Seven natives held in battle with govt, Petronas
By Joseph Tawie, Free Malaysia Today
LAWAS: More Lun Bawang natives are expected to be arrested in their “ding-dong” battle with the state government and Petronas over their native customary rights (NCR) land which the government refuses to recognise.
Since Thursday, seven Lun Bawang natives have been arrested for mounting up a blockade to stop workers of Petronas Gas Pipeline project from trespassing into, what they claim, their NCR land.
Four were arrested on Thursday, but two of them have been released after their statements have been recorded. Three more were arrested yesterday.
“More are expected to be arrested in the next few days as they continue to maintain the blockade in an effort to stop the project unless the government recognises and pays compensation,” Jameson Taie said in an e-mail to FMT.
According to ASP Raduan of Criminal Investigation Department, Lawas, they are being detained to facilitate investigations into the setting up of the blockade on Samling timber track at KP (Kilometre Petronas) 130.
The blockade was put up on Nov 4. And despite the arrests, the Lun Bawang will continue to maintain the barricade against the Petronas project, which is being built across the NCR land of the Lun Bawang.
Legal action
The pipeline is being constructed from Kimanis to Merapok, Lawas. It goes to Long Semado passing through several villages of Lun Bawang.
When contacted, a prominent NCR land lawyer Baru Bian, who comes from the community, said that one of those released stated that the detainees’ hands were injured after they were handcuffed.
He advised them to lodge a police report and seek medical treatment.
Said Bian: “They are putting up the blockade to stop the project from passing through their NCR land because the state government and Petronas do not recognise their NCR land.
“The government and Petronas say the Lun Bawang natives have no NCR land and they (state government and Petronas) are very strong on this and will not pay any compensation. And these make the Lun Bawang very unhappy.
“The Lun Bawang were living in these areas well before 1958, even before the arrival of the Brookes. They have been using the jungle track, which is being used by Petronas as the route of its project. How can they say the Lun Bawang have no NCR land?” asked Bian.
“If you do not recognise their NCR land, then the Lun Bawang will continue to maintain the blockade.
