25 arrested for defending housing right in Kg. Baru Plentong Tengah

25 including villagers and human rights activist were arrested by the police this morning when they tried to save homes of the poor in Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah from being demolished by developers Bukit Lenang Sdn Bhd. They have been sent to the Johor Jaya police station respectively.

The arrested are:

1. Rohanoden Soyono (42)
2. Mariah Binti Abu (55)
3. Khairudin Mohd Nor (40)
4. Hasnol Hadi Hassan (19)
5. Abdul Karim B. Abdul Hamid (40)
6. Mohamed Zahamanshan B Mohamad Zahir (24)
7. Taslim Nani (53)
8. Ardan Syah (26)
9. Mohd Zulkurnain (28)
10. Mohd Faizal B. Riduan (20)
11. Mohajmad Suied
12. See Siew Min
13. Said Othman (PAS)
14. Nyam Kee Han (25) (SUARAM)
15. Choo Shinn Chei (29) (PSM Johor)

Others arrested names yet to confirm.

SUARAM condemns the unnecessary arrest by the police. The developers and the police should not take sides because their duty is not to serve the developer in a house demolition. This is clearly an abuse of power.

We call on the police to release them immediately.

Background

Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah is located in Plentong, Johor (near to Tesco Extra Plentong). Around 200 families who stayed in the kampong for more than 20 years are facing threat of forced eviction. The settlers were given eviction notice even before their alternative homes were completed.

Action needed

Please state your protest against the arrest of the twenty-five people via emails, faxes or phone calls to the following:

Superintendent Mohd Roslan B Zainuddin

OCPD IPD Sri Alam,
Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Sri Alam

Polis Diraja Malaysia

No. 5, Jalan Lembah, Bandar Seri Alam,
81750 ,Johor Bahru,
Johor,Malaysia

Fax: 07-3861522
Tel : 07-3864222

Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan,
Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan
Paras 3-7, Blok K, Pusat Bandar Damansara,
50782 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2094 7033
Fax: 03-2094 9720

Tan Sri Abu Talib bin Othman
Chairman
Malaysian Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Tingkat 29, Menara Tun Razak,
Jalan Raja Laut,
50350 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2612 5600
Fax: 03-26125620
Email: humanrights@ suhakam.org. myThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information, please call Miss Chong at 012 7227654 or Mr. Saari 0167128778 or Mr Afendi 0166623548.

SAMPLE LETTER

[Letterhead of organisation]

Superintendent Mohd Roslan B Zainuddin

OCPD IPD Sri Alam,
Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Sri Alam

Polis Diraja Malaysia

No. 5, Jalan Lembah, Bandar Seri Alam,
81750 ,Johor Bahru,
Johor,Malaysia

Fax: 07-3861522

Tel : 07-3864222

16^th October 2008

Dear Sir,

25 arrested for defending housing right in Kg. Baru Plentong Tengah: Release them immediately

We are writing to you to register our strongest condemnation and protest against the arbitrary and unlawful arrests of 25 citizen who were arrested for defending their house from demolished by the developers Bukit Lenang Sdn Bhd in Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah.

Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah is located in Plentong, Johor (near to Tesco Extra Plentong). Around 200 families who stayed in the kampong for more than 20 years are facing threat of forced eviction. The settlers were given eviction notice even before their alternative homes were completed..

We therefore demand that all those arrested by the police be released immediately.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely yours,

[Name]

CC:

Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Security
Prime Minister's Office Malaysia
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
62502 PUTRAJAYA,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: 0 3 8888 6000
Fax: 03 8888 3444

Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan,
Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan
Paras 3-7, Blok K, Pusat Bandar Damansara,
50782 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2094 7033
Fax: 03-2094 9720

Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Johor
Polis Diraja Malaysia
80990 Jalan Tebrau
Johor Bahru Johor

Telefon 07-2254422

Faks 07-2240115

Tan Sri Abu Talib bin Othman
Chairman
Malaysian Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Tingkat 29, Menara Tun Razak,
Jalan Raja Laut,
50350 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2612 5600
Fax: 03-26125620
Email: humanrights@ suhakam.org. my