exploit the rights of these defenceless people without prior informed consent," said Nicholas.
Meanwhile, Gerik police said the three Temiar Orang Asli were only taken to the district police station for documentation purposes.
"We only recorded their statements. They were released unconditionally in the afternoon," Gerik police chief Ismail Che Isa was quoted as saying by The Star. - Mkini
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