DNC Press Release: WHY BLAME BARU BIAN ON PERIMETER SURVEY FUNDS? [8.11.2018] We note in jest the statement issued by a political secretary to the Chief Minister in accusing Baru Bian for not sourcing for funds to help in perimeter survey. We fully subscribe and support YB Baru Bian’s statement in saying that recognising NCR land is more important than surveying lands under section 6 for communal reserve. What this political secretary said is totally reek with arrogance and ignorance. It also lacks moral and legal basis. Land is a state matter under the State List of Schedule Nine of the Federal Constitution which makes it the legal and constitutional responsibility of the State Government to survey and issue titles to the Natives over their NCR lands. We would like to remind the State Government not to play too much politics with regards to the people’s welfare. If the State Government is fully committed to its autonomy pledge for Sarawak, this is the matter that it has to
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Released But Not Relieved
Miri - All the 11 villagers from Ulu Kelawit-Tatau under police remand were released after five days in the lockup. Although freed from incarceration, they are complaining about the manner and reason for being arrested. The ten men and one woman were released by the High Court in Sibu under court bail of RM500.00 (Five Hundred Malaysian Ringgit) with two sureties for each of the eleven. Before their release, they were being charged on the 30th of October by the magistrate court in Mukah, under section 341 of the Malaysian Penal Code for Wrongful Restraining a person. However, they refuted the basis of their charge. They claimed that they never “restrained” anyone but merely upholding their rights to protect their own property which was being invaded. Relating her experience of being arrested, Lulong Anak Bujah, the only woman in the group claimed that she recognised the police officer who was putting the handcuff on her. Lulong continued, “We did not resist nor were
Villagers’ Water Source Destroyed by Company. Police Brutally Dismantled Peaceful Blockade
Mukah - Iban people from six villages in the Ulu Kelawit Tatau gathered in front of the Mukah police station for two days to peacefully protest the arrest of 11 community members who have been detained since October 25th. The arrests happened in response to a peaceful blockade set up by the communities in opposition to rock quarry and oil palm company that has polluted and destroyed their water source and taken their land without proper compensation. The Mukah police forcefully arrested 10 Iban men and 1 Iban women during a raid in which they brutally burned their blockade, hit the women, burned their cultural artefacts, confiscated and burned their handphones, stole their property, and looted and destroyed the rest of their camp. Three companies, all subsidiaries of Ta Ann, have been working in the area of the Ulu Kelawit-Tatau since 2012. The oil palm company, Cipta Sendirian Berhad, originally compensated the villagers for their land, but has discontinued payments. After the oi
Hinging construction of road to Ulu Baram with the mega dam is unjust
Miri – Saying that building access road to Ulu Baram must be subjected to building of Hydroelectric Dam sounds like blackmailing. Like any other citizen anywhere in any country, the people of Baram are entitled to infrastructure and all other amenities which the government of the day should provide. If the statement made by Tan Sri Datu Amar Dr. James Masing as reported in the Borneo Post on the 30 th June 2017, title, “Masing: No dam, no road” is the official stand of the state government, it is no doubt that this is an intimidation and a simplistic view. Blaming the people for opposing the dam is also a government’s admission for failing its democratic duty which is “the government of the people, for the people and by the people”. The people of Baram have every right to reject the Baram dam and opt for any alternative development that they want. Furthermore, the former Chief Minister of Sarawak, the late Tan Sri Datuk Adenan Haj. Satem at a press conference on 3 rd May 20
Marking of ONE Year of Baram Dam's Cancellation
Miri – A year after their land earmarked by the government for the Baram dam was given back to them, the Baram villagers gathered to celebrate their victory and solidarity in defending their river and land. The celebration brought together folks from various villages in Baram and other parts of Sarawak to the Baram dam blockade site at Km15 in Long Kesseh. The festivity was held at the campsite which was built in 2013 to accommodate the protestors who manned the blockades for more than three years. Instead of the usual and constant shouts of “ Stop Baram Dam! ” which used to echo in the remote jungle terrain, the protests are now replaced with the soothing sound of the sape and the traditional songs complete with dances and modern music. The Geneh waterfall in Baram above the Tanjung Tepalit village Youth members of SAVE Rivers at the Geneh waterfall The celebration was held in conjunction with the International Day of Action for Rivers which is globally celebrat
Youth Involvement in Campaign for Rivers
Greetings! We are please to announce that our very first Youth Workshop will commence tomorrow. It will be a 3 day workshop to bring out awareness on Human Rights and to get our youth of tomorrow to be involved in campaigns for Rivers. To our participants, congratulations on being chosen to participate in this workshop!