200 NCR landowners demand to be detained

SIMUNJAN: More than 200 owners of native customary rights (NCR) land gathered outside the gate of the Simunjan police station here demanding to be detained together with seven of their collegues who were being held for alleged mischief with fire yesterday. Fearful of more owners turning up, police quickly closed the gate to prevent them from entering and called for more reinforcement.

The landowners were supporters of well-known activist Nicholas Mujah and four Tuai Rumah (longhouse chiefs) and two others.

Their arrests have caught the attention of international media like BBC which phoned Mujah’s supporters for details of the detention.

Besides being the secretary-general of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia), Mujah is also a member of several national and international non-governmental organisations.

Mujah and two others were detained yesterday afternoon after their statements were taken and their lawyer See Chee How of Baru Bian and Company was present. They will be produced in court today for further remand.

On Thursday, three longhouse chiefs and a NCR land owner were detained. They were produced in court yesterday and remanded for four days.

Besides Mujah, the others detained are his brother Tuai Rumah Sadon Ak Asson, Tuai Rumah Philip Anak Bakat, Tuai Rumah Neli Anak Nipa, Tuai Rumah Bawi, Numpang Anak Suntai, and Tinsi Anak Bunda.

Police also took statements of 10 others from six longhouses, but they were not detained.

The seven have been arrested in connection with the fire that occurred last Monday destroying or damaging two-storey quarters, a store, six tractors, two logging truck, a pick-up and an excavator.

The machinery and quarters belonged to the Royal Billion Sdn Bhd, a contractor of the licence holder Quality Concrete Holdings.

The amount of loss is yet to be estimated. But the company claimed the loss is at RM2 million.

Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s sister Raziah is a non-executive director of the company.

Illegal logging

The logging company, Quality Concrete Holdings, has been in the centre of dispute after the Forestry Department gave it a licence to carry out logging activities in the disputed 3,305 hectares of forests which the Ibans from six longhouses claim to be their NCR land.

The landowners have been negotiating with the company and the authorities and they have also brought their complaints to the police, the district officer, the Resident of Samarahan Division and the Land and Survey Department. All to no avail.

When all these failed, the natives have, since Oct 14, erected a blockade to stop the workers from the Royal Billion Company from encroaching into their NCR land.

They have also stopped a “tongkang” (barge) from loading timber that has been extracted from the disputed area.

Mujah, a landowner himself, said he was curious why the police detained him.

“When the fire occurred, I was at Pulau Bruit with a colleague doing some monitoring work. Furthermore, his last visit to his longhouse was on July 24.

“It is therefore ridiculous for the police to detain me,” he said.

On the so-called loss of RM2 million by the company, Mujah said that was only minimal.

“But the profits they extracted from the timber are worth hundreds of millions of ringgit. What about the destruction to our lands, the fruit trees, our gardens and cash crops and the damage to the ecological system?

“The company did not respect the law and the rights of the natives. It did not observe the conditions given to them in the licence. One of the conditions is that the company should leave NCR land alone.

“But this company disobeyed the conditions and it should be punished for that,” he said, accusing the Forestry Department of colluding with the company.- FreeMalaysiaToday

Tanah di Sebangan,Sebuyau Dirompak Pula

Portal berita Sarawak Report mendakwa sebuah firma yang dikaitkan dengan ketua menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud cuba membayar 'pampasan' RM4,000 - bagi mendapatkan keuntungan membalak yang bernilai lebih RM230 juta.

Tanah berukuran 3,305 hektar itu membabitkan 16 perkampungan Iban di di Kampung Ensika di mana penduduknya sejak beberapa generasi telah bercucuk tanam, menghuni, dan memburu. Mereka mendakwa tanah berkenaan telah digazetkan sebagai tanah hak warisan pribumi (native customary rights - NCR) sejak 1956.

Menurut Sarawak Report, kawasan yang terancam itu adalah kawasan berbukit bakau berhampiran Sebangan yang tidak dimasukkan sebagai kawasan 'pembangunan' kerana kedudukannya yang tinggi berbanding kawasan sekitar yang telah ditebang.

Bagaimanapun portal berita berkenaan melaporkan tanah tersebut kini 'diintai' oleh Quality Concrete Holdings Bhd memandangkan hutan itu mempunyai kayu yang keras dan mempunyai harga pasaran yang tinggi.

