Dear friends,
Greetings to you!
We wish to update you on recent developments in Sarawak.
1. Penans' Blockade at Ulu Baram
The Penans' blockade at Ulu Sungai Sebatu, Ulu Baram, to
protest against the logging activities of Syarikat Samling Timber
Sdn Bhd, contractor to Kelesa Sdn Bhd (licensee for the area) is
still going on. The blockade is presently manned by around 300
people comprising men, women and children. The blockade which
started in February, 1993 has been dismantled twice by the Forest
officials with the assistance of the Police and the Field Force.
No solution is in sight yet.
The present blockade is in the form of a big hut which is
used as a place of worship. A signboard fixed at the front part
of the building reads "This house is a place of whorship. A
place to worship God who is the Greatest of All. Because of
this, we will stay here because these are burial sites, farmlands
and our place of origin. We plead with you not to disturb this
place at all times because there are people here who are
distressed."
The company involved is one of the biggest timber companies
in Sarawak and is presently spreading its activities to other
countries such as Guyana and Papua New Guinea.
2. Large Scale Plantation
The growing emphasis on large-scale monoculture plantation
owing to the fast depletion of the timber resources in the state
has created another problem for the native communities in the
rural areas in the process as their customary lands are also
included. Various native communities throughout the state have
expressed their concerns and fears over the fate of their lands
and forests.
a) Oil Palm Plantation in Bakong/Tinjar
Bakong and Tinjar basins in the northeastern part of Sarawak
are presently the main target area for plantations. Tens of
thousands of hectares have been leased out to private companies
for the purpose. These leases have been given out without the
knowledge and consent of the local natives whose lands are being
included. At a dialogue held in the Beluru Sub-District Office
in Bakong on the 30.3.93 between the Land and Survey officials
and the residents of Bakong, the Headmen and representatives have
expressed their strong objection to the implementation of the
plantations in their lands and they see the move as a means to
displace them and to deprive them of their continuous access and
free usage of their customary lands. They insisted that any
survey to be carried out must be done based on their customary
territories and that the plantations should be outside their
territories. They also stressed that they will fight to protect
their rights through the proper channels. Fourteen Iban
longhouse communities participated in the dialogue. The
authorities have to date not given them any definite response on
the matter.
It is envisaged that more problems shall arise in future in
view of the fact that more emphasis is given to the opening of
large scale monoculture plantations and the conversion of large
tracts of so-called idle lands and forests for economic purpose.
3. Logging in Ulu Limbang
An agreement dated 15.1.93, between a timber company,
Limbang Trading Ltd. (LTL) and the Kelabits and Penans of Ulu
Limbang has been signed purportedly to allow the company to carry
out logging activities in the Long Napir and Adang areas. The
agreement, put an end to the protests by the affected communities
in the area and an end to the tussle between the two parties for
the past few years. The agreement, written in English, was
purportedly signed by the representatives of the communities.
Besides mentioning some insignificant compensation of a few
thousand dollars per year (or the equivalent of few hundreds
ringgit per family per year), the agreement does not mention
anything about the rights of the local natives to their lands and
the resources thereon. It also does not mention anything about
the forest areas which the people have been demanding for their
domestic use.
Such unfair deals are expected especially when the people do
not understand the implications and when the people participating
in the negotiations are those who are not involved in the
struggle. Nevertheless, the question remains "Will the agreement
solve the people's problems and can the crumbs given by the
company replace the resources that they have been depending on?"
4. Penans' Biosphere Reserves
During a meeting organised by the Sarawak Penan Association
on the 31.3.93 at Long Win, Apoh, Baram, the Penans leaders from
various settlements in the Apoh and Tutoh areas are still
wondering where the Biosphere Reserves as announced by the State
government are located. A Penan Penghulu (Chief), Wan Malong,
who stays in the Apoh area stated, "As a Chief of the Penan
communities in the area, I have yet to be informed of the
location of the so called reserves. I cannot even explain to my
people where the reserves are. We still see the logging
companies operating in the area and all over the place."
President of Sarawak Penan Association, Juwin Lehan suggested
that "the government should ensure that logging is immediately
stopped in the designated area and the Penan communities be
directly informed and consulted in determining the area to be set
aside for the reserves. We Penans must be involved in
determining matters that affect us directly, at least through the
Association."
