Iban villagers plan to apply for an injunction to stop a logging company from encroaching into what they claim is native customary rights (NCR) land in Silantik-Abok, Sri Aman, about 250km from Kuching.

Group leader Jacob Emang, 58, ( photo, standing ) said the application would be filed early next week by six tuai rumah (village chiefs) against a company which holds a timber licence for operations in the Pantu sub-district of Sri Aman.

"We want to stop them from encroaching into our land which includes our water catchment area (below the concession area), a government-initiated fish breeding area at Sg Abok/Pulau Batu and a community-based mini-hydro project at Sg Mawang Abok," he said today.

According to Emang, the application will be filed by headmen representing six villages - Abok Sanjau, Abok/Pulau Batu,Abok/Tembawai,Abok/Jalai/, Sg Tenggang and Silantik.

They claimed that the loggers began encroaching into their land early this year. Villagers retaliated by setting up a road block.

In April, four Iban, including Emang, were remanded for more than a week by police for allegedly burning mobile camps belonging to the company. They are on police bail currently.