Quality Concrete didakwa dimiliki sebahagiannya dan diarah oleh adik Taib - Raziah.

"Raziah adalah pemegang saham dan pengarah bukan eksekutif yang dibayar oleh Quality Concrete Holdings, sebuah syarikat awam yang dimiliki oleh keluarga Tiang Ming Sing dan Tiang Ming Kok (masing-masing pengerusi dan pengarah urusan).

"Justeru beliau mendapat manfaat secara langsung daripada hubungannya dengan ketua menteri yang bertanggung-jawab.”

Menurut portal berita itu lagi, oleh kerana Quality Concrete memiliki Sijil Pendudukan selama setahun yang diterima mengikut Seksyen B, Ordinans Hutan, maka syarikat itu dikehendaki oleh undang-undang untuk mendapatkan persetujuan tuan tanah iaitu penduduk Iban sebelum memulakan kerja-kerja pembalakan.

Bagi menyelesaikan kemelut itu yang dianggap sukar mendapat persetujuan, Sarawak Report mendakwa Quality Concrete - menggunakan kombinasi ugutan, rasuah dan perwakilan yang tidak sah dalam usaha mendapatkan tanah berkenaan.

Antara caranya ialah memberi bayaran sagu hati RM250 kepada setiap 16 keluarga dan RM800 kepada setiap ketua kampung untuk mendapatkan persetujuan mereka.

"Kami juga diugut jika kami menolak tawaran itu, kami dianggap menenatng kerajaan dan menolak pembangunan negeri,” kata seorang daripada penduduk berkenaan.- Malaysiakini

'Blatant liar' Naroden under fire

KUCHING: Naroden Majais, assistant minister of planning and resource management, who denied that the government has taken native customary rights land, has now been identified as the biggest taker of NCR land leased by the government in Simunjan. “Naroden is a blatant liar to say that the government has never taken NCR land because he himself through eight companies is the biggest taker of NCR land,” said Nicholas Mujah, secretary- general of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association.

“In fact Naroden himself is among Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s cronies who have been given large areas of NCR land in and around Gedong and Simunjan for the planting of oil palm.

“He is the one colluding with the companies,” he added.

Mujah said that according to the 2005 Report of Land and Survey Department, Naroden had shares in eight companies operating in Simunjan and Gedong areas.

Many of the people who become victims of this land grabbing are Ibans and Malays, some of them are not only his supporters, but also his relatives, he said.

Naroden is the state assemblyman for Simunjan.

According to the 2005 Reports of the Land and Survey Department, a total of 16,486 hectares of land, the bulk of it NCR land, was given to the assistant minister-linked companies, namely:

Pelita Nirwana Muhibbah S/B given lease to develop 4,555 hectares of land at Tanjong Midin, Serian; Gedong Plantation S/B given lease to develop 3,770 hectares at Lot 2981, Batang Karang, Gedong; Gedong Plantation S/B given lease to develop 3480 hectares at Lot 2980, Gedong;

Hydroflow S/B was given 2182 hectares at Lot 1226 at Batang Sadong; Hydroflow S/B was given 593 hectares at Lot 1227 at Lubuk Teba, Gedong; Indranika Jaya S/B was given 189 hectares at Lot 1228 at Tanjung Embang, Simunjan; and Indranika S/B was given 1717 hectares at Tanjung Sap, Simunjan.

'More companies that you don't know about'

Mujah said that some of the Malays in Gedong, inlcuding Naroden's relatives, are suing Melor Gemilang for taking away their land. Naroden is alleged to have shares in the company.

“These are what you know, but there are more companies you do not know about,” said Mujah, who is also a member of the steering committee of Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Malaysian network of indigenous people).

He cited an example of Orang Asli land being taken by the previous government of Selangor but after Pakatan Rakyat took over, the government revoked the case and returned the land to the owners.

“I stand to be challenged in court to prove that Naroden has shares in these companies,” Mujah said, and urged the assistant minister to revoke all the pending NCR land cases in court in to save people’s time, money and concern.

Mujah said Naroden was reported to be the richest man in Simunjan to the point that he is locally known as the “king of oil palm in Simunjan.”

