Ipoh farmer in eviction battle released after three hours - PSM
A farmer arrested from his home in Ipoh, Perak, last night, for allegedly obstructing a public officer from carrying out their duties has been released after around three hours and protests led by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists.
PSM deputy secretary Bawani KS, who coordinated an urgent solidarity action for Tan Tean Chee (above), said the farmer from Kanthan was released at around 1.30am...
A farmer arrested from his home in Ipoh, Perak, last night, for allegedly obstructing a public officer from carrying out their duties has been released after around three hours and protests led by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists.
PSM deputy secretary Bawani KS, who coordinated an urgent solidarity action for Tan Tean Chee (above), said the farmer from Kanthan was released at around 1.30am today.
"Tan was released on police bail from the Ipoh district police station.
"They wanted to remand him but because of public pressure and solidarity by PSM, Tan was freed," Bawani told Malaysiakini.
She said Tan was among farmers in an ongoing legal battle with the Perak Development Corporation (PKNP) - a state government subsidiary - to defend their rights to land that they had worked on for generations.
Entry into disputed area
Bawani said Tan's arrest was believed to be linked to PKNP's attempt yesterday morning at entering a disputed farm area to conduct soil tests, despite an Ipoh High Court order that no work can be carried out on-site pending the conclusion of the case.
"PKNP is not a state agency but they came with people from the Land and Mining Office.
"This is very clearly an abuse of power. It has nothing to do with the Land and Mining Office. PKNP is not (part of) the government, so why did the Land and Mining Office want to get involved?" the lawyer by profession added.
She also said Tan was among 132 farmers from Kanthan receiving assistance from PSM to fight against their eviction notice, reportedly issued last December.
PSM national chairperson Dr Michael Jeyakumar previously pointed out that an early generation of farmers had occupied the disputed areas since before World War II - decades prior to PKNP's establishment in 1967 - and the practice has continued until today.
He also reportedly said some 100 farmers had in 1989 attempted to apply for a Temporary Occupation Licence from the state government but allegedly did not receive a response.
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