A group of Kenyah villagers in Ulu Baram have formed a blockade at a nearby logging camp in protest against a logging company for going back on its promise to provide them timber.

The villagers claim that Samling Timber Sdn Bhd failed to deliver on its pledge of timber to build longhouses.

Farmer Dudong Ngau, 55, told Malaysiakini that Samling has yet to come through with the 400 logs of timber that it had promised to Lio Mato villagers.

timber logs kayu balak 110907

"We requested for timber to build additional longhouses as those that we inherited from our ancestors are in a dilapidated state due to age," he said.

Dudong claimed that Samling timber camp managers had not only agreed to their request, but pledged to deliver the timber supplies by the first week of November.

the antidote article long kerong sarawak timber logging samling 090609 08 The blockade was formed three days ago after the manager of the timber camp and his workers apparently "disappeared" after the villagers questioned them.

Dudong, a paddy farmer, said the villagers would not end the blockade until Samling had fulfilled its promise.

"Samling has extracted timber from our area for more than 10 years and yet they could not accede to this small request.

"They polluted our rivers and deprived us of fish supplies. Samling should consider this and be concerned about our welfare.

Lio Mato, situated at the upper Baram river in Sarawak, is home to around 700 villagers.

Situation caused by 'misunderstanding'

Samling Timber general manager (administration) Andrew Wee, when contacted today, said that he was unaware of the matter and suggested it could be due to a misunderstanding.

"We would normally fulfil promises made. We have helped the natives a lot through our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.

illegal logging 260608 02 "We have built bridges, schools, libraries, roads and ICT buildings. We built mini dams so that they would have clean water and sponsored agricultural programmes," he added.

Its corporate communications head Mandy Chen said she too, was unaware of the pledge but urged parties not to jump to conclusions before the situation was understood properly.

This is not the first time natives had staged blockades in protest against Samling.

Last year, indigenous Kenyahs from six longhouse communities gathered at upper Sungai Moh to stage a non-violent protest against logging operations by Samling.

In 2007, Penans in two areas in Baram manned timber blockades to stop loggers from moving into communal forest reserves.