“How can he tell lie when there are more than 200 court cases whereby the natives are suing the government for taking away their land?” he asked.-FreeMalaysianToday

Banci tanah NCR: Menteri S'wak dibidas

Pengerusi PKR Sarawak Baru Bian membidas Menteri Muda Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber Negeri, Mohd Naroden Majais, yang berkata masyarakat pribumi hanya boleh membanci tanah mereka melalui perwakilan yang dilantik BN.

"Ini politik. Semua ini karut dan tidak bertanggungjawab bagi beliau berkata demikian. Jika kerajaan ikhlas membantu masyarakat pribumi, ini tidak sepatutnya menjadi isu,” katanya ketika dihubungi.

Selasa lalu, Mohd Naroden berkata kerajaan negeri tidak boleh bertindak bagi menjalankan bancian tanah untuk tujuan dituntut sebagai tanah hak warisan pribumi (native customary rights) (NCR) jika ia dibuat melalui perwakilan pembangkang.

Baru (kiri), yang telah berdekad lamanya mempertahankan tanah warisan masyarakat pribumi sebagai seorang peguam berkata kenyataan menteri muda itu membuktikan kedangkalannya berhubung tanah NCR.

"Adalah menjadi tanggung-jawab kerajaan untuk menjalankan bancian tanah menurut seksyen 18, Kanun Tanah Sarawak,” katanya.

Katanya jika ada bukti yang mencukupi berhubung pemilikan, mereka sepatutnya memberikan geran tanah, tetapi kerajaan hanya memberi alasan demi alasan.

Sebelum ini, kerajaan negeri Sarawak mendakwa Jabatan Tanah dan Bancian negeri tidak dapat menjalankan kerja-kerja bancian kerana kekurangan dana.

Untuk mengatasi masalah itu, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak kemudiannya mengumumkan peruntukkan dana persekutuan sebanyak RM20 juta untuk tujuan berkenaan.

Pengumuman itu bagaimanapun gagal meyakinkan Baru yang berpengalaman luas berurusan dengan tanah NCR dan menyidfatkan tindakan itu “hanya retorik”.

"Saya beranggapan mereka tidak mahu bancian dijalankan kerana khuatir seluruh Sarawak sebenarnya milik masyarkat pribumi,” katanya.

Sekalipun bancian dijalankan, namun menurut peguam berbangsa Orang Ulu itu, masyarakat pribumi besar berkemmungkinan akan ditipu. malaysiakini

Harrison Ngau held at airport

KUCHING: Special Branch police and immigration officers detained activist lawyer Harrison Ngau at the Kuching airport today. They let him go after telling him he was under the government’s watch list without elaborating, he told online news Free Malaysia Today (FMT.)

Ngau, a well-known fighter for native rights, said he suspected that the brief detention had a connection with recent protests in London against Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud over the plight of Penans.

He said he told the officers he had nothing to do with the protests.

He told FMT that police had been following him for some time.

“But this time, they were rather panicky when they saw me leaving for Kuala Lumpur” to discuss native customary rights cases with other lawyers.

“Ask Robert Lian why the immigration officers are doing this to me,” he said.

Lian, Sarawak’s Director of Immigration, was not available for comment. Like Ngau, he is an Orang Ulu.

Ngau is famous for his anti-logging activities. He has, on several occasions, led blockades against timber operations in the Baram area.

Because of these activities he was once put under house arrest for almost two years and spent 60 days in detention without trial.

In 1990 he stood for election as an independent candidate in the Baram parliamentary constituency and defeated Deputy Minister of Works Luhat Wan. He subsequently joined Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak.- by Joseph Tawie

Police stand guard while Samling’s excavators plough through Kenyah’s NCR land

5 November 2009

Police stand guard while Samling’s excavators plough through Kenyah’s NCR land

BELAGA – A group of police officers are guarding the workers of Samling Plantation Sdn. Bhd. while clearing works are being carried out using excavators inside the native customary land territory of the Kenyahs from Long Koyan for the purpose of establishing an oil palm plantation.

Samling started its clearing works yesterday, but were stopped and told to leave by the Kenyah villagers.

Today however, Samling ignored the villagers and continued to plough through Kenyah’s native customary land under guard from the Royal Malaysian Police.

The villagers are angry with Samling for not heeding their warnings not to encroach into their territory. But they are more disappointed with the actions of the police, who they say time and time again are not professional in their conduct and are visibly seen to be in collusion with the company.

