Village Chiefs protest at Rain Forest World Festival

Before their arrival at the festival site in the Sarawak Cultural Village, the Penans had made their grievances known to government officials of the East Malaysian state.

Mark Bujang, a human rights activist who was acting as a spokesman for the chieftains, said the meetings with officials in Sarawak had been unsatisfactory. 

The Sarawak Penan Association (SPA) had expected the government to look into their concerns, but instead they had largely ignored the complaints, referring them back to local community officials, implying that the Penans no longer had any land rights, he said.

Bujang said the village chiefs had brought their protest to the World Rain Forest Music Festival in a bid to alert media representatives to their grievances.

Ajang Kiew, president of the SPA, said the Penans were demanding the state government stop issuing logging and plantation forest licences "over our native customary land," and bring a halt to large-scale commercial oil palm and acacia plantations "on our territory." 

"The rain forest of Sarawak interior is now very critical due to the logging," he said, adding: "We bring a message to the Festival, saying people need to be aware and concerned about the forests and the plight of the native communities."  

"After all, once all the forests are gone, l don't think you will be having any Rain Forest Music Festivals any more," he said, when declaring the forests and the Penans had to be protected." 

"While you enjoy the sounds of the Rain Forest, remember we now hear only the sounds of chainsaws and tractors," said leaflets handed out by the village chiefs.

They claimed that more than 100 cases affecting over 200 communities, including the Bidayuh, Iban, Kayan, Kenyah, Lun Bawang, Malau, Melanau and Penan were being fought in the courts.

"Malaysian voices on illegal logging and encroachment are met with silence and indifference from politicians and the media. As our forests disappear, they are being replaced by oil palm and acacia.

"These forests cannot give us food, water, a home or medicines. Without our forests and lands, we become poor, we lose our homes with no hope of good jobs and our children are robbed of their future and their heritage.

"We have the right to live in the lands of our ancestors, just as you do. We have the right to food and clean water. We have the right to see our children educated and enjoying equality with all other Malaysians," read the statement.

The peaceful protest went ahead at the entrance to the Sarawak Cultural Village under the eye of local policemen, but did not interfere with the hugely popular Rain Forest Festival, which ended its three-day run on Sunday.//Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA)