Malaysiakini
Underground station Radio Free Sarawak DJ Peter John Jaban has hit out against the authorities for an alleged “growing campaign of harassment” against his family in Kuching and their businesses, calling for an immediate halt.“Attack me if you want, but leave my family alone!” said Jaban (left), in a statement yesterday.
Jaban, who on air is known as Papa Orang Utan and runs the pro-democracy radio station from his London base, said that his family’s trouble began early this January when his identity became widely known in Sarawak.
First, his family restaurant who had occupied the premises for four years had their tenancy suddenly withdrawn.
Their landlord, known to be a BN supporter, in January gave the restaurant a month’s notice to vacate the premises.
Jaban’s son later called him saying that their lodging house has met with sudden eviction.
The landlord, one of Sarawak’s timber giants and closely linked with Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, has also cancelled their tenancy without giving any reasons.
Expose provokes police search
Jaban says the situation worsened after London’s Evening Standard ran a story revealing the people behind the radio station.
Jaban says the situation worsened after London’s Evening Standard ran a story revealing the people behind the radio station.
Police have begun visiting his family members at their premises asking about his whereabouts, he says.
His brother rang him on Wednesday saying he received one such visit at his business premises. According to their manager, the police had made enquiries from the staff saying, “We are looking for him.”
His brother rang him on Wednesday saying he received one such visit at his business premises. According to their manager, the police had made enquiries from the staff saying, “We are looking for him.”
Jaban says the Kuching Council is also putting pressure on his family business.
Three days ago, the council approached their business associate telling them that they would terminate their licence to operate if they continue to sublet to Jaban’s family.
Jaban’s son was also “informally warned” yesterday by the council staff that their family’s name has now been “blacklisted” and was advised to sell off their business operations or change all the names.
Undeterred by threats
Undeterred by threats
Such actions, he says, has severely impacted his family’s livelihoods and left them feeling distressed and intimidated.
This, he says, worries him more than the death threats that he has received on his cellphone. He feels he is facing the same situation asRoss Boyert (left), and sympathises with the former Taib employee.However, the DJ remains defiant and vows to carry on fighting for justice for Sarawak.
“No matter what they do I will continue my work. The more they do the more I will say about them,” said Jaban.
“They can go for me, but whatever happens I will never stop barking. If you kill me I will stop, but the other blogs will continue.”
He admits he longs for the company of his family and friends and the weather in tropical Sarawak.
“I miss a lot of what I left back in Sarawak, but this is what I had to do” he says.
“They can go for me, but whatever happens I will never stop barking. If you kill me I will stop, but the other blogs will continue.”
He admits he longs for the company of his family and friends and the weather in tropical Sarawak.
“I miss a lot of what I left back in Sarawak, but this is what I had to do” he says.
“Just leave my family out of it; they had nothing to do with (Radio Free Sarawak) and attacking them only proves everything I have been saying about what is wrong with Sarawak at the moment”.
Radio Free Sarawak is an independent station that started its daily broadcasts on Nov 16 last year. It draws news from Sarawak Report and from local activists and communities defending land rights against abuses by Taib and his government.
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