Prior to this, the village head of Long Koyan, TK Nyalang Tahe has made numerous police reports on Samling’s encroachments but no action was taken by the police. He even went to stop an excavator to confiscate its keys so that he could surrender it to the police for the police to take action against the company.

However, on 21 July 2009, the police issued a warrant of arrest to TK Nyalang Tahe and he was summoned by the police to surrender himself to the Sungai Asap Police Station. Apparently, a police report was made by the company against TK Nyalang for allegedly stealing an excavator belonging to Samling.

TK Nyalang and his residents argued with the police that the excavator was not stolen and it is still under the care of the workers of Samling Plantation. The keys are in their possession as it was passed to them by the plantation workers. They said it is even stated in their police report.

The police than told TK Nyalang to sign a police bond and he has to appear at the Belaga Magistrate Court on 21 August 2009 to answer to the charge of stealing.

TK Nyalang abided by the police order appeared at Belaga Magistrate Court on the morning of 21 August 2009. But he was shocked when told by the Court’s registry that the police have not even registered his case to be mentioned on that day.

TK Nyalang went back to the Sungai Asap Police Station to seek clarification from the police, but the police told him that they will inform him when he is supposed to appear in court. However, until today the police have not informed him on the status of the case.

Press statement release by:


Mark Bujang
Executive Director, BRIMAS

PENAN NASIBMU DI HUJUNG TANDUK

Berbekalkan lembing dan sumpit yang disaluti semangat mempertahankan hak, sekumpulan masyarakat Penan di Long Deloh, Baram membuat sekatan manusia terhadap kerakusan syarikat pembalakan dan syarikat perladangan kelapa sawit yang telah meneroka tanah adat mereka.

Sejak turun temurun hutan sekitar telah menjadi punca makanan masyarakat Penan. Kini dengan izin kerajaan BN Sarawak, syarikat tersebut dengan rakus menebang dan membersihkan kawasan yang kaya hasil hutan itu.

Orang Penan bukan menolak pembangunan, tetapi biarlah kebajikan dan cara hidup mereka dipelihara. Orang Penan bukan tidak ingin maju, tetapi biarlah suara hati mereka turut diambilkira dalam penerokaan hutan tersebut.

Baca selanjutnya....

OPEN LETTER TO JACOB SAGAN AND LIHAN JOK

Surat terbuka di bawah, saya terima melalui email daripada kenalan yang telah memperjuangkan kepentingan penduduk Baram.

Dear

"YB Dato Jacob Dungau Sagan and YB Lihan Jok.

Without prejudice.

Are you defending us your voters in Baram or defending Taib?"

YB Dato Jacob Dungau Sagan our MP for Baram during a visit to Kampung Long Banyok, Baram recently told his audience not to listen to those who opposed the proposed Baram hydro project or dam sited between Kampong Long Nahah'a and Kampung Long Kesseh in the middle Baram. YB Jacob even said that he has been forewarned by the authorities that the dam will be implemented elsewhere and the billions of ringgit worth of projects associated with it will also be channelled elsewhere if the Baram people opposed the dam.

YB Lihan Jok on the other hand has said that the proposed dam is "God's gift" to the people in Baram.

But then, Dato Jacob, what is the worth of all the timbers from Baram extracted by the big companies all these years? Surely, they were worth hundreds of billions of ringgit. And the remaining timbers? Surely, they are at least worth tens of billions of ringgit too. And what about our NCR lands in Baram now illegally alienated by your BN boss, Taib Mahmud, also to the big companies for oil palms and acacia trees? Surely, they are not only worth hundreds of billions of ringgit but will generate tens of billions of ringgit in time to come.

For many terms now you are our wakil rakyat, our MP. Now you are even a Deputy Minister. Do you understand what the roles of wakil rakyat are? You are holder of a master degree. Surely you know that.

As a wakil of the rakyat of Baram, surely you know it is your most important role to act, speak and fight for and to defend the rights and interests of the rakyat of Baram without whose vote you would not have been what you are today.

So why is it that you have to go along with Taib and the BN govt threatening the people of Baram that if they do not support the proposed dam, the dam will not only be relocated elsewhere but so-called projects worth so-called billions of ringgits associated with the dam will be channeled elsewhere?

Is it because you want to save your post as Deputy Minister that you so readily support Taib and the BN to threaten our Baram people on the dam? If you do, that means you have abused our trust, mandate and votes as your real purpose is not to be our wakil rakyat but wakil your own personal pocket, agenda and interest!

