Human rights organisation Suaram today presented its 2003 annual human rights award to a residents' action committee for its decade-long struggle against an unlawful eviction.

The organisation said Jawatankuasa Bertindak Penduduk Ladang Braemar's relentless efforts saw the development of "strong and solid human rights defenders in this community".

It was also commended for sharing its ideas and experiences in defending housing rights and for becoming a role model for others.

The committee was formed by a third generation plantation community near Kajang, who were left homeless in June 1993 when their land was sold by Golden Hope to its subsidiary companies for a luxury project called Saujana Impian.

The residents refused to budge because their employer promised in 1984 that if they continued working, housing will be provided when the estate is developed.

Intimidation and harassment

"We are very proud to have fought for our basic rights, especially the rights to housing", said committee president Ganesan Danapal during his acceptance speech.

He added that for 10 years, the committee faced harassment and intimidation from the developers and the authorities.

"The developers cut our water and electricity supply, they even sent gangsters after us. We had to dig for our own water and use a generator for electricity," he said.

According to him, one child from their community died as a result from falling into the one of their makeshift wells.

He said that politicians, including MIC leaders, and the authorities ignored their pleas for help.

"We met with MIC and other politicians. But after the general election, we were still asked to leave," he claimed.

Elaborating on their struggle, Ganesan said the committee lodged about 200 police reports and had also erected a signboard about 100m from the houses warning trespassers.

He added that seven demonstrations were staged to highlight specific issues such as the disruption of water and electricity supply.

They had also demonstrated in front of a police station as the developer had previously brought along police personnel to evict them.

Ganesan said several committee members and youths from the area had been arrested on numerous occasions.

Houses and money given

In 1996, the developer filed a legal suit to evict them but this failed. This brought the ongoing construction of flats in the area to a halt.

"When we stopped the construction of the flats, the developers decided to negotiate," said Ganesan.

As a result of the negotiations, the community received 14 double-storey terrace houses with three rooms costing RM42,000 each this July..

They were also given ex-gratia payments owed to them for the past 10 years ranging from RM2,000 to RM5,000.

The award was presented alongside the launch of Suaram's 2003 Malaysia annual human rights report executive summary at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with World Human Rights Day.

The event was attended about 80 local and international activists and non-governmental organisations representatives as well as foreign dignitaries.

The other nominees for the award were:

  1. Online daily malaysiakini for surviving a police raid and being an independent news website.
  2. No Incinerator Action Committee in Broga/ Semenyih for its campaign against the proposed mega incinerator project.
  3. The Chin Refugee Centre headed by Victor Sang to protect his ethic Burmese community seeking asylum in Malaysia.
  4. The Abolish Internal Security Act (ISA) Movement for its continuous efforts in fighting to repeal the ISA and providing support for ISA detainees and their families.

Previous winners include the Kampung Sungai Nipah community fighting against eviction (1999), the Reformasi movement (2000), the Damansara Save Our School Committee with ISA family support group (2001) and last year the Human Rights and Police Watch Committee .