Extracted from Malaysiakini

Extracted from Malaysiakini.com

Baram folks see SAM as a ‘friend in need’
Tony Thien
2:02:45 PM Aug 2, 2003

Marudi-based Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) field officer Jok Jau said with the absence of any opposition party there has been increasing pressure on SAM to handle complaints from indigenous groups in the Baram.

"It would seem that natives possibly see us as the only channel to which they could bring their complaints on infringements of their customary rights land, " he told malaysiakini today.

There is understandably a general reluctance even by elected representatives from the Barisan Nasional to be seen as championing the rights of the indigenous groups for fear of offending the top leadership.

New problem

In the beginning, most of the grievances were against logging companies, affecting their access to their traditional farming lands, fishing grounds along many of the streams and rivers in the interior of the Baram, and difficulty even in finding wood for making boats and even fire wood.

In recent years, however, a new problem has surfaced after the state government decided to give out licences for oil palm and forest plantations as well as the gazetting of new protected forests.

This, according to SAM officials in Marudi, Baram in northern Sarawak, has left many of the indigenous groups, especially the semi-nomadic Penans, " so much less space" to move around for farming, fishing and planting.

Jok said the semi-nomadic Penans living in five longhouses in mid Baram decided to put up timber barricades in April and May this year after becoming annoyed and impatient at the delay of the timber company operating in the area, Interhill Logging to respond to their requests for assistance.

However, they dismantled the barricades across the company's logging roads pending negotiation on their demands but warned that if they see no beneficial outcome of any discussions with the company on their requests, they would set up new barricades.

The natives have been asking the company for help to level the ground for building new longhouses and to supply building materials. The timber company has been accused of being slow in fulfilling their promises.

According to Jok, another problem that has angered the Orang Ulu, as the indigenous group in the Baram are often referred to, is the destruction of swiftlet caves caused by quarrying companies.

NCR land issue

These are at Long Laputand Sungai Dua near Long Lama, the second largest town in the Baram after Marudi which is the administrative headquarters of one of Sarawak's largest administrative divisions.

SAM office in Marudi is manned by four staff, including Thomas Jalong and Jok Jau, who are assisted by several volunteers.

Meanwhile, an Orang Ulu lawyer Harrison Ngau Laing, a former independent member of parliament for Baram and a social activist, told malaysiakini that his legal firm is presently handling about 20 cases from throughout Sarawak which have been referred to court involving natives over customary rights land issue.

Ten of the cases are from the Baram alone, he said. These involve logging companies, forest plantation companies and the gazetting of protected forests.