If you are scared to stand up to speak, fight and defend the rights and interests of the Baram people then you are definitely UNFIT to be our wakil rakyat. A wakil (leader) must be courageous like our ancestors warriors!

There is no point that you became Deputy Minister and enjoy all the many perks and privileges from it but your rakyat in Baram who had steadfastly voted for you for many many terms are continually bullied, humiliated, threatened or held to ransom (with withdrawal of socalled projects) robbed of our NCR lands and all our resources in it.

If you do not speak out, fight and defend us, then, you are not only failing us as our wakil rakyat but are also consciously SIDING with Taib and the BN and the big companies who robbed and are still robbing us of our rights, our NCR lands, our resources, etc.

Surely, you are fully aware of the continual and aggravating problems faced by the settlers of the Batng Ai and the Bakun dam! If not pay a personal visit there and talk to the settlers directly about their situation. And don't talk out of ignorant or worse still just simply parroting what your boss Taib and Jabu (who caused his own Iban people to continue to be the poorest in Malaysia today)say.

Remember! Taib, Jabu, James Masing and the BN also said or promised the same thing before that the Batang Ai and Bakun dams will bring progress and development! But today they all have abandoned the people affected. SUHAKAM commissioners who personally visited Bakun recently reported that the problems faced by the settlers are worsening!!!!!And the penans in Belaga are even facing food shortage!!!

YB Lihan Jok, don't simply sells God's name especially when it involves something that destroys HIS blessings, gifts and creations to the people of Baram, namely, the mighty Baram river, our NCR lands and its resources and environment which all have supported our people for many many generations without which you and YB Dato' Jacob won't be what you are today.

Remember, it was not Taib, Jabu or the BN that provided your parents the means and resources to send you to school. It was the NCR land that God blessed your parents with and its resources in Baram that enabled your parents to send you to school.

By the way, if you really believe and trust in GOD, then, protect and defend God's creations, gifts and blessings, namely, our Baram river from being dammed by Taib!

Don't be afraid but stand courageous and put your complete trust in God's protection of your position as YB, as wakil rakyat or as Deputy Minister post (like what God did to Daniel when he was thrown into the lions den)

Also do not be worried of being blackmailed or held to ransom with threat of projects and billions of ringgit to be withdrawn from Baram if we do not support the Baram dam. Those are but only human or worldly threat from Taib, Jabu and the BN! GOD is still the ALMIGHTY one above them. GOD will still provide all our needs according to what we deserved to get from HIM.

Unless you do not trust GOD but your boss Taib and Jabu!

Hope to hear an early response from our two YBs soon on this.

BARAM VOTERS

BENARKAH KERAJAAN BN TIDAK MERAMPAS TANAH RAKYAT?

Kenyataan akhbar Sdra Baru Bian di bawah walaupun lewat dikeluarkan di sini tetapi masih relevan dengan senario merampas tanah adat NCR di Sarawak. Ternyata BN cakap tidak serupa bikin. PM tidak berani menegur KM Sarawak.

Laporan akhbar muka depan Borneo Post bertarikh 19 Jun 2009, menyatakan kerajaan BN tidak akan mengambil tanah adat masyarakat Orang Asal. Perdana Menteri di dalam ucapannya menyeru rakyat untuk “… yakin dengan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN). Kami tidak berniat untuk mengambil tanah sesiapa pun. Masyarakat Iban tidak perlu bimbang. Kerajaan BN tidak akan merampas harta benda anda.”

Jawapan saya kepada kenyataan tersebut jika benar, merupakan penyelesaian yang kecil tetapi malangnya sudah terlambat.

Ini adalah kerana tanah rakyat, khususnya tanah adat masyarakat Orang Asal telahpun diambil, dirampas dan dirompak di bawah pemerintahan kerajaan BN.

Kenyataan yang dibuat oleh PM ini jelas menunjukkan bahawa rakyat, khususnya masyarakat Orang Asal telah beberapa tahun ini sering mengadu bahawa tanah NCR mereka telah diambil.

