WINDS OF CHANGE: A BETTER SARAWAK
In the run up to the Sarawak State election which many predict will take place in the next few months, Friends of Pakatan Rakyat UK are organising a solidarity action to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the human rights abuses and environmental devastation affecting Sarawak.
Friends of Pakatan Rakyat
For over 30 years, Sarawak has been the bread basket of Barisan Nasional and the jewel in the crown of Chief Minister Taib’s multi-billion dollar empire. The Taib administration has ruled Sarawak with an iron fisted grip for over 3 decades, outstaying Prime Minister Mahatir himself. In this time, Taib and his regime have systematically trampled over the rights of the people of Sarawak, violating the basic human rights of millions of tribal people, stripping them of their native customary lands and causing widespread environmental devastation, of which the ill conceived Bakun dam project is a prime example.
Therefore, in the run up to the Sarawak State election which many predict will take place in the next few months, Friends of Pakatan Rakyat UK are organising a solidarity action to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the human rights abuses and environmental devastation affecting Sarawak. A fundraising and awareness event entitled ‘Winds of Change : A Better Sarawak’ will take place next Saturday 19th of February 2011, from 3-6pm (UK time) at Melur Restaurant, Edgware Road, London. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards supporting the election campaign of the Pakatan Rakyat candidate in Dun Belaga, where the area of Bakun is located.
The programme includes a documentary on the devastating socio-economic impact on the lives of indigenous Sarawakians affected by the Bakun dam, and a live teleconference with civil society activist Dr Kua Kia Soong of Suaram and local Bakun leaders on the issues of native customary rights, the rape of Penan women and the 18 Point Plan. The afternoon will also feature reflective poetry and song recitals aimed at showing solidarity with the plight and struggle of our Sarawakian brothers and sisters.
In an interview earlier today, Brian Morais, Chairman of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat said, “The native customary land and rich resources and heritage of the people should not be grabbed to line the pockets of the ruling elite. Rather, the native customary land forms part of the basic human rights of Sarawak’s indigenous people, and Taib Mahmud has sadly failed to protect and preserve these rights and way of life of Sarawak’s indigenous peoples.”
“Because of this, Friends of Pakatan Rakyat have resolved to highlight the human rights abuses and devastating impact of corruption in Malaysia, and support our fellow Sarawakians in forging a brave new future. We hope that Malaysians everywhere, in particular the overseas Malaysian diaspora will stand in solidarity with our fellow Sarawakians to return true power, freedom and dignity to the people of Sarawak in the up and coming state Sarawak elections.”
In 1998, the Bakun dam project displaced more that 9,500 people from their native customary land that their ancestors had lived and worked on for generations. However a group of tribes people refused to move and chose to stay put. In October 2010, the Bakun dam was flooded with water and caused an area the size of Singapore to be submerged under water over a 6 month period. Till the present time, the people displaced by the Bakun dam have yet to see any concrete government compensation and continue to struggle daily with issues of poverty and the impact of environmental devastation.
