This is a joint report by 15 Penan settlements, in particular those
from the Ulu Baram District, interior of Sarawak, describing the
problems faced by them.
The 15 Penan settlements are as follows:-
1. Ba' Repo
2. Long Lamai
3. Ba' Abang
4. Long Itam
5. Long Lakar
6. Ba Pengaran
7. Ba Kerameu'
8. Long Kerong
9. Long Sabai
10. Long Ajeng
11. Long Sepigen
12. Baa Lai
13. Long Kepang
14. Long Sait
15. Pa' Berang
Problem #1: Police threats and destruction of peoples' property
On September 28, 1993, an appalling incident that we could not
forget was the dismantling of our blockade in Sungei Sebatu, Baram
at 11a.m. On that day, there were about 300 police and military
personnel led by the Marudi District Police, Baram and the Baram
District Officer in Marudi.
When the forces arrived at the blockade site, they hurled tear gas
at a crowd of about 203 Penan, including children and the elderly
who were sickly. They threw the tear gas five times, without any
prior warning or signal to the crowd gathered there.
During the incident, the police arrested nine persons, including a
six-year old school boy and two sick elderly. When the police later
learned that they had arrested a minor and two elderly, they
released the three persons.
The police also stopped five persons on their journey and arrested
them some five miles away from the blockade site. This brought the
total number of persons arrested to 11 and all were males. They
were detained at the Marudi jail for two weeks.
During the tear gas incident, there were some who sustained minor
injuries while others were punched by the police. Those who were
detained were not given sufficient food or blankets. They were only
given tap water to drink.
Property and livestock stolen or destroyed on the day the blockade
was dismantled:
a. Chickens, dogs, and domesticated jungle animals;
b. Homes were flattened or tore down by bulldozers;
c. Parang (bush knife), sumpit (blowpipe), racun sumpit
(blowpipe darts), and clothing were missing;
d. Huts for storing padi and padi fields were demolished by
bulldozers and chainsaws.
Problem #2: Death of a male child
As a result of the tear gas, many people fell ill. A few days after
the incident, a small boy named Sonny Laot, aged 6, who was hit by
the tear gas fell very ill. He continued to be ill for two weeks
and eventually died on October 15, 1993 in Long Sait.
Problem #3: Harassment by the Police Field Force
(Paramilitary Police)
The police field force (PPH) stationed in Long Mobui made a covert
visit to Long Sait and Long Kerong in the Serungoh area. When they
approached the settlements, they hid in the bushes to evade the
village people. The PPH only instructed their informers to enter
the settlements.
The informer was a boat driver, or an assistant called Lease Abang,
aged between 20 to 30 years old. He is the son of Abeng Jek, the
headman of Long Mobui. Lease Abang was given a pistol by the PPH.
Lease Abeng himself confessed that he was given the pistol and
added that, "anyone who tried to oppose me, I will shoot with this
pistol."
Was this not violating the law, fooling around with dangerous
weapons?
Could anyone without an approved license carry or use dangerous
weapons such as a pistol?
If this was an offence, why didn't the police or authorities took
immediate action against Lease Abeng?
Problem #4: Risk posed by the PPH
After the September 28, 1993 incident, some 20 Penan families
abandoned their homes and moved to Long Mobui. They would not move
back to their original abode until the headman, Abeng Jek
apologised to the people for asking the police to hurl tear gas
towards the people at the blockade site. According to the people,
they would not move back if the problems related to their land were
not settled by the authorities.
Problem #5: Threats by the PPH
On April 18, 1994, P/PPH Redin Simunyi from the 18th Battalion,
Company A, Miri threatened the Penan people of Long Sepigen. He
told the people...Those applying for licence to use the forest land
for their daily subsistence would not be approved by the
government, instead they would be shot or arrested by the PPH. He
added that the Penan did not have rights to the forest that
belonged to the government. On the same day, Redin Simunyi told the
Penan people that any Penan seen by the PPH in the forest area
would be arrested or killed by the PPH. On the same day, Redin
Simunyi and his company had also pointed their M16 rifles at the
children and women until they were trembling with fear.
Problem #6: Gang-raped by the PHH
At the end of 1993, the PPH on duty in Long Mobui gang-raped a 15
year old girl, Sara', until she fainted.
Problem #7: Fishing with explosives:
In the Sungei Serungoh near to the Long Sepigen settlement, the PPH
were fishing with explosives. We abhorred such acts that endangered
the lives of the people in the area. We appealed to the authorities
to take immediate action against the culprits.
Problem #8: Baseless accusations against the Penan people
In March 1994, three bulldozers owned by the Samling Timber Company
were set ablaze by unidentified persons. However, we were blamed
for the act. This was an unfair accusation. Why were we deemed
guilty without any proof?
In this matter, Samling Company threatened the Penan that they
would hunt and behead three Penan to replace the three burned
tractors.
Problem #9: Shot by arrow
On April 15, 1994, a Penan called Taboh was shot in the thigh by an
arrow in Sungei Abang, near to the Rimex logging camp. It was not
known who shot Taboh, from Long Sepatai, who was hunting at that
time.
Problem #10: Destruction of Penan property
Names of landowners in Long Sepigen whose farmlands were destroyed
by Samling Timber Company:-
1. Sepawi Ngedau
2. Boyce Abeng
3. Kateu Naan
4. Tom Petiun
5. Missa Gang
6. Lagoi Betty
Representatives from the following settlements acknowledged and
authorized this report:
1. Romeo Pusa, 28, Long Sabai
2. Robert Sakun, 29, Long Kepang
3. John Nyling, 46, K 556254, Long Kerong
4. Sepawi Ngedau, 30, K 774691, Long Sepigen
5. Balang Weng, 29, Pa' Berang
6. Ali Pet, 30, Baa Lai
7. Andrias Udau, 21, Baa Lai
8. Geoffery U. Lagui, 32, K 0112209, Long Kerong
9. Gerison Weng, 25, Baa Lai
10. Danyu Unut, 33, K 0102651, Long Sait
11. Jeckson Gut, 30, Long Ajeng
12. Raymond Lengai, 30, Long Kerong
13. Aijeck Lagui, 43, K 774695, Long Sepigen.
Note: This report has been lodged at the Kuching Central Police
Station, Jalan Khoo Hun Yeang, Kuching, on September 30, 1994 at
15.17 hours. The report number is CPS(K) 8037/94.