Green Cow and PSM wins significant injunction in Cameron Highland

It was a day dedicated to the Environment of Cameron Highland. The Star carried a surprising three page article including its front page on the environmental disaster in Cameron Highland. On the ground, another more significant decision was made in the High Court of Kuantan.

The Green Cow residents aided by PSM successfully obtained an injunction to stop the developer LTT from carrying out soil movement works near their homes. High Court Judge Mariana Yahya also set aside the plaintiff  LTT Development's ex parte and inter parte injunctions to stop the residents from encroaching or dwelling on the land located in Ulu Telom, Cameron Highlands.

This is a significant victory because it puts breaks to the Developers effort to built his project while the full hearing takes place. The victory comes in a time when news of flood, land slides and environmental disasters is felt everywhere.

For more than a hundred days, the residents have been occupying the land to protect their homes. Today ten families live at the foot of green Cow hill. In recent years the green environment of Green Cow had been threatened when LTT Developer planned to built a multi million shopping complex there. The powerful owner seem to get all the necessary approval and was rearing to go only to be stopped by the brave few residents of Green Cow and their support base which comes from other communities organized by the PSM.

The Developer LTT had used gangsters, the police , the local authority as well as some politicians to get their way in going on with the project. The police continue to assist the rich developer in spite of safety concerns. What is alarming is that important data about slope safety has been denied access to the people. The whole project seems fishy and rotten. It seems the Pahang Government would want to top the chart as the worst environmental state government. Lynas,  Bukit Koman and now Green Cow.

Lawyer for the people who is doing this case on a pro-bono,  Yudistra Darma Dorai as reported in the media said, “ The judge granted our application for an injunction to have LTT Development cease all work involving soil movement near the residents' area. Our argument is that we have got an expert affirmed in an affidavit that there are risks of landslide, rock fall and landslip from the work being carried out which will endanger the lives of the neighbouring residents,"

According to PSM Cameron Highland Secretary, Suresh Kumar, “ The struggle started in September 2011 when seven residents with the help of  PSM organized after some rock fell near their homes . The residents then did a occupy style blockade. 5 of them have been arrested twice and charged. In Aapril this year, a whole bus of Cameron Highland residents were arrested overnight when they went to get an appointment with the Menteri Besar.

Today the few resident who dared to fight felt that their persistent struggle has borne fruit  but this is just a temporary victory but a significant one. We have been camping since May this year. It was a tough battle but a worth while one.

The demand of the Green Cow residents are simple. Relocate us and compensate us. Don’t kill us under the rocks. Recently Palanivel, the MIC president aspiring to be the candidate for Cameron promised the people land but nothing has come out since then.

The victory today will give the residents some breathing place and some peaceful nights. But the struggle in the court will continue. The small committee needs help to fight on. They have been appealing for aid.

Financial support can be passed through  PSM CENTRE (Hong Leong Bank) 

No Akaun 0061-1000-32377. Or contact Suresh Kumar di 019-569 6964

E-mel: suresh@sukucomp.com Faks: 05-4914088

Alamat: Gabungan Penduduk Green Cow, c/o Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Cawangan Cameron Highlands, C1-G3, Blok C1, Royal Lily, 39000 Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang.