New blockade sees three Orang Asli arrested on Tuesday (July 23)

GERIK: Three Orang Asli have been arrested during an operation to take down a blockade near a logging site in Kampung Sungai Papan here.

The Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) said in a statement on their Facebook page on Tuesday (July 23) that the three Orang Asli were arrested this morning.

"The three Orang Asli arrested are Johari Aleuj, Pam Yeek and Shukri Man," they said.

Gerik OCPD Supt Ismail Che Isa, who confirmed the arrests, said the Orang Asli tried to stop an operation led by the Perak Forestry Department to remove their blockade.

He said they put up a new blockade after the previous one was removed over the weekend.

The new blockade is believed to have been built on Monday (July 22).

"They will be investigated under Section 341 of the Penal Code," Supt Ismail said in a brief reply on Tuesday (July 23).

According to Section 341, whoever wrongfully restrains any person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with a fine of RM1,000 or with both.

According to COAC, five motorcycles and a camera were seized by a team of policemen led by one "Sgt Hashim".

The latest arrests came despite a plea by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P. Waythamoorthy to the police not to do so.

On Saturday (July 20), three Orang Asli were "taken" to the Gerik police station following reports lodged against them by a logging company over the blockade.

The Orang Asli community there claims that the land, where logging activities are being held, was their ancestral land.