2 journalists arrested for covering Orang Asli protest in Kelantan

2 journalists arrested for covering Orang Asli protest in Kelantan

Kelantan Network of Orang Asli Villages (JKOAK) secretary Mustafa Along believes the forestry department will continue to dismantle other blockades in the Gua Musang area.

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PETALING JAYA:
Two journalists were arrested by the Kelantan Forestry Department (KFD) for carrying a live coverage of the authorities dismantling an Orang Asli blockade in Gua Musang.

Kelantan Network of Orang Asli Villages (JKOAK) secretary Mustafa Along said the journalists were locals, Jules Ong and Chitoo, working for the Singapore-based Channel News Asia (CNA).

However, the 16 Orang Asli, including Mustafa, who were arrested with the journalists have now been freed. Mustafa told FMT that the men were all freed at about 12.30pm.

Earlier this morning, Mustafa informed FMT that the duo were arrested and handcuffed by the authorities, while the 16 Orang Asli who were detained had been held separately from the journalists.

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“The two journalists have now been taken to the Gua Musang forestry department office for further investigation while the rest of us who were arrested were freed as soon as the KFD officers had completed their dismantling of the blockade,” Mustafa said.

He added that the Orang Asli were warned by KFD officers not to put up the blockade again.

“I believe they will continue with their operation to dismantle other blockades we have put up, including the one in Pos Pasik,” Mustafa said.

CNA corporate communications department in a Twitter message to FMT explained that Jules Ong is a Malaysian freelance TV producer who was engaged by CNA to produce a documentary on deforestation in Kelantan.

“CNA came to know of his arrest from Malaysian media reports. CNA, which operates across the whole of Asia, will cooperate fully with any official investigation,” it said following the arrest.

Yesterday, five Orang Asli from the interiors of Gua Musang were arrested by the KFD for setting up blockades to stop loggers from entering their ancestral land.

On Nov 29 last year, 47 Orang Asli from Balah Forest Reserve in Gua Musang were taken into police custody, also for setting up blockades.

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However, a week after the group was released, they went ahead and built a second blockade.

Mustafa alleged the KFD is actively demolishing the blockades to allow loggers into the logging area.

Orang Asli rights lawyer Siti Kasim said she is currently in Gua Musang and is doing her best to get those arrested released.

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