Iban villages blockade illegal logging by Hock Tong Hin

Simunjan, Sarawak, Malaysia 

Some 120 Iban residents of villages Ensika, Entanggor, Tungkah Iban, Arus Sebangan re-mounted blockades to defend their communal land and forest reserve against destruction by timber company Hock Tong Hin and its contractor Forest Wealth Sdn Bhd, and prevent removal of logs.
 
This is the second time that the villagers, including both men and women, have blocked timber company access to stop logging in their communal forest reserve.  Village residents first blockaded Hock Tong Hin’s logging two years ago (beginning September 14, 2006). 
 
In 2007 the villages sued Hock Tong Hin to prevent the company from continuing to log in their communal forest reserve, which has been registered since the 1950s (Sarawak court Suit No 22-118-2007). The case is set to go to trial December 8, 2009.
 
Nicholas Mujah, spokeman for the villagers, filed a police report on the continued logging at Simunjan Police Station on September 9, 2009.  He also lodged a complaint with the Sarawak Forest Corporation, the quasi-government authority charged with controlling logging (and logging abuses) in Sarawak. 
Mujah is concerned that Sarawak authorities have taken no action to stop Hock Tong Hin's illegal logging in a gazetted reserve, which can be considered theft of a state asset.  Mujah suspects that collusion may be involved.
 
Mujah explains that the communities are determined to defend their land and forests, even at risk of harassment, intimidation, and arrest.
 
For more information contact Nicholas Mujah at the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA), sadiahq@gmail.com