This years Human Rights Day will be celebrated in Kampung Berembang, Ampang - the scene of a recent rights violation by the forcible eviction of the villagers by the authorities.

The original plan was to hold the celebrations - dubbed People's Rights Festival - at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) park this Sunday. The Human Rights Day falls on that day.

However grassroots movement Jerit, the main movers behind the festival, decided to change the venue as a symbolic gesture to show their support to the villagers of Kampung Berembang.

Jerit coordinator D Letchimi said the decision to have the celebrations in the village reflected that the spirit of human rights was needed more in the village and not in the KLCC park.

"This is a critical decision to reflect a critical period," she said in a statement today.

She added that the villagers welcomed the decision to hold the celebrations in their village. A wedding reception for a local resident will also be held on the same day in the village.

Chaotic scenes

Kampung Berembang was a scene of chaos and destruction when the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), backed by Rela, the police and the Federal Reserve Unit, moved in to demolish houses in the village on three occasions - Nov 17, 20 and 30.

Each time, the resistence by the villagers were met with physical action by the authorities. An open clash flared on the second and third demolition visit, resulting in tensions running high among the villagers.

On the third visit, MPAJ demolished a surau and the makeshift tents set up by the villagers who refused to budge from the village.

The 470 residents have been staying in the village - situated less than 10km from the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur - for the past 30 years.

Now the village is bereft of proper houses but the villagers are still living there in their temporary 'homes'.

"The solidarity of the public and residents in Kg Berembang reflected the seriousness and the reality of the human rights situation in Malaysia," Letchimi added.

Driving a message

Meanwhile Jerit secretary Y Kohila said the decision to move the location of the celebrations was made at a meeting recently.

"This is because, by having the People's Rights Festival in Kampung Berembang, solidarity support is expressed to the people of Kampung Berembang who are fighting for their housing rights," she said.

"Other than that, it is also a message to the developers and the state government that the people and civil society are with the urban settlers of Kampung Berembang in their struggle."

"So it is not a struggle of one kampung but the struggle of the oppressed class," she added.

The event will be held on Dec 10, 2006, from 10am to 2pm at Kg Berembang in Jalan Ampang.

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