STATEMENT FROM THE MEETING OF THE IBAN COMMUNITY OF ULU TATAU,
BINTULU, SARAWAK
ON 30TH SEPTEMBER 2000
WE, representatives of the Iban longhouses community in Ulu
Batang Tatau after having met and deliberated on the Pulpwood Mill and Forest
Plantation Project owned by Borneo Pulp & Paper Sdn Bhd (BPP) at
Rumah Entika, Rantau Tajak, Batang Tatau, Bintulu Division, Sarawak on 30th
September 2000, do hereby state:
- Issue of Extinguishment of rights to native customary land and community
forest reserves ("Pulau Galau")
- Our Customary Land Rights Extinguished: The Sarawak State Government
had extinguished our customary land rights without our agreement. We were not
informed and there was no prior clarification on the effects of such
extinguishment to our customary land. We strongly protested the act of the
government in extinguishing our customary land rights that was done not
according to the procedure of laws because the government intention of
acquiring ownership over our land is for commercial purposes that threatens
the longhouse peoples;
- Customary Rights Not Respected: BPP company does not respect our
customary rights to land and resources within the ‘Menoa’ (territory) area
of every longhouses in Ulu Batang Tatau. Without our consent and permission,
BPP carries out criminal trespassing onto our properties, gardens, temuda land
and community forest reserve;
- Destruction To Land, Garden, Temuda And Community Forest Reserve: We
are totally dependent on our land, gardens and forests in our daily lives and
carrying out our activities. Our gardens and Temuda lands that content
varieties of plants had been indiscriminately damaged or destroyed by BPP
without any payment of compensation. Our community forest reserves that serves
as place for us to hunt, obtain jungle produces, longhouse building materials,
boats, coffins, traditional medicines and resources had been destroyed by BPP;
and
- Extinguishment of customary land rights and BPP Project bring negative
impacts: We are most regretful with the State Government's action in
extinguishing our customary land ownership rights for the purpose of
implementing BPP project, because such extinguishment brought adverse negative
impacts on us and our future.
-
- Issue Of Inadequate Compensation
- Inadequate Compensation Given: The acquisition of our property,
land, forests and resources by the State Government of Sarawak were not
compensated adequately. There were a lot of reasons given to us so as to
delay the distribution of compensation to much of our property, fruit trees,
temuda, forest reserves and resources; and
- Crops Damaged Were Not Paid Compensation: All of our crops like padi,
pepper, rubber, fruits, vegetables and other crops within our customary land
were damaged or destroyed without any compensation given whatsoever by BPP
and the Government.
- Issue Of Resettlement
- Forced To Moved From Customary Land: We are forced by BPP to move from
our customary land (menoa) to another area of not our choice. BPP and the
State Government of Sarawak does not guarantee our rights and future if we are
to be resettled in a new area;
- No Holistic Plan For Resettlement: Until today, we were never
clarified about the plans and programmes for our community that are going to
be resettled by the Government and the relevant authorities; and
- Facilities For Resettlement: The facilities and compensation which was
promised by BPP and the Government if we were to move never materialised and
numerous longhouse residents were forced to move without having a proper
discussion with the community of the longhouse involved.
- Problems Relating To Livelihood And The Environment
- Destruction Of Water Catchment Areas: The water catchment areas of a
few longhouses in Batang Tatau have been trespassed upon and destroyed by BPP
without any compensation paid whatsoever to the residents;
- Destruction Of Gravesites: The gravesites belonging to the longhouse
residents were also destroyed by BPP;
- Depletion Of Food Resources And Income: BPP has depleted our food
resources and source of income. Our income and food resources that are found
in our gardens, temuda land and also in the community's forest reserves (pulau
galau) were also damaged; and
- Longhouse Residents Were Threatened By BPP: BPP has issued a written
warning to us by prohibiting the longhouse residents from entering BPP's mill
site which is in our customary land thus restraining the longhouse residents
from going to their padi farms and gardens.
Taking into consideration of all the abovesaid, we therefore:
- Demand the State Government of Sarawak to give legal recognition of our
rights which was extinguished and to immediately return our customary land and
its resources therein;
- Urge the State Government of Sarawak not to threaten our rights, forest and
its resources in our customary land with mega pulpwood project which destroys
the environment and does not bring any benefits to our community;
- Urge the State Government of Sarawak to stop the construction of the mill
and the pulpwood plantation which involves our customary land because it will
endanger the safety of the residents there and damage the ecology;
- Demand the State Government of Sarawak to urge Borneo Pulp and Paper Sdn.
Bhd. to stop all its operations in our customary land;
- Demand that adequate compensation be given to all our property, crops and
customary land which has been damaged or destroyed by BPP;
- Urge the State Government of Sarawak to discuss thoroughly with the
residents on any development programme which is going to be implemented in our
customary land and all decisions are subjected to our approval;
- Urge the State Government of Sarawak and BPP to respect our native customary
rights to land;
- Urge the State Government of Sarawak to help and develop our community by
providing the essential needs for each longhouse;
- Urge the Government to suggest and allow BPP to implement its project
outside of the Dayaks customary land especially in the area of the longhouses
in Ulu Batang Tatau. We demand that BPP implement its project on State Land
only; and
- Urge the State Government of Sarawak not to resettle us away from our
customary land whenever a project is going to be implemented.
This statement was endorsed by the Headmen, representatives
of longhouses and the Tatau Region Dayak Association (GDMT) on the 30th
September 2000:
- Tuai Rumah Entika Anak Abus (Rumah Entika, Rantau Tajak, Tatau)
- Tuai Rumah Munggu Anak Aloi (Rumah Munggu, Batang Tatau, Tatau)
- Tuai Rumah Stephen Ali Ak. Nyuak (Rumah Ali, Munggu Embawang, Tatau)
- Representative of Tuai Rumah Jeti Ak. Anyong (Rumah Jeti, Batang Tatau,
Tatau)
- Representative from Rumah Meluda, Batang Tatau, Tatau
- Tuai Rumah Polis (Rumah Polis, Batang Tatau, Tatau)
- Representative from Rumah Gerunsin, Batang Tatau, Tatau
- Representative from Rumah Suran, Batang Tatau, Tatau
- Representative from Rumah Ringkai, Batang Tatau, Tatau
- Jaili Bin Sulaiman (Chairman of Tatau Region Dayak Association)