SARAWAK CAMPAIGN

INTERNATIONAL APPEAL TO SUPPORT PENAN PLIGHT IN SARAWAK 
BY SAHABAT ALAM MALAYSIA

Penans Protest Against Logging In River Apoh/Tutoh In Baram Region

16 August 2000

More than hundred semi settled Penans comprising men and women from various Penan settlements living in the interior area of Sungai Apoh/Tutoh in the Baram region, Sarawak, East Malaysia, gathered at Long Kevok to stage a non-violent protest against sustained logging activities in their communal lands and forests.

The Penan tribe is known to be a peace loving community and their numbers are fast dwindling, with only about 9,000 of them left in the Sarawak interior.

On 11th August, 2000, the Penan community form the Apoh/Tutoh settlements erected a wooden barricade on a logging road belonging to Lajung Lumber Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary company of Rimbunan Hijau Sdn. Bhd., Shin Yang Sdn. Bhd, and Raywood Sdn. Bhd.

The blockade was set up to stop the logging companies from freely transporting and extracting timbers from their forest areas in the upper Sungai Apoh/Tutoh.

They resorted to this action after the companies continued to ignore their rights of access to their natural forest resources. Their numerous complaints to the authorities and the logging companies regarding their claims to the forest resources and the problems caused by logging have fallen and deaf ears. Having no other alternative and being compelled to bring attention to their plight, the Penan natives have resorted to staging this protest which is still continuing.

Photos

The photographs were taken on the first day of the blockade, 11th August and the group photograph only shows small groups of Penans gathered at the blockade site because some of them turned up at the blockade site on the following day, on 12 August.

This report was received by the SAM office in Marudi when 4 members from the Penan tribe came to inform us on 15 August 2000. These natives are returning to the blockade site this morning to join the protests.

Their Grievances

Some of their grievances are as follows:

  • Both companies Rimbunan Hijau and Shin Yang acted very arrogantly in relation to their claims.

  • They have simply bulldozed their planted fruit trees and grave-yards without paying anything for the losses and damage that they have suffered.

  • They also do not render any assistance to the Penan community who seek their help to send those who are ill to the nearest clinic in Long Bedian in cases of emergency.

  • The companies simply encroached into their Communal Forest Reserves and carry out logging activities here, without any consultation and consideration for their source of livelihood.

Why Blockade

The Penan protestors at the blockade claim that the road blockade is their way to call on the companies representatives to come and meet with them to listen to their problems. Otherwise, the companies ignore their plight.

The Penan community will continue with the blockade until their problems are resolved and they receive assurances from higher authorities.

Police sent to protest site

Four Police personnel from the Marudi Police Station and one from Long Lama Police Station were sent to the blockade site on the13 August. So far, no arrests have taken place.

Appeal Letters

Kindly send your letters of appeal to the following persons urging them to exercise restraint in dealing with the Penans at the blockade side. Urge them to address the problems of these natives who are struggling for their livelihood and who ask for the logging companies to respect their native rights to the forest resources and their sacred sites

Kindly forward your appeals to:

  1. Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, The Hon. Prime Minister of Malaysia, The Prime Minister's Office, Main Block, Prime Minister's Department, Administrative Centre, 62502, Putrajaya, SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN

  2. Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, The Hon. Chief Minister of Sarawak, Chief Minister's Office, 22nd Floor, Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya, 93502 Kuching, SARAWAK

  3. Tan Sri Norian Mai, Inspector General of Police, The Royal Malaysian Police Force, Bukit Aman, 50560 KUALA LUMPUR

  4. CPO,.Sarawak

  5. Director Forests, Forestry Department, Wisma Sumber Alam, Stadium, Petra Jaya, 93660 Kuching, Sarawak. Fax No: 6082-441377

  6. Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Kheng, Minister of Primary Commodities,

  7. Datuk Freezailah Bin Che Yom, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, National Timber Certification Council, Malaysia, 19 F, Level 19, Menara PGRM No. 8, Jalan Pudu Ulu, Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: ntcc@tm.net.my; Fax No: 603-9200

Please also send us copies of your appeal letters so that we can forward them to the Penan communities.

For further information, please contact SAM’s Marudi Office at P.O.Box 216, Marudi, 98058 Baram, Sarawak. Email address sammarudi@yahoo.com; Tel/Fax No: 6085-756973 or the SAM headquarters in Penang at 27, Lorong Maktab, 10250. You can also email us at meenaco@pd.jaring.my.

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