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updated 2001-01-31
Bintulu, Sarawak 15 and 17 November 2000
NATIVES PROTEST AGAINST PULPWOOD MILL PROJECT
The Iban longhouses community in Upper Tatau, Bintulu, Sarawak,
Malaysia is staging up protest against the Pulpwood Mill and Forest Plantation
project of the Borneo Pulp & Paper Sdn. Bhd (BPP) since early
morning today.
Map : location of the protest
About more than 70 head of families from 12 longhouses affected by the BPP pulpwood mill projects gathered and set a blockade on the road that was constructed through their native customary rights (NCR) land. A 'miring' was performed with pig and chicken were slaughtered.
Borneo Pulp & Paper Sdn. Bhd., is a joint venture company between Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd (APP) (a Singapore based holding company attached to Indonesian owned Sinar Mas Group, holds 60% shares and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation or STIDC, representing the Sarawak State Government holds 40% shares. The location of the Pulpwood mill project is in Ulu Tatau about 45km south of Bintulu and 23km Southeast of Tatau Town.
Stop BPP. The Court has yet to decide, we have already file a case
Sometimes in February 1997, about 6,200 ha of their NCR Lands had been
acquired and their rights had been extinguished by the Sarawak Government
for the establishment of the pulp mill project. In November 1998, legal
representative action was taken by the representatives of the affected
longhouses to seek a court injunction to prohibit BPP for taking over
their NCR land and challenging the State government on the extinguishment
of their NCR to their lands null and void. This legal action was filed
in the High Court in Kuching. The court has yet to fix the date for hearing.
Despite of the legal action taken by the affected community, BPP is still continuing with its operations causing so much damages to their properties, gardens, lands and forest resources. A large tract of NCR lands had been cleared without the informed consent of the landowners.
Since this morning, the operations of BPP at the project site have been interrupted and the works have been temporary cease.
Before noon, it was reported that a team of policemen from Tatau District Police Station have been deployed to the protest site. The Borneo Pulp & Paper Sdn. Bhd is also putting numerous of its security guard personnel in the area. The police are trying to dismantle the blockade but the longhouse people stop them from doing so. The people inform the police that they want BPP to totally stop its entire works that affects their properties and customary lands.
Longhouse residents setting up the 'piring' or offerings
Updated on 17-Nov-2000
The Iban longhouses community in Upper Tatau, Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia is staging up protest against the Pulpwood Mill and Forest Plantation project of the Borneo Pulp & Paper Sdn. Bhd (BPP) since Wednesday (15-11-2000) (See map).
About more than 100 men and women from 11 longhouses affected by the BPP pulpwood mill projects gathered and set a blockade by performing a 'miring' on the road that was constructed through their native customary rights (NCR) land. The 11 affected longhouses are Rumah (Rh.) Entika, Rh. Munggu, Rh. Gerunsin, Rh. Suran, Rh. Ringkai, Rh. Meluda, Rh. Polis, Rh. Maring, Rh. Arjey, Rh. Ali and Rh. Jeti.
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Gerempong Dayak Menoa Tatau urges that:
Signed by: |
The longhouse communities are putting up the blockade because they fear that their customary lands would continue to be illegally encroached and cleared by BPP that would cause massive destruction to their properties, gardens, temuda lands and communal forest.
Sometime in February 1997, about 6,200 ha of the communities NCR Lands had been acquired and their rights had been extinguished by the Sarawak Government for the establishment of the pulp mill project. BPP's mill site is located within the territories of the customary land of the affected longhouse communities which is 45 km south of Bintulu and 23 km south-east of Tatau town.
In November 1998, legal representative action was taken by the representatives of the affected longhouses to seek a court injunction to prohibit BPP for taking over their NCR land and challenging the State government on the extinguishment of their NCR to their lands null and void. This legal action was filed in the High Court in Kuching. The court has yet to fix the date for hearing.
Despite the repeated protest and pleadings of the longhouse communities, BPP are very adamant that the project must go on and the people are forced to evacuate their longhouse. The longhouse people are in the opinion that since they have filed the court action their native customary rights are still maintain, recognise and valid. Thus, they are the rightful owners of their customary lands.
Early this year, BPP has issued a warning notice to the longhouse residents not to enter the BPP project area or else legal action would be taken against them. The longhouse communities have been harassed and intimidated by BPP in forcing them to move out of their longhouse. They also felt disappointed with the government for extinguishing their native customary rights without their consultation and consent. To date BPP has ignored the communities pleas and protest and continued working without prior informed consent of the communities.
Sacrificing the pig
Men, women and children join in the blockade
BPP security officers keeping an eye on the situation
NOTE: We will update you on again once we receive information from the community.
Concerns over Borneo Pulp & Paper-project
Natives suing Borneo Pulp & Paper Company and the Government of Sarawak