For many centuries, hundreds and thousands of Dayak peoples
consisting of Ibans, Kenyahs, Kelabits, Penans and other
tribes, have lived in the forests of Sarawak. They all observed
the tribal customary law or 'adat' which emphasized
cooperation, harmony and placed the community above self.
Under the impact of Colonial rule (the Brooke Rajahs and later
British rule), and later the entry into Malaysia, tribal people
were progressively isolated and their traditional rights to
land curtailed by boundaries which defined their access to
land.
Timber is a billion-dollar business in Sarawak. Logging is
carried out through concessions and licenses on forest land.
Virtually every state assemblyman in the state legislature and
many of their relatives have become millionaires through timber
concessions. Logging brings no benefits to the indigenous people.
A few ignorant village headmen were bought off; a few young
men got low skilled jobs with the timber companies.
Otherwise, the communities gain little. In fact, logging
activities brought about adverse environmental degradation,
polluted rivers, which tribal people depend on for fish and
clean drinking water.
The dispute between logging companies and Dayak people is not
a recent phenomenon. Before, there were vast areas of
virgin forest in Sarawak. When logging companies moved in,
local Dayak people received small compensation payments from
the company and were able to move to adjoining forests. As
logging progresses with ever increasing speed, tribal people
are forced to defend the small area they are left with. For
many years, they protested by writing to, and meeting with the
authorities. All these met with no response and they have
been treated like fools. In desperation, they took on the
blockade action. It is the first time there have been so many
blockades happening simultaneously.
Since 1987, at least 400 Dayak people of different tribal
origin have been arrested for blockade related actions. Many
faced physical abuse and psychological threats from the police
while in detention. At the same time, the State Legislative
Assembly amended the State Forestry Ordinance to make
blockading roads constructed by timber licensees or permit
holders an offence. Anyone found guilty of this offence faces
two-year jail sentence and M$6,000 fine. Despite these, the
determination of the Dayak people remains strong and they are
becoming more united in their efforts to fight for land rights.
In February this year, ten Iban people at the Ulu Tinjar area
were arrested for occupying State land. They erected huts on
customary rights land which was concessioned out for logging.
Nine others were arrested in March for their involvement in a
series of 20 to 30 blockades at the Tatau-Sangan area. These
blockades have effectively stopped logging in the area for
over 2 1/2 years! On the 3rd of August, eight of them were
sentenced to between 6 and 9 months imprisonment. At the same
time new protest actions are taking place in the area to
protest against the refusal of logging companies to accept
boundaries of the communal forest drawn up by the local
community.
In the Baram and Limbang areas on the Northern part of the
state, where most of the nomadic Penan people live,
numerous blockades have been set up (and torn down by the
authorities) since early 1987. The Penan tribe being hunter-
gatherers, fully depends on the forest for their survival.
Since June 20th this year, over 450 men, women and children,
mostly from the Penan and Kelabit tribes, have gathered to set
up barricades to stop logging operation in the area. As of end of
July, some 30 people have been arrested for taking part in
the action. The rest remained firm at the blockade sites,
despite hunger and hard living conditions. It was reported that
police personnel camped at a nearby timber camp to stop the
delivery of food to the people.
Inspired by the spirit of the Dayak people, eight activists from
four nations chained themselves to a crane loading an outgoing
shipment of rainforest timber in Kuala Baram on 6 July. This
solidarity action has resulted in the six activists serving
jail sentence of between 50 to 70 days in Sarawak, while
another two still awaiting sentence to be passed.
The ITTO (International Tropical Timber Trade Organisation)
Sarawak Mission recommended a decrease in logging rates by a
minimum of 30%. However, government officials in Malaysia
indicated that the current level of logging might exceed the
18 million cubic metres target set for 1990 (from 13 million
cubic metres in 1989). Unconfirmed figures suggest something in
the vicinity of 24 to 25 million cubic metres!
In addition, thousands more cubic metres of logs will not be
accounted for because they have been logged illegally. Poorly
paid forestry and custom officials are involved in helping such
activities in exchange for gratuities.
If a moratorium cannot be reached soon, this will lead to the
cultural genocide of nomadic Penans. The livelihood of over
200,000 settled and semi-settled Dayak people who also depend on
the forest for survival will also be adversely affected,
not to mention the environmental degradations it will cause
in Sarawak and the world in general.
The tribal people of Sarawak are once again appealing for your
help. You can support them by :
1.) Publicising the issue as widely as possible, through media or
whatever other means you have;
2.) Asking individuals and organisation like your friends, local
councils, building industry, church organisations, school, etc.
to boycott Malaysian timber. We have a list of names of
Malaysian timber sold overseas. Please inform us if you need one.
3.) Writing letter of supports to tribal people who are
currently serving their jail sentence or taking part in the
protest actions. Please send the letter to Hak Hak Manusia and we
will pass it on.
4.) Give generously or start fund raising campaigns to help the
people staging the blockades and other protest actions in
Sarawak. These people have little, if any, money and they have to
travel far to come to the blockade sites. Food and medicines
are needed so that they can continue with the blockades.
Money is also needed to cover legal cost. At present, some
solicitors are working tirelessly to help those who have been
arrested, at little, if any charge at all.
Please remember that while they are blockading logging roads to
protect their forest homes, they are also risking their lives
helping you to save one of the world's last remaining
rainforests, which is vital for our long term survival on this
planet.
You can send the money to :
ACF Penan Fund, Australian Conservation Foundation, 340 Gore
Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia.
Hak Hak Manusia has arranged with the ACF to have your money sent
to the proper channel in Sarawak so that it reaches those in
need in the shortest possible time. Donations of $2.00 and above
are tax-deductible.
For more information, please contact Lee (Fax : 61-3-819 2256
Attn: The Manager, or P.O. Box 118, Ormond, Victoria 3204
Australia).
Best wishes & sincerely,
Lee, for Hak Hak Manusia.