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Extracted
from Malaysiakini
Penan leader's death: 'Forged' letter
surfaces
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Feb 4,
Not long after he called for the
A letter bearing Nick’s name and what is
supposed to be his signature has been making the rounds purportedly denying any
element of foul play in the death of his father, anti-logging Penan leader
Kelesau Naan (photo).
The letter, a copy of which was received by Malaysiakini,
claimed to “hereby confirm” that Nick does “not suspect any foul play in the
death” of his late father and to disavow statements made to the contrary in an earlier Malaysiakini report.
“With this confirmation, I hope that no speculation will arise involving myself
or the family of my late father, involving his death,” read the letter which
was dated
“It is our wish that the speculation be laid to rest and that my late father's
spirit be allowed to rest,” the letter said further.
When contacted, however, Nick disclaimed any involvement in the writing or
signing of the letter and maintained his stand that the family believes Kelesau
was indeed killed.
“I did not write the letter, and the signature is not mine. It was forged,”
Nick told Malaysiakini
recently.
Approached
by stranger
Kelesau had gone missing on Oct 23 last year after telling his wife, Uding
Lidem, that he was going to check on an animal trap he had set near their hut -
situated near the Sungai Segita river about two hours
walk from their long-house of Long Kerong.
Failing to locate Kelesau despite the use of tracker dogs, the
villagers feared that their headman had died.
On Dec 17, the villagers discovered Kelesau’s skull and the bones
of his thighs, ribs and hands which suddenly surfaced near Sungai Segita.
While fingers have pointed generally to logging interests as being
behind Kelesau’s death, questions have also been asked
whether inter-tribal rivalries contributed to his demise.
In the meantime, Nick has lodged a police report over the letter.
Miri police have subsequently confirmed investigations have been launched into
the alleged forgery case.
Malaysiakini itself has been asked to give a statement to
the police on the source of the letter received.
Nick admitted that he had been approached some time in early
January or late December by two men, only one of whom he was acquainted with.
“The stranger asked me to sign a letter. When I was told what the
letter said, I refused to sign it. After that, I heard that the same letter was
going around that contained my name and my fake signature,” he said.
Outsiders at village
On a related development, another family member said today that
the
Martin Bujang, a nephew of the late chieftain,
said most villagers had left Long Kerong temporarily as they have become
“fearful” following the appearance of “strangers” in their territory.
“They are not police. They do not look like loggers because they do not seem to
be going about doing any work in the area. They were trying to hide (their
presence) from the villagers,” he said today.
“We do not know who they are. The villagers have become ‘tak senang’
(unsettled) and left to stay in other places for a while. There are only about
two or three people in Long Kerong right now,” he added.
Following the death of their chieftain, the villagers had earlier issued a stern warning to outsiders - especially loggers - against entering
their land without their permission.