Malaysia has ‘window of opportunity’ on indigenous land rights

Al Jazeera
Malaysia’s new government has a “window of opportunity” to address indigenous land rights and stop the intimidation, harassment and arrest of those attempting to defend their land, Amnesty International said at the launch of its latest report into indigenous rights.
Across the country, indigenous people, who make up about 14 percent of the population, are locked in a battle for their land and way of life with companies that want to exploit the forest for its timber and plant agricultural crops like durian, rubber and palm oil. Mustafa Along, a Temiar from the interior of the northeastern state of Kelantan, said his people had been forced to become more assertive as their land was taken from them and officials failed to address their plight.
Mustafa’s community has been trying to defend its land from development for nearly a decade and members have suffered both harassment and arrest. He said they could no longer survive on their monthly income of about 300 ringgits ($71) because the jungle was being destroyed.
In February, the members of Temiar tribe started their latest blockade against destruction and deforestation of their land.
They are part of the Orang Asli, the original inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula’s jungles and forests who now number about 200,000 people.
“We are not against the establishment,” Mustafa said through a translator at the Amnesty launch. “We are not against development. We are not against modernisation. But if we have to give up our identity as a people that’s not a price we’re prepared to pay.”