The Women's Development Collective today condemned the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) for its violent methods in tearing down a surau in Kampung Berembang in Ampang early today.

"The violent methods used by the MPAJ officers - such as throwing of chairs and the forceful removal of settlers - are unacceptable," said WDC executive director Maria Chin Abdullah in a statement.

"[It is] a gross violation of basic human rights," she added.

This morning the MPAJ, backed by the police and the Federal Reserve Unit, forcibly demolished a surau in the 30-year-old village which is located less than 10km from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

The surau was the last standing structure in the village as earlier last week the council had demolished about 50 houses from the same spot, leaving some 470 villagers homeless.

The villagers, aided by non-government organisations, opposition political parties and students movements, were determined not to allow the surau to be demolished today.

However, their resistance was met with brute force as the enforcement agencies resorted to aggressive tactics and physical violence to remove the human barrier set up by the villagers.

"It is extremely unfortunate the MPAJ resorts to undemocratic means to assert its powers," said Chin Abdullah.

She also said that the council could have waited until a court had heard an application by the villagers to stop the eviction. The case is to be heard next April.

"The hearing is only five months away. MPAJ's actions clearly show its disrespect for the legal process."

Makeshift shelters

In the fracas this morning, 11 people - nine activists and two villagers - were arrested for preventing the destruction of the surau.

They were sent to the Ulu Kelang Taman Keramat police station and Ampang Jaya police station.

Rights group Suaram said these 11 should be released immediately, calling their arrests unnecessary.

"As the court case is still on going, the MPAJ and the police should not take sides because their duty is not to serve the developer in a house demolition," said Suaram in a statement.

Meanwhile grassroots support group Jerit, which is supporting the villagers on the ground, said that the villagers will continue to remain in the spot.

"Although their makeshift shelters were torn down today, they are putting up new shelters and will remain in this place," said E Parames when contacted.

She also said that MPAJ was in the process of digging trenches at the three entrances to the village to stop people from getting in.

"However I don't think this will have an impact as villagers are already inside," she said.

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