A doughty Iban defender of Native Customary Rights (NCR) to land, Numpang Suntai, who hails from Sebangan in Sarawak, walked out of the magistrate's court in Simunjan yesterday, a free man.

He had been arrested for 'criminal intimidation' against the camp manager of Loyal Billion, a company logging trees in forests claimed by the villagers.

NONE The decision brought tears of relief to many of the 200 supporters gathered at the courthouse.

Those at the peaceful gathering were delighted when Numpang's lawyer See Chee How, of Baru Bian & Associates, announced Numpang's acquittal.

The court dismissed the charge of criminal intimidation, saying the police had failed to prove a prima facie case that Numpang ( right ) had threatened a camp worker with a shotgun.

Attempts at intimidation

Police demonstrated tact in choosing not to harass Numpang's supporters. Relations between the police and the Sebangan villagers have been strained, with many of the natives claiming that police were prejudiced against them.

Loyal Billion is the contractor employed by listed conglomerate Quality Concrete to log the contested land.

Heavyweights Raziah @ Roziah Mahmud, Hamed Sepawi and Abdul Aziz Husain - sister, cousin and brother-in-law respectively of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud - are all shareholders of Quality Concrete.

Last October, Numpang and six other Ibans were arrested after villagers erected a blockade across the Loyal Billion access road, and a fire that broke out at the loggers' camp.

Numpang has acknowledged that he participated in the blockade, but all the natives denied torching the camp.

NONE No charge of arson was laid and the police released the rest of the 'Sebangan Seven', only to eventually bring charges against Numpang.

Hundreds of villagers have been turning up at his court hearings.

The villagers have claimed that the arrests were an attempt to intimidate them, to lubricate Loyal Billion entry into 3,305 hectares of contested forests, claimed by the natives as pulau galau or communal forests reserved for the use of future generations.

Meanwhile, the natives said the police have studiously ignored the30 reports they lodged against Loyal Billion and its powerful employer Quality Concrete.

The villagers point out that police have been unconvincing in their response to violence and threats by logging and plantation companies against NCR protesters throughout the state.

These provocations have become increasingly common, raising concerns that native landowners may retaliate against thugs hired by the companies.

Arrests fail to stifle dissent

But last October's arrests did not quell the villagers' protests. On the contrary, Numpang and 14 other native landowner plaintiffs in November sued Quality Concrete, Loyal Billion, the state Director of Forests and the Sarawak government, as well as two government-appointed local community leaders, for what they called "illegal and unconstitutional" extraction of timber from NCR land.

NONE On March 7, the Kuching High Court granted Numpang and his fellow villagers an injunction stopping Quality Concrete and Loyal Billion from extracting timber, pending the resolution of the lawsuit.

During the court proceedings, villagers discovered an 'agreement', purportedly signed by Loyal Billion and a government-appointed penghulu , handing over the NCR rights of the 15 villages to the companies at a mere RM250 a family.

The native landowners said they knew nothing of the document, and lodged several police reports alleging fraud, misrepresentation and forging of signatures.

A few sceptical observers have warned against premature celebrations, pointing out that the lawsuit has not yet been settled.

They say the authorities may well ratchet up pressure on the 15 longhouses after the coming state election if Taib wins again, since bad publicity for Taib's family would no longer be a concern.

However, the spirits of the villagers on the steps of the magistrate's court in Simunjan yesterday morning could not be dampened.

NONE "We have to be here, because this is not Numpang's personal matter.

"Numpang is one of us and we are all in this battle to fight the company owned by the chief minister's sister," said a headman from one of the 15 villages.

"Together, we will safeguard our NCR land," he added.

At a joyful thanksgiving dinner last night, some 100 villagers gathered to pray and celebrate.

"Although I was the only one charged, I did not for a minute feel alone. Most of my people were with me all the time, throughout the entire trial," Numpang said.

"Tonight, many have spoken, and much has been said. It is a tough battle against the rich companies, but we are ready to fight them all the way!"