SAM made a verbal enquiry with the Forest officials and was
informed that there is no legal status for such reserves under
present laws. It is presently designated under the category of
Protected Forests or Government Forest Reserves which are
generally classified as Permanent Forest Estates (PFEs).
Presently, most, if not all, the PFE area in the state are
licensed out to timber companies. This definitely leaves us to
question the genuineness of the government's move and how it can
guarantee the Penans' right to such reserves and their source of
livelihood?
5. Timber Wastage
During a recent visit to the interior of Ulu Baram, it was
observed that tons and tons of timber logs were disposed of in a
valley near a timber camp. Similar scenes are evident at various
camps and log ponds along the Baram river. Many local people are
complaining that when they want to take these timbers for their
own use, they are refused. The timber was either buried in the
valleys or burned. No one can understand the rationale behind
such a wasteful action. It seems to indicate that profits
override people's needs even at the expense of such wastage.
6. Bakun Dam
A local daily reported recently that Sarawak Minister for
Finance and Public Utilities, Datuk Dr George Chan had confirmed
that the government would carry out the Bakun Dam Project as
planned. However, he was reported to have said that it is the
prerogative of the Federal Government to decide when it would be
carried out. He was also reported to have given the assurance
that the government would rectify its environmental impact before
implementing the project.
It was also reported in one of the national dailies that the
current energy crisis in Peninsular Malaysia justifies the need
to implement the project which according to studies is expected
to generate about 2,400 MW. At the same time, it stated that
with the openings of other new power supply sources, the period
(1987-1995) originally scheduled for the implementation of the
project, was not economically viable. This was the conclusion
of a report by the World Bank in 1987.
7. Disruption of Catchment Areas
Despite the much publicised move to reduce rate of
production of timber by the State government, at the best, it has
in a small way, slowed down the rate of logging and increased the
price of timber. However, the native communities in the interior
are still complaining of massive operations and continue to
suffer its effects.
a) Penans of Pa' Tik, Ulu Tutoh
The Penans of Pa' Tik, a settlement situated at the
uppermost part of Tutoh river, Baram, have complained to SAM that
a logging company, Rimbunan Hijau Sdn Bhd has encroached into the
catchment area of their pipe water supply provided by the Medical
Department. According to the Penans, they have tried to stop the
company from entering the area but the company manager simply
told them that they are from the government and what they are
doing is approved by the government. The Penans complained that
their water supply is now muddy.
SAM has assisted them in making a report to the police and
to the Medical Department to take necessary action to prevent
further encroachment and pollution of their water.
b) Water Supply at Long San, Ulu Baram
Some residents of Long San have also complained that their
catchment area, expecially the stream that feeds the reservoir
for the water supply to a secondary school at Long San, has been
disturbed and disrupted by a timber company. This is despite the
fact that the area is clearly marked for protection. Only after
months of waiting and after logging started in the area did the
authorities start to investigate and urge the company to stop.
Note: Generally the major part of the areas that are
presently under logging operations are part of catchment areas as
they move further into the interior and into the headwaters of
the major streams and rivers. Areas downriver have been
generally logged out. Log Production quotas may be imposed but
the areas logged are increasingly sensitive in terms of
environmental impact.
8. Court Case
a) Wan Jok and 41 others vs the Government of Malaysia
The above case is a civil suit filed by the 42 Kayans of
Uma Bawang, Baram, who were arrested on the 29.10.87 and detained
for fourteen days at the Police Station in Marudi. They were
subsequently charged for three offences viz: (1) illegal
occupation of stateland; (2) wrongful restraint; (3)
obstruction of public officers in carrying out their duties.
However, after two adjournments, the Prosecution decided to
drop the charges.
The above civil suit was filed at the Sessions Court in
Miri. The Kayans are suing the Police (Government of Malaysia)
for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution. The hearing
started on 29.4.93 at the Sessions Court, Miri and was attended
by 100 native representatives from the Baram region including the
plaintiffs. Hearing has been adjourned to 2 August 1993.
We will continue to keep you informed on future developments.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely
S.M. Mohamad Idris
President