Several indigenous people groups said today they will remove the road blocks into the disputed logging sites in Sarawak only if the logging companies concerned stop encroaching into native lands.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Penan, Kayan and Kenyah communities in Baram, Sarawak, environmental non-government agency Friends of the Earth (SAM) today urged the state government and companies involved to meet the natives demands to withdraw from the area or provide them fair and adequate compensation.

Their rights to traditional native lands have been ignored by the logging companies and state government, thus forcing them into lives of difficulty because of deprivation of forest and river resources, said SAM.

All promises of the Sarawak government concerning biosphere conservation, payment of fair compensation, assistance funds and infrastructure have not been fulfilled.

The agency said the native communities will continue to block roads leading into mining and logging areas by organising human shields or erecting wooden barriers unless the companies involved abide by pre-negotiated terms with the communities.

The Penans living in the Sungai Apoh and Sungai Kabeng areas near Baram were the first to erect barriers to stop logging company Interhill Logging Sdn Bhd from entering when it failed to comply with their requests.

The barriers were destroyed because the director of Interhill agreed to fulfill the requests of the inhabitants. The protestors were asked to sign an agreement in the presence of the district officer at Marudi on April 2, but the Interhill officers failed to show up, said SAM.

The barriers were later re-erected with help from several other communities from Sungai Patah and Sungai Akah after the unsuccessful meeting, added SAM.

The NGO said other native groups have decided to take similar action against two other logging companies  Woodman Sdn Bhd and Samling Sdn Bhd.

While Woodman has agreed to withdraw from the native lands, no agreement has been reached with Samling.

Manager tied up

SAM also clarified a recent incident between logging company officials and a Kayan community from the Bemang area. Several Kayans had tied up a logging company manager and brought him to their homes after a dispute broke out between the two parties.

According to the native practices, when confronted with such situations, they tie up the manager and bring him to their homes, so as to allow him to calm down.

They denied that they had injured the manager, but said the latter injured himself while being transported to the natives longhouse. The Kayans also deny charges that they kidnapped the manager for ransom money but acted in the manner according to their customs for the safety of others and the manager, said SAM.

According to the NGO, eight residents of the longhouse are still detained by police for further questioning until April 26.

Meanwhile, SAM added that some 30 members of the Kayan and Kenyah communities have also protested against the sand-mining activities of Besungai Quarry Sdn Bhd from the banks of Sungai Baram.

Photographs courtesy of SAM.