No way the Dayak NCR Land Forum is a failure, says Peter John Jaban

KUCHING, January 9, 2017 - Human rights activist Peter John Jaban said it is unfair and without basis to depict the outcome of last Saturday's Dayak NCR Land Forum as a failure.

Paper presenters with a member of the organising committee William Baja Jap (3rd from right) of the Dayak NCR Land Forum.

He said a local daily's  front page report, published yesterday, was taken out of context and did not reflect the actual support of the participants at the forum.

"How could it have failed when it was attended by many natives from all walks of live?" he asked in a statement to clarify the Borneo Post's  report.

Peter said the response from the Dayaks to the forum was overwhelming as about 300 people consisting of Dayak elected representatives from the Barisan and opposition, professionals, ordinary Dayaks, community leaders and farmers, attended.

"Many came from areas outside of Kuching, such as Limbang, Miri, Bintulu and the interior areas including Ulu Kapit and Ulu Belaga. This shows the natives are united in matters that concern their NCR land rights," Peter, who was nominated  as World's 100 Information Heroes by Reporters Without Border, said.

“The word "fail" is not an accurate description of the proceeding at the forum and it shows  Borneo Post lack of sensitivity to the plights of the natives. We want a fair, correct and unbiased reporting of the proceedings and expect the paper to correct the  erroneous report,” he said, adding that the paper failed to report that the forum was also attended by  NGOs, professionals and other stakeholders.

Despite the short notice to organise the forum, he said each participant had to contribute towards the payment of the venue and food, there was a big turnout – an unprecedented result to a forum of this nature, which were generally sponsored.

Some of the well-known Dayak personalities attending the forum. Datuk Alexander Nanta (centre), and Baru Bian (3rd from left).

 

"This augurs well for the Natives for it means the awareness level is very high where NCR land is concerned.

"Indeed it was overwhelming to see those from both political divides sitting together and spoke with the same wavelength where "pulau galau" and "pemakai menua" is concerned.

"Let's give the organisers some credit instead of condemning them," Peter, who was the deputy chairman of the organising committee, said.

"It is the beginning and I can say it is a miracle that the forum organisers were able to get our people to work together for the common interest and that the natives including the Malays stand united where their NCR land is concerned," he said.

Peter advices the participants to review the draft memorandum and  provide their inputs, in particular to the issue of pulau palau and pemakai menoa, before endorsing it.

He said comments and recommendations should be submitted to the organising committee within two weeks.

Peter, who was the master of ceremony for the forum, said  that the forum was more of a venue to seek  feedback and ideas from participating NGOs and Dayaks intellectuals.

H said NCR issues has come a long way and conclusions cannot be expected in the short term as more brainstorming session may be required as well as reaching a win-win situation where opinion differs.

“The draft memorandum adopted at the forum is not final. It needs to be fine-tuned and that is why we want adat experts and people who are knowledgeable on NCR subject to come together to share their knowledge so that our requests from the government are urgently attended to and implemented.

"Prior to submitting the memorandum to Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, the technical committee of Dayak Intellectual Group will ask the experts for their views and feedback so that the  in order to have a comprehensive memorandum," he said.

Peter  believed that all the participants has confidence in Dr Charlie Dudang’s able leadership and the support of an equally knowledgeable committee members that the memorandum will be submitted to the chief minister within the next two weeks.

"It is only the beginning and so don't expect too much from the organisers whose objective is to provide an amicable and reasonable solutions as they do understand that Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS) is not under independent body and subjected to interference from a third party.

"To be honest, I was very impressed to see all the speakers and special mention to Datuk Alexander Linggi and other YBs for their support with their presence in their personal capacity as Dayaks," he said, adding that  their presence was well received by other participants.

"We pray the chief minister walks the talk and to stay true to his promise to resolve all the NCR land issues, which would include amending the Sarawak Land Code," Jaban, who is also the Sarawak For Sarawakians (S4S) civil society leader, said.

“The draft memorandum adopted at the forum is not final. It needs to be fine-tuned and that is why we want Adat experts and people who are knowledgeable on NCR subject to come together to share their knowledge so that our requests from the government are urgently attended to and implemented.