Extracted From Malaysiakini

 

End blockade or face arrest, Penan told

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz

Sep 26, 06 3:07pm

 

Leaders of the Penan community of Long Benali in Sarawak could face arrest if they do not comply with a deadline to dismantle barriers erected to deter loggers.

 

The deadline was conveyed in a meeting last week held between Miri Resident Ose Murang, police and district officers and leaders of Long Benali, according to a source in the community.

 

"We were told to dismantle the blockade (by today). If not, they said our leaders would be arrested," said the source when contacted.

 

The authorities, added the source, threatened the arrest of four persons in particular: headman Sound Bujang and villagers Henission Phusu Bujang, Dennis Bujang and Allen Lai.

 

The blockade was set up in February 2004 to prevent the construction of a road and loggers of timber giant Samling Group from entering what the community claims to be its native customary land.

 

The Long Benali villagers, along with their fellow Penan have long resorted to blockades against logging and oil palm companies. They remain adamant despite the impending arrests.

 

"If they forcibly dismantle the blockade, it means that they are the ones violating our rights. We are just trying to defend our human rights," said the source.

 

As with other Penan communities in the Ulu Baram area of Sarawak, the villagers of Long Benali perceive Samling's ambitions to log the interior forest as threatening the environment and their present welfare and future sources of livelihood.

 

They also claimed Samling has encroached on their native customary rights over the land without consultation with all stakeholders.

 

Logging operations 'legal'

 

An ongoing High Court case in Miri has, since 1998. pitted four Penan against the Sarawak government and Samling over the logging licences issued.

 

Samling, however, has argued that its operations are licenced by the Sarawak government and certified by the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC).

 

It also said the interior Kelabit community of Long Lellang disagrees with the Penan of Long Benali, and wants construction of the access road as soon as possible.

 

When contacted, both the Miri Resident and Marudi district officer refused to comment.

 

Officers at the Miri district and Kuching contingent police stations said they had no knowledge of any impending arrests.

 

MTCC has not responded to questions from malaysiakini, while the Samling communications department said it was not the company's police to speak to the press on such matters.