Twenty-eight villagers, including 13 women, have been arrested for attempting to block lorries from transporting rubber logs from Kampung Gatco, Negeri Sembilan.

Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) coordinator R Vijay Gandi said the standoff had began at 2pm today and over 60 police personnel were deployed to the location.

He said the villagers had insisted that the new owners of the Kampung Gatco not encroach the area pending court proceedings slated for July 25, but to no avail.

"The settlers had blocked the lorries from carrying the rubber logs and leaving the estate. They demanded an explanation on who was stealing the logs from them," he said.

The latest incident is a continuation of a protracted struggle between villagers and Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd, which purchased the land after the original lease holder Alonioners Trading Corporation Bhd (Gatco) was liquidated.

Vijay expressed concern for the safety of the detainees as the police officer in charge of their detention allegedly had a difficult history with the villagers.

The villagers had previously accused the officer of flashing at them during a similar tussle. The officer denied the claim.

Air Hitam police station chief Norzaini Mohd Nor, when contacted by Malaysiakini, confirmed the arrests, stating that they were investigated under Section 339 of the Penal Code.

The section states, "whoever voluntarily obstructs any person, so as to prevent that person from proceeding in any direction in which that person has a right to proceed, is said wrongfully to restrain that person" and one can be imprisoned for not more than one month or fined RM1,000, or both if found guilty.

"It is wrong for them to block the lorries. We merely acted based on the complaint of a lorry driver. We did not take sides.

"We have already warned them not to block the lorries. It was not on a private road so we did our duty," he said.

Norzaini said the detainees will be transferred to the Jempol district police headquarters tonight and police will apply for remand tomorrow.

The disputed land, approximately 4,700 acres in size, was leased to Gatco in 1977 by the Negri Sembilan State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

Gatco was incorporated by the National Union of Plantation Workers for the purpose of a land development scheme for its members.

The current settlers had paid RM7,600 each as deposit to settle on allocated plots of the land as part of the development scheme.

However, the scheme eventually failed and the land was charged to two financial institutions.

Gatco was eventually wound up but its liquidators which sold the land to Thamarai Holdings Sdn Bhd in 2006, triggering the ongoing tussle.