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updated 2001-01-31
Malaysia, Novembre 4, 2000
Malaysian Press
The Star
Saturday, November 4, 2000
Suhakam to look into plight of Penans
KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will meet the Sarawak Government later this month on the plight of Penan natives and allegations that they had been victimised by loggers.
Vice-chairman Tan Sri Harun Mahmud Hashim said Penan representatives presented their case at a closed-door meeting here on Thursdayand sought Suhakam's intervention in their issues.
He said the commission would meet the state government on Nov 19 and, if possible, visit areas affected by the logging in Ulu Baram and Ulu Niah.
Ten representatives of the Iban and Penan people who had been displaced as a result of logging and land clearing, relayed their problems at a press conference organised by several NGOs at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Thursday.
Harun said the commission had heard their case and wanted to investigate further before it intervened.
Baglan Nalang, one of the Penan representatives, said he was pleased that Suhakam was making the effort to meet with the relevant authorities to settle the matter.
He said logging companies had begun encroaching into their native land and they have resorted to setting up blockades to stop logging activities.
"We had no choice but to take this matter up with the commission because we feel that everytime we make a complaint to the state government our case gets shoved away," he said.
Baglan said all they wanted was for the authorities to recognise their rights as Malaysians.
"We do not want to feel like aliens in our own land. We want the authorities to pay attention to our case and help us in education and health."
Lengidin anak Guba from Ulu Niah said land clearing and logging activities had resulted in a murder and rape cases.
4th Nov, Harakahdaily.com (Opposition Party's online news)
Penans file complaint to SUHAKAM
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 4 (Hrkh)- Representatives of the Penan tribe from Sarawak today held a two-hour close-door discussion with the National Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM).
The five-member team from Ulu Baram and other representatives from Sarawak NGOs were accompanied by Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Society (HAKAM), Elizabeth Wong.
SUHAKAM Commissioners present were Vice-Chair Harun Hashim, Dr. Mohd. Hirman Ritom Abdullah, Mehrun Siraj, Prof. Dato' Hamdan Adnan, Dr Salleh Mohd Nor and Mahadev Shankar.
The Penans filed the first ever complaint by an indigenous group from Sarawak, touching on the erosion of native customary rights over land; the erosion of economic, social and cultural rights; and the abuse of police powers and the brutality of the Police Field Force (PFF).
Harun Hashim said that they would be looking into the issues raised. He also mentioned that they would enquire from the Sarawak state government.
Balang Nalang of Ulu Baram said that the meeting with SUHAKAM was satisfactory.
"We have sent numerous letters and appeals to government officials and agencies for the last fifteen years. Yet our situation has not improved.
"We will see if SUHAKAM can help us," he added.
He said that they have also invited SUHAKAM to come to Ulu Baram to see the situation for themselves.
Elizabeth Wong from HAKAM commented that the commissioners were very sympathetic and well-aware of the issues faced by the Penans.
"I was very touched by their concerns, especially Shankar who told the Penans that they will not be alone in their fight for justice," she said.
Some of the recommendations forwarded to SUHAKAM were: recognition of the native customary land of the Penans and other indigenous groups; suspension of all logging activities until a public enquiry is held; repeal of the Internal Security Act 1960 which has been used to detain persons working for the cause of indigenous peoples; investigate into abuses perpetrated upon the Penans, including several deaths, rape and torture; and to set up a SUHAKAM office in Sarawak to protect the human rights of the Penans and other indigenous communities.
The meeting came a day after Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Inspector General of Police Norian Mai rejected the requests for a meeting with the indigenous peoples.
Since arriving in Kuala Lumpur, the group had met with NGOs and politicians including Suqiu and the Bar Council. They have also paid a special visit to the Alternative Front parliamentarians and was personally received by leader of the opposition and PAS President Fadzil Nor in Parliament on Thursday.
In the evening, representatives spoke to 200 people who had gathered in the home of KeADILan President, Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The group will also speak tomorrow at the inaugural "People Before Profits" conference, organized by Suaram and SOS-Selangor. A special welcome and fundraising dinner on Saturday night will be held for them at the Grand Olympic Hotel.
The Penans are a minority indigenous group in Sarawak, numbering only 10,000 in the state. In the mid-1980s, they have captured the imagination of the international media and won the admiration of environmental groups by their unique way of non-violent protests using blockades. They have been fighting to preserve their cultural identity and customary land rights especially in the last fifteen years when logging companies intensified their activities on their lands.
The Star
Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Suhakam receives another complaint from Penan group
By Stephen Then
MIRI: Another group of Penans has filed an official complaint to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) alleging that its land rights had been violated by logging activities in the remote interior of Miri Division.
It is learnt that the group of semi-nomadic settlers is led by paramount chief Ajang Kiew. The shifting cultivators live mostly in the forests of upper Baram.
It is learnt that Suhakam has replied to the Penan chiefs, acknowledging that their complaint had been received by the commission's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The report by Ajang and group, alleging that their land rights had been violated by the state government and by logging companies, is the third such complaint filed with Suhakam by natives of Sarawak over the past week.
A few days ago, two different groups of Penans and Iban settlers filed complaints to Suhakam that their land rights were also violated in two regions in Baram and Ulu Niah.
Suhakam representatives are scheduled to arrive in Kuching to meet leaders of the state government later this month to discuss the complaints.
Many other groups of natives are keeping a close watch on the latest developments.
"How Suhakam and the state government respond and deal with the complaints will have a bearing on future land rights cases.
"There are several other disgrunted groups which are prepared to file similar complaints to Suhakam if the situation warrants it," said a source.
Ajang could not be contacted for comment. He is said to be suffering from malaria after travelling around the jungles near Long Sayan over the past few weeks.