25 July 2024

On Today Show — Nick Kelesau, spokesman for the Penan Keruan Organization – Tensions Rise Between Penan Leaders Supporting Logging and Penan Communities Opposing It — John Bara from Uma Akeh Baram – Uma Akeh Villagers Take Legal Action Over Unpaid Land Lease Funds Topik Pada Hari Ini — Nick Kelesau, jurucakap untuk Organisasi Penan Keruan – Ketegangan Meningkat Antara Pemimpin Penan yang Menyokong Pembalakan dan Komuniti Penan yang Menentangnya — John Bara dari Uma Akeh Baram – Penduduk Uma Akeh Mengambil Tindakan Undang-Undang Mengenai Dana Sewa Tanah yang Belum Dibayar --------------- Nick Kelesau, spokesman for the Penan Keruan Organization *Tensions Rise Between Penan Leaders Supporting Logging and Penan Communities Opposing It* Nick reported that the logging company appointed by GPS/Borneoland Timber resources sdn.bhd-has started a smear campaign against NGOs that oppose logging in the Taman Damai Baram-UBFA area. According to Nick, lately many meetings have been arranged by the company involved with the Penan people and with YB of the Baram and Dun Mulu areas. The Penan people who are affected by the anti-BMF campaign, SAVE RIVERS AND THE Penan Keruan Organization forbid these NGOs to speak or give their views. They erected a banner that said bmf and supporters were not allowed to interfere with the ongoing project in the Ba Data Bila area. BMF and their supporters have no rights in the Ba Data Bila area and we Ba Data Bila residents fully support the efforts of the Premier of Sarawak and the Balak company to make projects in our area. The intended project is to build a road from Ba Data Bila to Long Lelang and all over the land and build houses for four penan communities in Ba Data Bila, Ba Mubui, Ba Sebatou and Ba Pengaran Kelian. Nick insisted that Penan did not prevent development but the way the mentioned projects were done was wrong. Just by building roads, our logs are cut down greedily. The logging company wants to build a road to Long Lelang while cutting logs in the area it passes through. All this is not allowed in the original plan of UBFA. Even the original UBFA plan also included the development of infrastructure for the penan community. With transparent funds from the Japanese and Korean governments as well as donations from NGOs such as BMF. Why do penan groups led by Pemanca Uning Bong and Penghulu Daud anger the BMF and other parties over penan poverty. These two Penan leaders should have angered GPS because the Penan people's forest has been looted but they have still failed to build a basic infrastructure for the Penan people. ---------------------------