NGOs condemn the arrest of seven NCR land owners

SIMUNJAN: Four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have condemned the Police for the arrest of an activist, four longhouse chiefs and villagers on Thursday (21 October) and described such action as an act of intimidation and abuse of power by the authorities.

”We in Borneo Resources Institute (BRIMAS) view the recent arrest of seven Ibans from Sebuyau as an act of intimidation by the authorities. We believe that Nicholas Mujah and the other six villagers are wrongly accused of mischief.

“This is not the first time that the indigenous communities in Sarawak are accused of committing such a crime.

“Why do the police only decide to act now when numerous police reports were lodged by the villagers against the encroachment of the logging company, and no action was taken then?” asked Mark Bujang, BRIMAS executive director.

Bujang called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to start investigating as to how the logging licence was issued to the company especially if it is true that Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's sister, Raziah Mahmud is involved.

The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) should also check whether any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study has been done and approved for the logging activities, said Bujang.

“We find it a bit suspicious about the burning incident when Quality Concrete logging licence is about to expire this November,” he said.

Romuald Siew, President of Jaringan Tanah Hak Adat Bangsa Asal Sarawak (TAHABAS) also condemned the arrest of the villagers.

"Our communities have been oppressed and our rights neglected and trampled upon for too long.

“This is just another example of where the rich and powerful are bullying the natives so that they can become even richer at the expense of the natives,” he said.

"We stand in solidarity with the communities in Sebuyau, and demand that the authorities would release the seven Iban villagers immediately," said Siew.

Adrian Lasimbang, President of The Indigenous People Network of Malaysia (JAOS), while condemning the arrest, said that the non-recognition of their rights to NCR land will cause the loss of biodiversity and deforestation.

Ibans hold peaceful demonstration

By Roselind Jarrow

(This story was first published by Free Malaysia Today and is updated and published for the readers of The Broken Shield).

SEBUYAU: Iban natives of five longhouses held a peaceful demonstration in front of Sebuyau District Office in protest against the licensing of their ‘pulau galau’ (communal forest).

About 250 of them including nine Tuai Rumah (longhouse chiefs) were carrying banners and placards while their representatives were meeting with officials of Sarawak Forest Department, Sarawak Forest Corporation, Land and Survey and Quarry Concrete Holding to settle the dispute over three pieces of forest.

A group of Police personnel was present but did not take any action.

The natives claim that the 3,305 hectares of forest between Sungai Sebangan and Sungai Sebuyau are their communal forest and part of their native customary rights land.

It is also a water catchment area supplying water to Sebangan Bazaar and surrounding villages.

But the Forest Department has given the Quarry Concrete Holding a licence to log timbers from the area where some of the rare species of timber are found.

In the meeting which was presided over by Sarawak Administrative Officer Abdul Rahman, the natives were represented by Numpang Suntai, a retired Shell senior officer and Nicholas Mujah, a local activist.

Mujah, who is also Secretary General of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA), said that the Forest and Land and Survey officials demanded that the natives must provide proofs that the forest is their communal forest.

He said the natives will file their claim with affidavits during their next meeting this time with officials of the Land and Survey Department in Kota Samarahan on 14 July.

He said the timber company was told not to carry out its operations until the dispute is settled.

Mujah praised the Police personnel for their neutrality in the dispute.

Last week the natives invaded the campsite and confiscated keys of the company’s five bulldozers, two excavators and five lorries and handed them to the Police for safe-keeping.