If the
government continues to remain aloof from clashes between natives and oil palm
companies, then it should be prepared for a bloodbath.
KUCHING:
Despite two attempts on his life by workers allegedly from Palm Raya Pelita,
Semawi Anak Renang will not be intimidated in defending his native customary
rights (NCR) land and that of 25 other families.
Instead
the threats against him and the other landowners of Rumah Randi, Selangau, have
made them more determined than ever to defend their 3,000 hectares of land
Last
Wednesday, the landowners organised a “sandau hari” (a ceremony in preparation
for war) invoking the spirits of their forefathers for assistance, strength and
courage following the second attempt on Semawi’s life.
The
latest attempt on his life was made on July 2.
According
to Semawi, he was on the way to take his bath in a river near the longhouse,
when he saw two 4WD vehicles, one of which was blocking the road.
He went
to the driver to ask him to remove the vehicle, when suddenly another vehicle
rushed at him.
He was
hit and thrown into the bush. Both vehicles hurriedly left the scene. Several people witnessed the incident.
His wife
Leman Anak Senang claimed that one of the managers from the company met her, offering
RM20,000 to pay for her husband’s medical expenses, and urged her not to report
the incident to the police.
She
turned down the offer and lodged a report with the Selangau police station.
Semawi is now in Sibu General Hospital.
Semawi’s home shot at
The first
attempt on his life was made in the early hours of May 25 when strangers fired
shotguns towards his house. No one was injured, but his 4WD was damaged.
A report
had also been made with the police.
Semawi
believed that he was the target of the gangsters allegedly employed by the
company as he and 25 others refused to surrender their land to the company
after the company failed to adhere to the agreement between them and the
company.
They have
filed legal action against the company and the case is pending.
During
the “sandau hari” hundreds of residents from other longhouses pledged to fight
together with them.
“We must
be united to defend our rights. When our rights are taken away, in this case
our land, we must not retreat.
“Our
forefathers defended their land with blood and tears,” they said.
Meanwhile,
Joshua Jabeng, PKR’s potential candidate for the Selangau seat, has called on
the government especially the police to arrest the culprits and take immediate
action in order to prevent violence and bloodshed.
He said
that the companies had to proceed with their activities as they had invested
millions of ringgit in oil palm, but the native landowners had to defend their
rights.
“So
bloody clashes between the natives and the oil palm companies are expected if
the government does not intervene,” he warned.
Jabeng
also said the government should be held responsible for any consequences as the
government was the one which gave provisional leases to these companies to take
away the rights of the natives. – Free Malaysia Today.
4 comments:
Correct move by the natives.If no body cares for us,especially the self-proclaimed Iban leaders in the persons of Jabu,Mawan and Masing,needless to say the present Taik government,then we should know what to do.
The gov't can ignore these prevailing problems between Natives and BN Crawlers at their own peril. Using gansgsters to solve problem is not problem solving at all. It is call barbarism, an act of uncivilzed nature. If they can employ that method so can the victims and what problems have been solved by using gangsterism. Remember ULU NIAH incident...some one died and someone had their day in prison but it solved nothing! Don't let that happened again.
The Ibans are the most hospitable race in Malaysia.They are humble and have a down to the earth attitude.Since forming Malaysia in 1963,still many Iban longhouses are not accesable by road,needless amenities like electricity and piped water.Nevertheless,the Ibans played a major role in supporting the present state government in holding to its power till today.By their nature of being hospitable and humble,the state government has ,by and by,abused these noble traits of the Ibans.Their land were robbed,development were neglected in their areas etc and these has continued for 49 years.So i do agree with the Ibans to look after for themselves,in particular in defending their NCR land in whatever manner they deem right. If the government fails them,their so-called leaders fail them coupled with persistent threats and bullies toward them,then the Ibans would not be left with any other option.
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