Stop harassment, intimidation at Iban village

We refer to the Malaysiakini report Outrage over Iban village demolition.

We, concerned civil society organisations (CSOs),having met and deliberated in Sibu yesterday on the recent news of the demolition of houses belonging to the residents of Rumah Nor Anak Nyawai, Sungai Sekabai, Sebauh, Sarawak on Jan 19, express utter outrage and deep concern on the blatant disregard of the communities' customary rights and their right to shelter.

The actions of Tatau Land Sendirian Berhad, a subsidiary of the Assar Group and their agents together with the authorities were uncalled for since the residents of Rumah Nor are still contesting the land dispute claim over the area.The comment made by the superintendent of the Land and Survey Department, Bintulu laying the blame on the lawyer for not informing his clients on the eviction order was false. The fact was, the lawyer representing the residents has yet to receive any eviction order from the court.

There was also no notice given to the residents. The residents' were only informed about the eviction order after the demolition was done. Furthermore, the residents have since appealed the decision and the case is still pending.

We demand that:

• Tatau Land Sendirian Berhad and its agents withdraw from the area and refrain from further actions that will aggravate the situation
• The authorities must immediately stop their harassment and intimidation on the communities affected;
• The authorities must uphold the rights of the indigenous peoples, including rights to their land, territories and resources, the principle of free, prior informed consent, the principle of natural justice as in accordance with the national legislations and international human rights instruments including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Undrip), ILO Convention No 169 and the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD);
• The company must respect the rights of the indigenous peoples and also the due process of law in this case; and
• Adequate compensation be paid to the families of the houses and properties destroyed during the demolition.

The writer is representing the Borneo Resources Institute, Malaysia (Brimas). This statement is also endorsed by the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia), Sarawak Indigenous Lawyers Alliance (SILA), Persatuan Wanita Desa Sarawak (Wadesa), Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), Institute for Development of Alternative Living (Ideal), Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Joas), Jaringan Tanah Hak Adat Bangsa Asal Sarawak (Tahabas), Tenaganita, Grassroots, AidEnvironment, Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP), Cicom, Building Indigenous Initiatives and Heritage (BiiH), Pacos Trust, Panggau, Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC), Melikin-Bukar-Sadong Association (Mebusa), Native Rights Action Force (Natraf), SOS Baram, Scane, Persatuan Rumah Panjang Rantau-Tapu (Rata), Tonibung Youths ansd the Malaysian Election Observation Network (MEO-Net).

p/s:Dari arkib malaysia kini.com