Bruno Manser Fonds updated 2001-06-30 |
Basel, 2001Sarawak 2001: Natives struggle against the government and the industry
Stopping the vehicles |
More than one hundred Penans, including women and children from some Penan villages from the two Penan villages, Long Sayan and Long Belok located in the interior land areas of river Apoh, Tutoh in the Baram region had erected blockade on logging road belonging to Lajong Lumber Sdn. Bhd., subsidiary company to Rimbunan Hijau Sdn. Bhd.
A group of about 120 semi-nomadic Penans from two longhouses in the Upper Baram region have launched another round of anti-logging protests against a timber company for trespassing into jungles which they regard as their ancestral land.
Penan Long Nen blockade
n January 21st, six police officers from Marudi Police Station were dispatched to the blockade site between Long Sayan and Long Belok. Ajang Kiew and five other Penan leaders from Long Sayan and Long Belok were forced to come down to Marudi and with logging companies representatives meet with the District Officer in Marudi. However, the meeting did not lead to an outcome satisfactory to the Penan. They were told by the District Officer that Long Sayan and Long Belok are sure to receive more government assistance later this year, especially with housing materials. The logging company involved has also promised to provide assistance to them, including monetary compensation for forest destruction, but no agreement was signed between the parties involved. Ajang Kiew said that he is still not satisfied, and will continue protesting against the company. The Penan are less interested in compensation than in simply stopping or greatly reducing the logging. Furthermore, the Penan and other indigenous groups have frequently been given vague promises that fail to be realized, even when contracts are signed.
Unfortunately, the end of January marks the start of the rice harvesting season for many Penan, the busiest time of the year. So the blockades will be suspended until early March, when the Penan will have the means to start blockading again. The Penan in the Long Sayan and Long Belok region have been participating in blockades since August, 2000.
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Penans lift anti-logging blockade in upper Baram
By Stephen Then
MIRI: The latest round of anti-logging protests organised by a group of semi-nomadic Penans in upper Baram in the interior of Miri Division has been defused. Sources said the two groups involved in the dispute--the Penans and workers from a timber firm based here--have decided to end the standoff and try to resolve the issue at the negotiating table recently.
"The timber blockade set up by the semi-nomadic Penan cultivators was dismantled several days ago following the intervention of officers from the Marudi district office.
"The Penans agreed to end their blockade after the company management agreed to listen to their grievances.
"Both sides have agreed to try to end their differences through negotiations and to hopefully arrive at an agreeable solution.
"Representatives of both parties have met with the district officer in Marudi town to discuss the dispute,'' a source said.
The Penan protesters, made up of some 120 semi-nomadic settlers from two longhouses in the upper reaches of the Baram region, had on Jan 11 erected a blockade against the timber company for allegedly trespassing into jungles which they claimed were their ancestral land.
The group had prevented the company's workers from entering a timber road leading to the longhouses at Long Sayan and Long Belok in Sungai Tutoh.
Penan Long Lunyim blockade
By Azam Hj Zawawie
MIRI - The decision by the Penans in Upper Baram to lift their anti-logging blockade is commendable and a good indication the issue would be put to rest once and for all.
The decision by all parties concerned to put an end to the anti-logging activities was described by State Liaison Officer for Penan Affairs Senator Dato Joseph Balan Seling yesterday, as a positive sign of many good things to come.
He was asked to comment on a recent report that appeared in a national daily that the Penans anti-logging blockade in the Upper Baram had been lif-ted. "I have not read about it and if that is true, it is a good development," he said, adding that the bloc-kade if not lifted would only bring trouble to all parties concerned.
It was reported earlier that about 120 Penans from two longhouses in Upper Baram erected a blockade on 11 January claiming that a timber company had allegedly trespassed into their ancestral land.
The villagers also prevented workers from using a logging track leading to the two longhouses at Long Sayan and Long Belok in Sungai Tutoh. However, it is learnt that the situation was defused after both sides have decided to resolve the matter at the negotiating table.
Sources revealed that the representatives of both sides had met with the District Officer in Marudi to discuss the dispute but the outcome is still unknown.