Firma guaman saya sendiri sekarang sedang mengendalikan lebih dari satu ratus kes yang berkaitan dengan NCR yang jelas membuktikan tanah NCR telahpun diambil, dirampas dan dirompak beberapa tahun ini di bawah pemerintahan kerajaan BN, yang diketuai oleh Ketua Menteri sekarang iaitu Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Walaupun terdapat sebuah keputusan di dalam kes Nor Anak Nyawai bahawa tanah NCR terdiri bukan sahaja dari “temuda” (hutan sekunder) tetapi ia juga merangkumi “pemakai menua” (kawasan masyarakat Orang Asal memburu, menangkap ikan, mengumpul dan mencari hasil-hasil hutan) dan “pulau” (hutan simpan atau hutan dara yang disimpan) dan kes ini telah diperkukuhkan oleh kes Madeli Salleh di Mahkamah Persekutuan, (Mahkamah Tertinggi di Malaysia). Namum demikian kerajaan BN Negeri Sarawak tidak mahu menerima keputusan-keputusan mahkamah-mahkamah tersebut. Ini jelas sekali dilihat dengan keengganan Kamar Peguam Besar Negeri Sarawak menerima keputusan tersebut melalui pembelaan mereka kepada Kerajaan Negeri terhadap kes-kes yang sedang dibicarakan di Mahkamah-Mahkamah Tinggi di seluruh Sarawak.

Dengan ini saya ingin menyeru kepada Perdana Menteri untuk mengarah dan/atau sekurang-kurangnya menasihati Kerajaan BN Negeri melalui Ketua Menteri Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud untuk mengembalikan kesemua tanah NCR yang telah “diambil, dirampas dan dirompak” dengan begitu pantas beberapa tahun ini dengan membatalkan lesen-lesen pembalakan, geran-geran hak milik sementara dan permit menanam semula atau lesen-lesen yang merangkumi dan/atau meceroboh masuk ke dalam tanah-tanah NCR.

Kedua, mengarah supaya sebuah Pesuruhjaya Penyiasatan Tanah ditubuhkan untuk menyiasat kesemua pelanggaran tuntutan hak tanah NCR di Sarawak termasuklah aduan yang berkaitan dengan salah guna kuasa oleh pihak polis berkenaan dengan perbalahan di antara pihak syarikat swasta dengan penuntut tanah NCR, supaya PM boleh menunjukkan kepada rakyat di Sarawak dan Malaysia secara umumnya bahawa beliau melaksanakan apa yang beliau ungkapkan.

Pesuruhjaya Penyiasatan Tanah tersebut harus juga menyiasat kesemua kes-kes yang kini berjumlah lebih daripada satu ratus yang masih lagi menunggu perbicaraan di Mahkamah-Mahkamah Tinggi di Sarawak, supaya kes-kes yang tertangguh di Mahkamah-Mahkamah Tinggi tersebut boleh diselesaikan.

Jika cadangan di atas tidak dilaksanakan di dalam tempoh sebulan dari hari ini, saya rasa kenyataan-kenyataan sebegini hanya merupakan mainan politik yang sengaja digunakan untuk mengeliru rakyat terutamanya masyarakat Orang Asal di Sarawak, seolah-olah kerajaan BN kini perihatin dengan hal-ehwal dan masalah mereka.

Saya percaya bahawa ini adalah tanda-tanda awal bahawa Pilihanraya Negeri akan tiba tidak lama lagi.

Baru Bian
20 JUn 2009

The PKR pledge on NCR Land

A Sarawak PKR leader has warned the Bidayuhs that the land on which they are standing now may be taken away from them.

“Be careful if anyone takes away your land, you will have no more land on which you stand,” said Baru Bian, a member of PKR political bureau at a dinner last night at a Bidayuh village in Bau.

"Like Lun Bawang which means natives of the country, Bidayuh as he is given to understand means someone standing on the land. But one day, Bidayuhs will have no more land on which they can stand as their land may be taken away. They will stand on the air” said Baru who is a Lun Bawang from Lawas.

He said that land especially the NCR land issue is a very hot issue now as the government is leasing them to giant companies for the planting of oil palm. And as a lawyer, he said he is currently handling more than 100 court cases against the government.

Altogether there are more than 200 cases pending in the High Court, he said.

“So we have to be very careful, as there are companies which want to take away our land. Even the governor’s NCR land is being taken,” he said, adding: “Land is our life. Without land we will die.”

Baru said that PKR had now made its own land policy when it took over the administration of the State government.

“First, we will survey all NCR lands and declare them as NCR land reserves. This is to be done along the line the Malay Land Reserves are being done in the Peninsula. No non-natives can buy or deal with them.

