Bruno Manser Fonds
Heuberg 25
4051 Basel
Switzerland
phone +41 61 261 94 74
fax +41 61 261 94 73
updated 2001-01-31
Bern-Basel, January 26th, 2001
Press Release
Swiss defense attaché solely represents Swiss military and security policy interests
Clarification to Press Release of January 21th, 2001
The Swiss Federal Department for Defense, Population Security and Sports (Departement für Verteidigung, Bevölkerungsschutz und Sport, VBS) clarifies with Email dated January 25th, 2001, that Hansuredi Meier, military attaché in Malaysia, does not represent any foreign interests, let alone particular interests in Switzerland.
The avowal of eternal friendship between the Swiss colonel and the chief of the Penan tribe has, however, actually taken place. According to Mr. Meier, the Penan bowed beforehim on the occasion of a traditional ceremony, gave him a chieftain's amulet, and named him deputy chief.
In his official position as an employee of the Swiss state it is impossible for Colonel Meier to support the cause of his Penan friends.
The Bruno-Manser-Fonds has taken note of this information and requests Mr. Meier to now take action as a private person and help the tribe of his Penan brother - before it is too late and the Penan culture can only be seen at folkloristic occasions at the circus.