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Extracted From Malaysiakini
Third
road block by Iban landowners
Tony Thien
Apr 30,
Native
customary rights (NCR) landowners in Kampung Aping and Kampung Abok in Sri
Aman, 180km from Kuching, have erected a road block for 
the third time to stop loggers
entering their land.
They
alleged that the logging company and its contractors have caused considerable
damage to their land and fruit trees, and stolen timber from communal forests
meant for domestic use.
Barriers erected on two previous occasions were removed by the company’s
workers.
The village development and security committee, headed by Jacob Emang, held a
meeting last Thursday at which it was decided the road block would be set up on
Sunday.
In a statement to malaysiakini,
the Iban villagers complained that the company and its contractors had also
destroyed three water catchment areas - two at Aping and one at Abok - causing
river water to become polluted and muddy.
“Due to this, the villagers have
to get water from other smaller but clean streams further away from the
polluted rivers,” the statement said.
The landowners also urged the government to revoke the timber licence
immediately and to help the villagers claim compensation for the damage and
pollution.
They alleged that the company has extended the boundary of the timber
concession, thereby further encroaching into NCR land.
“This false boundary is between the company's licensed area and the NCR area,
and has caused a dispute,” said Jacob.
“We can prove this on the ground because the licencee is not only cheating us
but working against the law and the government.”
He said the committee would write to state police chief Talib Jamal and Bintulu
MP Tiong King Sing regarding police inaction over their complaints.
Jacob and three other landowners were arrested earlier
this month and remanded for about a week for allegedly burning mobile camps
belonging to the company.