“Secondly, any NCR land owner wants his land to be surveyed and given title, the PKR government will comply with his request. This is being done in the States under the administration of the Pakatan Government,” Baru said.

He said in Sarawak the State government refused to survey NCR land saying the government had no money.

“That is not the reason. The reason is that government fears that once NCR lands are being surveyed, the whole of Sarawak will be under the NCR land,” Baru said.

He called on Bidayuhs to work together with PKR to see a new dawn is coming to Sarawak.

The dinner which was attended by 2,000 Bidayuhs from the three parliamentary constituencies of Mas Gading, Mambong and Serian was organised to welcome the visit of Anwar Ibrahim to Bau.

Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem, the former president of the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak was also invited to the dinner where he met Anwar who called him “Chief” and Chua Jui Meng who described Tajem as the “greatest”. - The Broken Shield

100 FAMILIES AGAINST DD PLANTATIONS DEVELOPING THEIR LAND

A 64-year old grandmother, Daha Ak Penghulu Nunsang has been having sleepless nights since 29 April 2009, the day when DD Plantations and Pelita Holdings announced that they had signed an agreement with 94 longhouse chiefs to develop some 9,629 hectares of land in the Kpg. Samalatong/Kpg. Isu/Kpg. Kepayang area.

The wife of the late school teacher Adun and Buang, Daha is not the only one worried, as there are over 100 families from six longhouses having the same worry – that their lands have been signed away by a few community leaders to DD Plantations for the planting of oil palm without their knowledge and agreement.

What makes Daha very angry is that Temenggong Anthony Ngipa, the leader who signed the people’s land away to DD Plantations is her brother-in-law, who is married to her younger sister.

It is understood Daha confronted Temenggong Anthony and asked him why did he want to “sell” their land to DD Plantations? She asked him to go back to his own village at Sebangan and not to speak on their behalf regarding their land.

“You have no right to sell our land,” she was reported to have told him in front of so many people.

There are five or six persons believed to be involved in this scheme whose real aim is targeting the communal forests behind the longhouses. These communal forests are part of the NCR land as decided by the Federal Court. Any one taking away these communal forests is committing a serious offence against the interests of the natives.

Colluding with Temenggong Anthony are Tuai Sebeli of Kpg. Sibau Rumbau, Tuai Rumah Najib of Kpg. Samalatong (Melayu), Pemanca Muit and Tuai Rumah Uja, both of Kpg. Kepayang.

They are not only PBB members, but the “kaki” (side kicks) of YB Naroden, the state assemblyman for Simunjan who is allegedly owned DD Plantations together with a Chinaman from Sebauh, Bintulu. Naroden is known in Simunjan as the local “oil palm king” owning several companies to plant some 50,000 acres of land, the bulk of which is NCR land.

Temenggong Anthony, a retired teacher, is an ardent supporter of Naroden who appointed him as a councillor for Simunjan and when a vacancy existed for a Penghulu, he was also appointed a Penghulu at the same time. After three years or so as a Penghulu, he has now been promoted to be the Temenggong.

Daha has approached a lawyer to write to Pelita and DD Plantations that she did not want her land in 10 places totaling some 100 acres to be developed by them, and if they persisted in attempting to get her land she would sue them in court. The strongly worded letter was copied to her brother-in-law.

Meanwhile, six Tuai Rumah (longhouse chiefs) have sent a joint letter to the minister of land development, Dr. James Masing and the chairman of the NCR land development task force, Alfred Jabu ak Numpang, saying that they did not want their land to be developed by DD Plantations and Pelita.

A copy of the letter was sent to SALCRA general manager, Vasco Sabat Singkang, inviting him to have a dialogue with them in order to open their land for oil palm cultivation.

The six Tuai Rumahs represent some 100 families owning some 2,000 hectares of NCR land. There are other longhouse folks from Keniong, Sangkalan, Munggu Ai, Gayau and Kepayang who refuse to surrender their land to DD Plantations.

All these longhouse chiefs are watching the DD Plantations and Pelita closely before making further moves including holding demonstrations and bringing them to court. – The Broken Shield

Hope Over Fear….Finally Sarawak Government Defeated over NCR…Rakyat Gawai Gift

Finally the Sarawak Government was defeated today, as the federal Court has upheld the concept of NCR to Natives, to include not only Temuda (cultivated Land) but also also Pulau (communal forest) and pemakai Menoa (territorial Domain).

