Extracted from Malaysiakini

Iban natives accused of 'trespassing' on own land

Sep 19, 09 6:32pm

A group of Iban in Sarawak’s Pantu District was arrested yesterday by the police for ‘trespassing’ on their farm land following a report lodged by an oil palm company.

They were accused of attempting of harvesting oil palm fruits which have been grown on their native customary right (NCR) land.

After detaining them for about 12 hours, the 15 Iban were released at 1.15am today, according to the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS).

“From reports on the ground, the group consisted of 20 Iban but the five women in the group were allowed to go free. Though there are no plans to charge the group, the police claim to be unable to release the 15 men until their statements are taken,” said a statement by JOAS.

"This is a clear case of harassment," said Sarawak Dayak Iban Association secretary-general Nicholas Mujah. “It shows that the companies are able to exert influence over the police and government."

Protest against ‘joint venture’

Pelita-Tetangga Akrab claimed to have signed a joint venture in 2003 with the Iban villagers to convert their farm land into an oil palm plantation.

But according to JOAS, the vast majority of the villagers did not agree to the project. No action was taken despite numerous police reports were made against the company.

As a desperate measure, the villagers have taken to harvesting the oil palm fruit that was grown on their land.

"The government wants the natives to not leave their NCR lands idle. But when the native communities want to develop their own land by planting cash crops such as oil palm, they are being penalised," lamented Borneo Resources Institute executive director Mark Bujang.

Yesterday’s arrests followed that of 15 indigenous activists in Kuching last Tuesday - Malaysia Day - for protesting against the encroachment of their land by oil palm and logging companies.

Among those arrested were indigenous people living in the remote areas of Murum and Baram, where hydroelectric dams are to be constructed and thus displacing tens of thousands of people.

They were later freed.