Congrat:Save the Sebangan Rainforest Fund now stands at RM21,874.15

The Save the Sebangan Rainforest Fund started by Christina Suntai has collected a healthy Rm21, 874.15 thus far-over 3 months. This goes to disprove the cynics around that the people/public don’t give a hoot about land rights struggle of the indigenous people or the rain-forest / environment. Keep up the good work-and we await the wonder from the work produced by the fund! Source: here.

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Land rights defender Rayang Ak Ringkai passed away

Rayang Ak Ringkai at the last interview

Tuai Rumah Rayang Ak Ringkai of Kg Bait Ili, near Sri Aman passed away yesterday due to high blodd pressure complications -after coming to Kuching to try to file a suit against the logging company encroaching on his land. In the last interview he gave to TV Sarawak Bebas he showed the numerous police reports which he had made against the logging company-but to no avail. The company Tasinmas Project management consultants Sdn Bhd, is believed to be owned by someone close to the CM.

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Lawas 7 required to report to police monthly-no charge yet

According to Jameson, chairperson of the Action Committee of Lun Bawang Land Rights, the 7 persons arrested at the blockade against the Sabah Sarawak Gas Pipeline Project, have to report to police station every month from now onwards. Their case has been forwarded to Miri police and there has not been any charges so far. The chairperson expressed disappointment that the 7 are not discharged since the police has taken a long time to investigate the case.

The 7 were arrested after they set up a blockade for 1 week outside Lawas town early November. The case was given substantial report by local alternative media and attracted international attention. Since the arrests the blockade has been dismantled by the police, while the residents start an information campaign to the community to regroup for further action.

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Numpang charged for criminal intimidation in Serian Court today-encroachers go free!

The crowd and lawyer Baru Bian took a picture outside the Serian magistrate court after the mention.

The video of the court case is here. Lawyer Baru Bian speak to Sarawaknews to update the court situation on Numpang’s case. 200 supporters turned up to support the case-a landmark case of NCR owners’ resistance to land encroachers linked to the CM. Next hearing is Feb 16-17th 2011.

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More action by Taib on Bako land to smooth over the ground before state elections

The state government has acquired a land near the city area and intend to pay standard compensation to the landowners at Rm40 000.00/acre, while the market values have gone many times higher. Is the state government trying to execute a get rich quick on the land by selling the land to commercial developer at market values? The question has set the land owners into an unending frenzy of condemnation that would lose the state seats here!   Taib: Bako land issue may be resolved in two months’ time	Share
Tuesday, 14 December 2010 13:06(Malaysian Mirror)
KUCHING – Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said the long-standing Bako land issue might come to an end soon as the government planned to come out with a formula and resolve it amicably, The Borneo Post reported Tuesday.

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Dec 15th-all roads lead to Serian Magistrate court where NCR defender Numpang will be charged!

Numpang Suntai

The stage for NCR fights is set -the opening will play out at Serian Magistrate court tomorrow, Dec 15th, where Numpang Suntai will be charged for defending his NCR land. Scores of friends, relatives and supporters will congregate as though the state justice system is the one in the dock! Natives lands have been seized by the State through the issuing of a piece of paper -the Provisional Lease, which seems to weigh heavier to claim ownership of the land lived in through many generations by the natives. Should the natives do anything to insist on the ownership of the land in such `disputes’ they will be charged by the `law enforcers’. But most of the land owners are not convinced that their land ownership can be extinguished without their consent or satisfactory compensation. They know from numerous previous cases that the land acquired by the state will soon be sold at market price-thus enriching the politicians and CM’s relatives who are sold the acquired lands at rock bottom price. So fight they must-beginning from Serian tomorrow. We’ll send you reports from the focal point of Serian Magistrate court tomorrow. A letter from Numpang’s sister Christina is here:

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Numpang Suntai of Sebuyau 7 asked to see police on Dec 15th(Updated)

Numpang is 3rd from right.

Breaking update fm Save Sebangan Rainforest
To all relatives in friends and Sarawak, particularly Sebangan and Sebuyau, Numpang Suntai is being called by the Police to come to Serian on Dec 15 Wed @ 8:00 am. Please come to Serian in support of my brother Numpang Suntai. Please show your support to Numpang who is being summoned by Polic…e. As far as I know, he is the only one of the Sebangan 7 that is being called!!!!

UPDATE: Numpang Suntai will be charged in Serian court tomorrow morning for alleged criminal intimidation, after the villagers initiate a suit against the logging company shareholders which include CM Taib Mahmud’s sister. Friends and relatives of Numpang are expected to come to the court to give the NCR owner moral support. The case may prove to be the  focus of attention for Sarawak’s simmering state-wide NCR struggles, coming as it were just before an imminent state election!

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More millions for perimeter surveys-inducement for supporting BN in coming state poll?

The addition of Rm60mil to do perimeter survey on NCR lands has been reported by Borneo Post-which also add that the surveys will be for `next year’ ie most likely to be after the state poll. The government funded surveys will prioritise `cooperative’ landowners-leaving no imagination as to who they will exclude. By making the survey a political carrot to induce partisan voting the Minister Awang Tengah expose the policy as one which do not give fair treatment to all-as almost always the case with the ruling party policies before this.

NCR land survey gets RM60 mln boost

by Philip Kiew. Posted on December 12, 2010, Sunday

BAKONG: Another RM60 million would be made available for conducting perimeter surveys of NCR land for 2011-2012, bringing the total amount for carrying out the exercise to RM80 million.

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Sentiasa Maju’s directors-all West Malaysians!

The logging company Sentiasa Maju (64293-A) involved in the incident of intimidation against rural folks with a rifle, has these people with West Malaysian addresses as their directors, the earliest being 14-11-1980:

1. Peter Ng Shin Yow 1, Jln 6/10 PJ

2.Dato Mahmood bin Ambak (Deceased) 2, Lorong 16/9C   46350 PJ

3.Ramli B Hj Abdul Rahman 10 Lrg Kolam, Ayer Itam Lama B, Ampang Jaya, KL

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Caught on video: Logging company flashing rifle to intimidate rural NCR owners!

The butt of a rifle is visible from behind the logging woker of Syarikat Sentiasa Maju.

Logging worker of Sentiasa Maju face off with protesting Kg Gran villagers.

A logging company worker flashed a home made rifle to intimidate rural NCR land owners against protesting the encroachment of their land at Kg Gran, near Sri Aman, Sarawak. This happened on Dec 4th, at about 9.30am, and the company is Syarikat Sentiasa Maju owned chiefly by West Malaysians. The long house folks made a  police report against the flashing of the weapon immediately after the incidence-but so far there has not been any action by the police. The logging company started logging 1 year back despite more than 5 police reports made by rural NCR owners about land encroachment by the logger.The flashing of weapon at logging site reflect a worsening tension between the logging companies and the interior communities who have been complaining against their  NCR lands being encroached. A video of the flashing of the rifle can be seen here-a longer video will be ready soonest.

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