More than hundred semi-settled Penans comprising men, women and children from several Penan settlements in the Apoh and Tutoh region, Baram, Miri Division have staged a peaceful protest against three logging companies by erecting a wooden barricade across a logging road near Long Kevok, Layun, Tutoh in Sarawak.

The blockade which was put up on the 11^th August, 2000 intends to stop three timber companies namely Lajong Lumber Sdn. Bhd. (subsidiary of Rimbunan Hijau Sdn. Bhd), Shin Yang Sdn. Bhd. and Rawood Sdn. Bhd. from carrying out further logging operations in the Penan areas in the Apoh/Tutoh region.

According to a number of the Penan village Chiefs involved in the blockade, their people resorted to road blockade after numerous verbal and written appeals made to the companies on problems faced by the Penans arising from the logging activities were ignored. The village chiefs complained that these three companies simply encroached into the communal forest reserves of the Penans and logged out the timber resources without consultation with the Penans. They also complained that these companies simply bulldozed their planted fruit trees and burial sites and refused to pay compensation for the damage done to their properties. The Penan Chiefs view the act of the companies in refusing to take heed of the Penans appeals and pleas as a sign of total lack of respect for their rights.

Further, the natives complained the two companies, Lajong Lumber Sdn. Bhd. and Shin Yang Sdn. Bhd acted arrogantly totally disregard their existence in the area. Hence, the blockade.

According to the Penans chiefs, the blockade shall be manned and maintained until the higher authorities and government leaders come up with acceptable solutions and a written guarantee that the Penan rights to their traditional land and resources are respected by the timber concessionaires and contractors.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) would like to call on the government and the relevant authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with the native Penans involved in the blockades. The Police and the Forest Department should not arbitrarily arrest, remand and charge the natives without first conducting a proper investigation into the complaints and grievances of the natives against the timber companies.

SAM also calls on the timber companies not to resort to bullying and dirty tactics by hiring gangsters to harass or intimidate the peace-loving native Penans, as such move is not only uncivilised and uncalled for but it will intensify the conflicts and cause further complications.

There have been many previous allegations by the Penans of the hiring of gangsters to harass the natives so that they would not pursue their legitimate demands for compensation for damage done to their properties.

SAM reiterates its call to the State Government to review its forest management policy and laws so that the rights and privileges of the natives to the forest and its resources in and around their settlements or traditional territories should be recognised and protected. The natives should be given the right to control and manage the resources or at least be treated as equal stakeholders in the management and use of such resources so that they can meaningfully benefit from it.

SAM notes that among the criteria and indicators laid out by International Timber Trade Organisation or ITTO which has been adopted by the Malaysian government and endorsed by the state governments to achieve sustainable forest management, is the recognition of native rights to the forests and its resources and the existence of a framework and mechanism to ensure community participation in the management and use of forests and its resources.

The ongoing occurrence of protests by the natives in their areas of settlement is a clear indication that the present forest management policy has serious weaknesses which need to be rectified. Such protests may continue to recur if the root causes of the problems are not properly addressed. The government and the timber companies will only have themselves to be blamed if the timbers cannot be certified to have come from sustainably managed forests and face marketing problems.

SAM also urges the government to monitor the conduct of the timber companies in their areas and country of operations. In the event of any abuse and harassment of the local people, violations, breaches of laws and licence conditions, the companies concerned should asked to show cause as to why their licence should not be revoked. Those involved in such unethical activities should be taken to task.

SAM appeals to the Federal and State Governments of Sarawak to address the problems and appeals of the Penans and not ignore their plight.