KUCHING: Save Rivers and Indigenous Peoples’ Network of Malaysia (JOAS) have asserted the rights of the locals to oppose the proposed Baram Dam and to self-determine development.
In a joint statement, they urged Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to immediately withdraw his statement that granted Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) permission to proceed with Baram Dam, and consult with affected landowners and other stakeholders.
They said Adenan should also take heed of academic studies showing that Sarawak’s future energy demands could be met by innovative technologies that do not have a destructive toll on forests, the climate and communities.
JOAS president Thomas Jalong claimed residents of the affected longhouses had never given their free, prior or informed consent for Baram Dam.
“If this project is built as proposed, it will go against the will of the affected landowners of Ulu Baram, all logical evidence of demand-side energy needs, and the law of the land – our national constitution,” he said, adding that this was a shameful attempt to intimidate people who have been standing strong to defend their rights to livelihood, maintaining road blockades for more than a year and a half.
“The Chief Minister’s recent speech in London about the preservation of forests is meaningless in the face of his statement on Saturday (May 16). Now he is evidently willing to back the narrow interests of SEB over the rights of thousands of people and at the expense of vast forested areas that serve as the very lungs of our land.”
Meanwhile, Save Rivers chairman Peter Kallang queried: “We question who exactly are the leaders that the chief minister had consulted, and for whose interests do they really speak? Why did they have a ‘closed door’ meeting? No one can speak on behalf of others, especially without consultation.”
He thus invited Adenan to come to Baram to the site of their blockades and hear directly from those affected.
“We will continue to protect our land, following the path of justice through the court system, and calling for our rights under the constitution to be respected.”
Save Rivers Youth committee co-chairperson Caroline Nyurang also expressed her perspective by stating: “We can see for ourselves Sarawak Energy’s track record at Murum Dam, where the displaced people have yet to receive their promised land allotments, have substandard housing, and face severe food insecurity.
She pointed out that Baram youths wanted a bright future for themselves and the upcoming generations.
“That is why we assert our rights to land and life together, across the generations. We, as residents of Baram, are taking a stand with our legitimate community leaders and remain steadfast in refusing to negotiate away our future.”