On 4 January 2007, Sarawak's Land and Survey Department demolished Rumah Nyawin, an Iban longhouse near Bintulu. Over 200 enforcement officers from Land and Survey, along with 20 police, arrived without warning at 8am, forcing out the 120 residents and demolishing their longhouse.
The Borneo Project strongly condemns the action of the Bintulu, Sarawak Land and Survey Department to demolish the longhouse of Rumah Nyawin and seize access to their farms, orchards, and forests.
We call on the Government of Sarawak to respect the native customary rights to land of all indigenous peoples of Sarawak.
The community of Rumah Nyawin should be immediately compensated for the destruction of their longhouse, furniture, and food stocks. They should be allowed to rebuild their home on their land until such time as the Sarawak courts have ruled on their native customary land claim.
The Borneo Project will be contributing to the Rumah Nyawin emergency fund to provide aluminum roofing sheets to the longhouse people to establish temporary shelter on their land.
For details, see the press release and emergency fund appeal by Sarawak Dayak Iban Association, and other links:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEMENT OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE SARAWAK DAYAK IBAN ASSOCIATION (SADIA), NICHOLAS MUJAH, REGARDING THE DESTRUCTION OF A LONGHOUSE BY THE LAND AND SURVEY DEPARMENT SARAWAK
Kuching, Malaysia. 5 January 2007 –
On 4 January, the Land and Survey Department Sarawak demolished Rumah Nyawin, an Iban longhouse along the Bintulu-Bakun road. Over 200 enforcement officers from the Land and Survey Department, accompanied by 20 police, descended without warning on the longhouse at 8 in the morning and forced out the 120 residents. While the longhouse people looked on, two excavators and two chainsaws flattened their home.
One inhabitant, Kendawang anak Ganing was arrested by police when he tried to resist against 200 enforcement officers.
Although the longhouse people were aware that the Land and Survey Department wanted their land, they had no warning that they would be forcibly evicted in such a cruel and inhumane manner. There was a previous eviction order issued in 4th October 2006. Through Baru Bian & Advocates, the longhouse people filed a case in the High Court of Bintulu on 27 October 2006 to challenge the eviction order. Their rights to live in the area stem from a 1987 agreement with the Penan community of Kampung Yoh, the traditional Native Customary Rights owners.
During this period of heavy rains, the longhouse people are now forced to squat in canvas tents by the site of their former homes.
SADIA condemns the intimidation of the longhouse people by the Land and Survey as well as the decision to demolish native homes without consultation. SADIA further condemns the decision taken by Land and Survey without helping the Iban people towards a solution and treating indigenous Iban people like squatters and illegal immigrants.
SADIA calls upon the State Government of Sarawak, all Dayak representatives and Dayak people to ensure that state agencies like the Land and Survey treat all Sarawakians fairly with respect and dignity.
--- MEDIA STATEMENT ENDS ---
SADIA’S EMERGENCY FUND FOR RH NYAWIN
January 8, 2007
Dear Sir/Madam,
SADIA's concern is for the immediate welfare of the community of Rumah Nyawin. We are initiating an emergency fund to buy 600 zinc sheets for the longhouse. These sheets will be used to provide some protection.
The total cost needed is RM7200. Any balance will be used by SADIA to
buy basic needs for the Rh Nyawin community to ensure their immediate
survival and protect against disease. SADIA appeals to you to assist
this Iban community.
Your concern is welcome and contributions (in form of basic
necessities, zinc and monetary contributions) can be sent/posted to:
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
2nd Floor, Lot 51, Bgn Chin Poh Luk
Sg Maong Bazaar,
Off Jalan Penrissen
93200 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Cash can be banked into the following account:
Name of account: SADIA Resources
Account Number: 4-4243686-20
Bank: Public Bank
Branch: Jalan Tun Zaidi Branch
Address: Lots 2775 & 2776 Block 10, 3rd Mile, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi
Adruce, 93250 Kuching
Thank you,
Nicholas Mujah
Secretary-General
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
2nd Floor, Lot 51, Bgn Chin Poh Luk
Sg Maong Bazaar,
Off Jalan Penrissen
93200 Kuching,
Sarawak, Malaysia
H/P: 6-016-8946976
Phone/Fax: 6-082-303475
Email: sadiahq@gmail.com
The Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) has been established since
1984 under Malaysia's Registrar of Societies' Act. SADIA is an
association of the Iban community of Sarawak. Its mission, among
others, is to promote and assist in the educational empowerment of the
Iban and other natives of the Malaysian state of Sarawak and to
safeguard the interests and welfare of the indigenous communities of Sarawak. SADIA has 36 branches throughout the state and an estimated
membership of 8500.
Additional links on the demolition of Rumah Nyawin:
Land Woes: State Govt accused of Double Standards
By Tony Thien, Malaysiakini
January 9, 2007
http://www.rengah.c2o.org/news/article.php?identifer=de0475t
Blog stories:
http://www.mylongkang.com/2007/01/06/120-folks-made-homeless-in-an-hour-as-their-longhouse-is-torn-down-by-the-government-for-mardi-projects/
http://www.mylongkang.com/2007/01/07/rumah-nyawin-folks-gradually-being-forgotten/
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