By William Isau
SIBU, Aug 1: Some 200 landowners from Sepudan, Selangau staged a peaceful picket today to demand a multi-industry company to pay up an alleged overdue compensation for using 473 hectares of their land for the development of oil palm plantation.
Founder of Independent Council of Natives (ICON) Bill Jugah, who facilitated the peaceful picket, said the affected landowners have not received any form of compensation since their 473 hectares of land were taken in 2002 for the cultivation of oil palm plantation.
“The picket is held as the affected landowners wanted to show their dissatisfaction to the company over the non-payment of the compensation,” he told reporters today in front of the company’s office where the picket took place.
Bill claimed that the land was given to the company for the development of the estate through their community leaders.
“Their land was taken in 2002 as they trusted their community leaders. They are unable to take the matter to court as they could not afford the legal fee.
“It will be a long process if brought to court. Moreover the court has no purview on native land,” he said.
Bill added that if the company, as a reputable organisation that honours and respects the rights of native land in accordance with the United Nations declaration of right of the indigenous people to be in charge and have authority on their own land, must agree to a dialogue with the affected landowners.
He also informed that the landowners have lodged three police reports with two in Selangau and one in Mukah over the matter.
“We will write another letter to the company. If it still does not respond, we will stage another picket with a police permit,” he said. — DayakDaily
