Baram folks expressing strong objection to Baram Dam

Workshop participants giving the thumb down to the Baram Dam project.


LONG SAN, BARAM: The workshop, entitled "Empowering the Community to Assert their Rights", objective is to educate the communities affected by the proposed dam project on their fundamental rights under the Federal Constitution, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the concept of Native Customary Rights (NCR) under the Sarawak Land Code.
The workshop also touched on the topic of good governance, government policy on customary land development and encouraged the participants to voice out their concerns and demands with regards to the proposed dam project.
SAVE Rivers is happy to note the positive response to the workshop which began last Thursday evening (17 May) and ended on Saturday (19 May).
During the group discussions, most of the participants raised the issue of not being consulted by the relevant authorities or from Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) and their consultants.
The participants were also angry with the way their community leaders, elected representatives and Senator Lihan Jok are "bulldozing" their way through with the said project and lying to the public that the people of Baram have accepted it.
Equally appalling to the participants of the workshop is when they found out through the local media that Sarawak’s Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu announced that the resettlement site for the affected villagers have been identified somewhere near Murum and Bakun area when only a few weeks ago, Senator Lihan was quoted as saying that the proposed dam is still a proposal and the decision to approve the said project is still pending.
From the outcome of the workshop, the resolution made by the participants are:
1) They strongly oppose the proposed Baram Hydro-electric Dam Project and demand that the project be scrapped;
　
2) They demand that all the survey and drilling works done by SEB or their contractors or their agents be stopped immediately;
3) They want their voices to be heard and their rights to be respected;
4) They totally disagree with their community leaders or community associations such as the Federation of Orang Ulu Association Malaysia (Forum) which says that the people of Baram have already accepted the proposed dam project;
5) They do not want people who are not affected by the proposed dam project to make statements and decide on behalf of their community;
6) They do not want their customary lands, crops, properties, burial grounds, and ancestral sites to be flooded;
7) They do not believe that the proposed dam project will benefit them as the issues of Batang Ai, Bakun, Bengoh and Murum have yet to be resolved by the authorities; and
8) They demand that community leaders who are only interested to listen to their political masters and not the voices of the people to resign immediately
The participants have also signed a protest letter and will forward it to SEB and the relevant authorities.
SAVE Rivers will continue to conduct workshops and roadshows throughout Baram District to educate the people of the proposed dam project.
The villages that were represented were Long San, Long Liam, Long Na’ah, Long Selawan, Long Anap, Long Selatong Dikan, Long Selatong Tanjung Tepalit, Long Tap, Long Je’eh, Long Beku, Long Bee, Long Apu and Long Moh. – About 60 participants, representing their respective villages from Upper Baram, Patah, Akah and Silat rivers strongly voiced their objection to the proposed Baram Hydro-electric Dam Project after attending a 11/2 day workshop organised by Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers) at Long San village.

Anthony Nait retains his post as SADIA Kuching branch chairman

Kuching, May 12, 2012: The Kuching branch of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) held its extraordinary general meeting today, among others elected a new committee for the year 2012-2013.

Datuk Dr Anthony Nait Mani was re-elected chairman for another term.

Other office bearers:
Deputy chairman - Peter Morni
Secretary - Maureen Bernabas
Assistant secretary - Lucy January
Treasurer - Stephen Jenang
Assistant treasurer - Edward Ulok
Committee members:
1. Edwin Rabong Tawie
2. Johnny Jalin
3. Lamina Jintang
4. Enggoi Aji
5. Tuai Rumah Mathew anak Bandan
6. Philip Sampurai
7. Tuai Rumah Jijah Simanggang
8. Ricky Tujoh

Co-opted into the committee:
1. Tuai Rumah Sanggi Abu
2. Tuai Rumah Lia Mudet
3. Mabong Unggang

Auditor - Nyalau Jeli

Resolutions adopted at the EGM.
That the Kuching branch allows the branch chairman to speak and raise issues concerning 10 community leaders in Kuching district who have been made acting Tuai Rumahs without any appointment letter and allowance for the last 10 years;

That the branch write letters to the government to appoint a second temenggong for the Iban community in Kuching Division and appoint more pemancas and more penghulus for the Iban community in Kuching district.

Meanwhile, the branch will launch a membership drive to attract more Ibans to join in as members.\
The membership drive should be directed at school teachers, civil servants and private sector employees. - By Sematong Express

BN a saviour of the Lun Bawangs, in the sense that Jesus was to the Christians? asks Baru Bian

Kuching, May 10, 2012: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said today Lawas Member of Parliament Datuk Henry Sum Agong is wrong for declaring that the Barisan Nasional is the saviour of the Lun Bawang community, in the sense that Jesus was, to the Christians.

“I find that ludicrous, if not blasphemous. If, as he says, the BN government has done so much for the Lun Bawang community, he has not one thing to worry about.

“Our people are sensible and discerning enough to know how much exactly the BN government has actually done for them.

“They should be allowed to choose their next MP freely, without any threats and intimidations from those who have vested interests in holding on to their positions,” Baru said when referring to a news article in the Borneo Post yesterday, quoting Sum as saying that the Lun Bawangs must not act as Judas of the Barisan Nasional.

Baru, who is also the State Assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan, said:” It is extremely disappointing and disturbing that the BN politicians have started their politics of fear in Lawas and Limbang.

“The people must be given their freedom to choose the candidate they wish to have as their MP. They are not obliged to state their stand to anyone,” he said, adding that Sum branding the opposition supporters, as ‘Judas’ is extremely insulting and most unbecoming of an incumbent politician.

He said politicians must bear in mind that they are chosen to serve the rakyat, and that the rakyat do not owe them anything - if anything, the BN politicians should be grateful to have been given the chance to hold their positions for so long.

