No Request from Swiss Authorities to Search for Manser
Copyright 2000 Bernama The Malaysian National News
Agency
November 29, 2000
ZURICH, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Switzerland has not yet officially requested Malaysia to help in the search for Bruno Manser, a Swiss national who reportedly went missing more than six months ago and was last seen in Malaysia.
Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesman Livio Zanolari confirmed the ministry has not made any official representation to the Malaysian authorities.
Bruno Manser's brother Erich described the attitude of the Swiss Foreign Ministry as "strange".
He said the ministry had so far taken a "wait-and-watch" approach to the whereabouts of his 46-year-old brother who claims to be a conservationist and crusader for the preservation of rain forest.
Manser, a self-proclaimed champion of the Penans in Sarawak, was arrested in 1987 by the state police for anti-logging activities. He was then released and sent home.
In March last year, he caused a stir by landing solo in a glider at a construction site near the residence of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in Kuching.
Manser had sent a letter to Abdul Taib a week before the stunt, purportedly offering to assist the Sarawak state government run a mobile dental clinic for the Penans and Kelabits in the Miri division with money amounting to US$10,000 (RM38,000) from an existing fund. The nature of the fund was, however, not specified.
Manser reportedly made enemies in that state because he had been inciting the Penans against timber companies.
Two days ago, Erich made a formal request to the Swiss Foreign Ministry to help locate his brother.
He asked the ministry to "immediately take all the necessary measures" to search for Manser.
Zanolari gave an assurance that any official request for cooperation would be sent through the Swiss embassy in Kuala Lumpur to the Malaysian authorities.
"We will observe, check and intervene only if it is necessary," Zanolari was quoted as saying in the Swiss media.
Manser's family and the Bruno Manser Fund have, for the time being, ruled out a search on their own.