MIRI – Environmental groups in the peninsula are joining those in Sarawak to help Penan activists resist loggers in the forests of Baram in northern Sarawak’s interior.
They have launched what they call the Acts of Resistance campaign, beginning with a meeting over Zoom this afternoon, to strategise on setting up blockades against timber felling activities.
Save Rivers chairman Peter Kallang told The Vibes that several non-governmental organisations, including those from the peninsula, are supporting the Penan in their quest to defend their forests.
The blockades will be set up in Baram, which is some 300km from Miri, he said.
“The Penans of Long Ajeng, Long Lamam and Long Murung are in the midst of protesting the clearing of forests in their settlements by a timber giant.
“These Penans have set up blockades on two key routes used by loggers to move their heavy machinery and trucks.
“The blockades are permanent protest bases,” Kallang said, adding that the Penans in the area have also lodged a police report against the loggers recently.
Beside’s Save Rivers which is based in Miri, the other NGOs involved include Keruan (a Penan organisation in Ulu Baram), the peninsula-based Centre of Orang Asli Concerns, and Kuala Lumpur-based bodies Akademi Demokrasi Malaysia and Jaringan Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia.
Kallang said the loggers have been aggressively felling trees in settlements where the Penans have ancestral land rights.
This was happening in May and June, he added.
Kallang also told The Vibes how tribal groups had brought their plight to the Dutch Parliament in May. Indigenous representatives staged a peaceful demonstration at a government building complex.
He said the Dutch government was targeted, as The Netherlands imports a big volume of Sarawak timber annually.
“We want the Dutch government to review their recognition of timber certification from logging zones in Sarawak where the rights of natives are not being protected, where natives are not being consulted via prior and proper negotiations,” Kallang said, adding that he was present on that trip which received support from the Bruno Manser Fonds.
Save Rivers and Keruan Sarawak also deployed a team to meet with the foundation as well as lawmakers in several other countries in Europe, he added.
“We talked about the violation of human rights of Sarawak natives in timber logging regions.
“We also deliberated on the certification of timber harvested from Sarawak forests.
“We want international bodies to tighten the scrutiny of such loggings in Sarawak and to give natives in Sarawak more voice to speak up on our rights,” he said.
Earlier this year, Kallang expressed fears that the Sarawak government will issue licences to clear huge forested areas along the Sarawak-Kalimantan border very soon, based on news that the state wants to develop the border area.
This follows Indonesia’s building of a new capital city in Kalimantan, which is expected to spawn new industrial and economic projects.
Kallang predicts that vast areas of forests will be cleared along the border.
“After the logging will come huge oil palm plantations and even mining.
“Such massive developments in the name of economic progress will spell disaster for our ecosystem and environment.
“In Sarawak, we are already seeing an increase in serious floods and severe erosion,” he said.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg previously said that Indonesia’s new capital in Kalimantan will offer huge opportunities for Sarawak businesses and industries.
Indonesia intends to relocate its capital city from Jakarta to Kalimantan within the next 20 years. – The Vibes, August 13, 2022