He added that Malaysia is a democratic country and the constitution allows the people to elect their leaders once in every five years.

“The rakyat will again have to choose their leaders to form the next Government and I trust in the supremacy and the wisdom of the rakyat. I believe the rakyat will have the record and performance of the BN for the last 50 years to review and finally make another decision.

“Leave it to the rakyat, they are the ‘boss’. I humbly urge not only the Lun Bawangs in Lawas or Sarawakians in Limbang, but all Malaysians, to remember it was not that we the rakyat betrayed the BN Government, instead the BN Government had betrayed and short-changed the rakyat for the last 50 years.

“Leave the people to choose freely without any political intimidation or threat, and may the best man win. God’s will be done for Malaysia,” Baru said. By Sematong Express.

Journalists hold World Press Freedom Day gathering at the Kuching Waterfront today

Press statement issued by the Federation of the Sarawak Journalists Associations (FSJA) in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day gathering held at the Old Court House, Kuching, on May 5, 2012.

We must commend the efforts of some journalists in organising this historic gathering, in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day, and at the same time, to show our displeasure at the physical attacks on our fellow colleagues while covering the Bersih rally on April 28, 2012 in Kuala Lumpur.

It is important that we must show our solidarity when faced with a certain situation that affects the media fraternity, not only in Kuching, but also in other parts of Sarawak, in particular, and Malaysia, in general.

We call upon the authorities, non-governmental organisations, political parties and individuals to respect journalists who are discharging their professional duties.

We consider any attempt to prevent them from discharging their duties, by whatever means, as a show of disrespect.

We do not expect them to be beaten up nor verbally assaulted when they are on their assignments on the field.

We expect them to be respected, and if needs be, to be assisted by providing them with information that they seek for a full and comprehensive reports.

We abhor any attempt to prevent them or to issue threats when they are seeking information or possessing information that may not be favourable to the authorities or parties or individuals.

The journalists should be given some space in discharging their duties, in the interest of the public.

However, we are mindful of the national interest and public security when the journalists are discharging their professional responsibilities.

We are very much aware of avoiding writing on sensitive issues, which, if published, could spark racial or religious disharmony or strife.

 FSJA wants journalists to respect the laws of the country. We cannot go beyond what are allowed by the laws.

If we do, we will find ourselves being sued for libel by the aggrieved parties or charged in court for false reporting.

Kenyah Radio DJ victimised without basis, says NGO

Letter from Peter Kalang, chairman of Save Rivers Sarawak Network.

I am sad and disgusted to learn that Mr. Jude Juda Anye (JJ) a Kenyah Discs Jockey (DJ) at Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) Miri is being unjustly accused and penalized. I think that it is an unwarranted penalty which is made in a haste; it is a coldhearted and reckless reaction spurred by a simple, one minute phone call which I made to the RTM Kenyah telephone called-in radio programme. From that call JJ was accused of collaborating with my campaign which is against the construction of mega dams in Sarawak. JJ is never a part of my campaign team nor has he ever collaborated with my team in our campaign in any way. We in the SAVE Rivers network respect the position and role of the civil service and thus never invite any civil servant to work with us.

JJ was on duty on the the 20^th of March 2012. He was taking phone calls for the programme as usual, when I made my call. Like all others that day, I asked permission while on the air to be allowed to give my message. JJ allowed me to do so. My message on the radio was simple and short, inviting all those from the Baram District to an open discussion. Since I did not give any details of the discussion, there was no way that the DJ could tell what the discussion was about. The invitation was very short, just three sentences. JJ did not have an interview with me as claimed by those who made the accusation. I can get listeners to testify to all what I said on the air that day.

Even though it is very clear from the above mentioned, the administrative authority of the RTM in Kuching and Miri were pressured to take disciplinary action against JJ. The pressure came from politicians joining forces with a senior officer from the State Secretariat.  Knowing the nature of the broadcast and to avoid drastic and permanently damaging action the RTM authority took some measures, which are as follows:

(1)   Taking JJ off the air from the Kenyah section while he could still serve as DJ in the Malay section in RTM Miri.

(2)   Direct phone call-in broadcast on the air for Kenyah section in Miri is now stopped. Messages are now given to and read out by a Kenyah DJ. (Take note that this service is critical for the communities who live in areas without other means of communication.)

However, these measures which are already taken do not seem to be enough to satisfy the rage of one politician and the senior officer from the State Secretariat. Now they pressured the RTM administration to transfer JJ to another town, Bintulu, where there is no Kenyah radio service. He is told to report for duty in Bintulu almost immediately.

JJ is a very popular DJ and much talked about by those who listen to him on the air in the Kenayh broadcast and the Malay service. He is also a popular Master of Ceremony and announcer at functions in and around Miri. He was the pioneer who started the Kenyah Radio Program for RTM. RTM Miri is the first to have a scheduled Kenyah language broadcast ever and anywhere. At the moment RTM has only one other permanent staff serving in the Kenyah section. JJ’s transfer will be a lost for the Kenyah community as a whole, particularly those in the rural areas. JJ’s signature slogan now popular throughout the Miri Division is “Bichem Bichem”.

It is so sad that the politicians and the officer from the State Secretariat who put the pressure on the RTM administration are of Orang Ulu ethnics. The Kenyahs who with JJ are losing out due to this are also of the Orang Ulu group. The zeal of the people concerned for the so called disciplinary action is a clear case of abuse of power; it is done without the required procedure. On behalf of JJ and our Kenyah community I would like to request the politicians and civil servants to act with caution and be more humanely in their work. Above all, politicians should not interfere with the administration of government just like the government servants should not be involved with active politics. If the politicians have the wellbeing of the people in their hearts they should withdraw all the actions taken against JJ, which affect the Kenyah community as a whole and Miri RTM radio listeners in general.