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Extracted from
Malaysiakini
Iban villagers
freed, no charges filed
Tony
Thien
Oct 9,
Six Ibans remanded in connection with alleged arson over a land
dispute were released yesterday afternoon, after being held by
The six,
including three chiefs, were arrested
after plantation company DD Pelita Gedong filed a complaint that they had set
fire to workers’ quarters.
A large group from three villages was present at the Serian magistrate’s court
to greet those released. No charges have been filed against them.
However, three of them were immediately served a summons by legal firm Tang
& Partners, to appear at the Kuching High Court on Oct 23, in relation to
an application for an injunction sought by DD Pelita Gedong and Nirwana
Muhibbah.
Nirwana Muhibbah is understood to be the contractor engaged by DD Pelita
Gedong, holder of the provisional lease over a plantation area, part of which
is claimed by the natives as ancestral land.
Interim injunction
The companies had earlier obtained an interim injunction to stop six villagers
from entering the site of the plantation.
They are
Buda anak Ganja 57, and Rocket anak Manggi 42, from Kampung Semada Mawang;
Tagong anak Guyang 63, and Munjut anak Rentap 45, from Kampung Semada Belator;
and Bayang anak Nanang 70, and Nanta anak Kilom, 52, from Kampung Semada
Tengah.
The case has
been described as a high-profile one because it involves two state assistant
ministers who are said to have interests in the plantation company.
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association secretary-general Nicholas Munjah
said the Ibans have engaged lawyer Dominique Ng Kim Ho, who is state PKR chief,
to represent them.
Several NGOs, including those based in Peninsular Malaysia, have offered to
help the Ibans to defend their native customary rights to land.