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 Penan protest against Malaysian timber certificationBy communities - 2005-02-07 | Penan sent protest letter to the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) against certifying Samling logging operation at Sela'an-Linau as Forest Management Unit. TK Bilong Oyau Ketua Kaum Penan, Long Sait, Selungo 98050 Ulu Baram, Sarawak, Malaysia. To: Malaysian Timber Certification Council Dato' Dr. Freezailah B. Che Yeom Chairman 19 F, Level 19, Menara PGRM No. 8, Jalan Pudu Ulu, Cheras 56100 KUALA LUMPUR Dear Sir, January 25, 2005Ref: Protest against the approval of MTCC Certification to Samling Plywood (Baramas) Sdn.Bhd.We, the Penan people and headmen of the Upper Ulu Baram area, have been informed that Samling Plywood (Baramas) Sdn Bhd. have recently been granted the Certificate for Forest Management under the Malaysian Timber Certification Council scheme for the Sela'an-Linau Forest Management Unit. We have not been consulted on this matter. We strongly reject this certification, which was approved in against of our interest. We have been living here in peace until the timber companies came to disturb our life and encroach into our forest. Many of us have suffered due to the Samling logging operations: our rivers are polluted, our sacred sites damaged and our animals chased away by people who deprive us of our livelihood and culture. For many years, we have been raising our voice to protest against Samling activities, but neither the company nor the government is listening to us. We cannot accept that Samling timber be now awarded with a certificate to continue offending our native customary rights. We stay united and we are determined in our protest against this offence of our rights. Here, we renew our firm demand that Samling timber stop destroying our forest. As a matter of fact that the disputes between the concessionary and our claims are far from resolved, the approval of forest management certification would only make the matter worst. Therefore, we, the Penan people in upper Baram from Long Lamai, Long Lai, Long Kerong, Long Sait, Long Sepigen, Long Lamam, Long Ajeng, Long Bu'ung, Long Data, Ba Pengaran, Long Benali , Long Kepang , Long Sabai, Ba Tik and Middle Baram Long Sepatai strongly ask the Malaysian Timber Certification Council to immediately revoke the certificate granted to Samling Plywood. As we have filed legal action against Samling in 1998, which is still pending at the high Court, it is highly disputable for the affected forests to be awarded any management certificate. Since the legal status of the affected forest remains unresolved, the certification of the Sela'an Linua Concessionary is most inappropriate. As such, we, the Penan headmen from the effected area strongly opposed to the approval of MTCC Certification (which) granted to Samling Timber. Thank you, Copies to: Sarawak Chief Minister Prime Minister of Malaysia SUHAKM (Human Right Commission, Malaysia) International Tropical Timber Council, Yokohama UN Commissioner of Human Rights, Geneva Headmen and villages of the Upper Ulu Baram area (Signature/ thumbprints of headmen) (Signature/ thumbprints of villagers) 1. TK Bilong Oyau -- Headman, Long Sait 2. TK Kelesau Naan -- Headman, Long Kerong 3. WTK Thomas Pelutan -- Assistant Headman, Long Sepigen 4. TK Jawa Nyipa -- Headman, Long Ajeng, Selaan 5. TK Balang Toi -- Headman, Long Laman, Slaan 6. TK Thomas Keliap --Headman, Long Murung, Selaan 7. TK Ali Toi -- Headman, Ba Pengaran, Akah 8. TK Kusin Uvan -- Headman, Ba Pengaran asal, Akah 9. TK Saun bujang -- Headman, Long Benali, Akah 10. TK Pusa Luding -- Ketua Kaum (Headman), Long Sabai 11. TK Melai Nak -- Ketua Kaum, Ba Tik, Ngelah 12. TK Panai Irang --Ketua Kaum, Long Sepatai, Akah 13. TK Pada Jutang -- Ketua Kaum, Long Pakan, Akah 14. WKK Aya Luding -- Wakil (assistant) KK, Long Sait 15. WKK Tirong Lawing -- Wakil KK, Long Kerong 16. WKK Abraham Nak -- Wakil KK, Ba Tik 17. Balan Kade -- Komiti lebo, Long Kerong 18. Pulak Tagung -- Komiti Lebo, Long Sait 19. Weng Pet -- Komiti lebo, Long Sabai Together with the 1st batch of 582 villagers' thumb prints. There are forthcoming 2nd batch of thumbprint from two other communities, namely Long Lamai and Long Lai. Reference LinksAttached files
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