In case initiated by local Malay Madehi Salleh to claim his NCR rights over former Sarawak Shell Concessions land in Miri. A new Hope for the Dayak people to claim back their NCR lands that has been taken by the BN Sarawak.

Dayak Nation would like to thank Makanda Singh Shandu and his son Sathinda that represented Madeli. Taib and the rest of BN Sarawak must return back NCR land to the natives now. More news in Malaysinkini. Please spread the Goodnews to all Natives of Sarawak.- From DayakNation

This government must be changed, says Tajem

Datuk Seri Daniel Tajem

A prominent Dayak leader today called for a change of government if the Dayaks want to remedy the injustices that have been meted against the community.

“For the past 45 years the Dayaks have suffered injustices, have been marginalized and have been sidelined in education, scholarships, business opportunities and our NCR lands have been taken and given to big companies,” Datuk Sri Daniel Tajem (pic above) said.

Tajem, who was former Deputy Chief Minister and president of the defunct Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) was opening a one-day Dayak symposium at a leading hotel in Sibu.

Some 200 professionals and members of the Dayak organisations coming from through the State attended the symposium.

“The only remedy or option open to us is to change the State government,” he said and added that failing to do so would further disenfranchise and disempower the Dayaks.

Tajem said that the State government had introduced a bill to change “Sea Dayak” to “Iban”, the “Land Dayak” to “Bidayuh” and “Murut” to “Lun Bawang”.

The governor has not signed the bill into law, but once it becomes law it means that “Iban”, “Bidayuh” and “Lun Bawang” are no longer natives and will not enjoy the rights and privileges as embodied under Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

“Even forming a party of our own as provided for under Article 10 (1) (c) we are not only not allowed to form one, we are being accused of likely to cause a threat to national security, public order, peace and harmony.

“During insurgency, we are made heroes and during peace time, we are considered as a threat to national security. Can you believe that?” he said.

Tajem also touched on the amendments to Section 5 (a) (2) of the Land code that have eroded our rights over land.

Earlier the chairman of the Dayak symposium, Augustine Liom said that the ultimate aim of the symposium would endeavour to expose and deliberate on the many sins of the Barisan Nasional Government that have caused miseries, grievances and frustrations to the Dayak communities, be they Bidayuh, Iban or Orang Ulu. – The Broken Shield

ISU TANAH - RAKYAT SARAWAK MULA BANGKIT

PKR submits land memorandum to State Legislative Assembly, demikian tajuk berita yang diberikan Borneo Post hari ini. Memorendum dengan tema Change To Sarawak Land Code itu mencadangkan kerajaan BN Sarawak meminda beberapa perkara dalam Sarawak Land Code agar selari dengan akta yang sama di Sabah dan Semenanjung.
Di antara kandungan Memorendum itu mencadangkan agar pemilikan tanah dilanjutkan kepada 99 atau 999 tahun, berbanding sekarang yang kebanyakannya cuma 60 tahun.
Seperkara lagi ialah membenarkan pemilik tanah memperbaharui pajakan tanah sebelum 20 tahun daripada tarikh luput. Ini akan membolehkan tuan tanah mencagar tanah tersebut ke bank.
Memorendum ini telah ditandatangani lebih 1000 orang, yang kebanyakannya pemilik tanah di Baram.
Sementara memorendum yang diserahkan pada 10 November 2008 oleh gabungan beberapa NGO adalah berkaitan dengan NCR. Penyerahan yang disertai dengan piket lebih 100 orang itu adalah menifestasi dan respon rakyat Sarawak tentang pencerobohan tanah nenek moyang dan pusaka mereka yang sewenang-wenangnya diberikan kepada syarikat perladangan.
YB Dominique Ng yang hadir dalam kedua-dua penyerahan memorendum tersebut menyifatkan, tindakan NGO dan rakyat Sarawak itu sebagai perjuangan mempertahankan hak dan menghantar signal kepada kerajaan BN tentang masalah yang dihadapi pemilik tanah.

Teruskan perjuangan sehingga pemimpin BN mengembalikan apa-apa yang telah dirampas. PKR komited membantu dan konsisten dalam pendirian untuk mengembalikan tanah kepada mereka yang berhak apabila menerajui pemerintahan Negeri Sarawak.