Penan, Berawan communities file suit to stop oil palm plantation

The Penan and BerawanTering communities of TutohMelinau region in Upper Baram filed a suit here yesterday to nullify the issuance of two provisional leases by the Sarawak government for an oil palm plantation adjoining Gunung Mulu National Park.

It was filed by seven Penan and seven Berawan villagers who also claim to represent the communities of Batu Bungan, Ba Ubung (or Ubong), Long Terawan, Long/Sungai Melinau, Long Iman, Sungai Tapin (Tepen), Long Meraan, Batu Belah, Long Panai and Kuala Tutoh (Long Kiput).

They claimed that the 4,440ha – granted to a company called Radiant Lagoon in December 2008 for a period of 99 years for the plantation – is located within their native customary rights (NCR) land, said a statement issued at a press conference following the filing of the suit.

They pointed out that their land claims were investigated from 1962 to 1970 and the then-Residents of the Fourth and Fifth Divisions had decided on the boundary.

They also cited the national park’s management plan carried out by the joint expedition of the Royal Geographical Society and the Sarawak government in 1977 and 1978 on the area for the Penan Settlement Reserves.

“In their Statement of Claim, the Plaintiffs have also claimed that the development of an oil palm plantation had shown that the Sarawak State Government had abrogated and reneged from its commitment to preserve the site, a commitment expressed in the 24th Session of the World Heritage Committee in 2000, when the Gunung Mulu National Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site,” the statement read.