Leader of Penan blockade arrested by police

UNEASY: A photo taken by protestors at the dam site and sent to SCANE chairman Raymond Abin shows a group of police men facing off against the protestors at the Murum dam site yesterday morning. — Photos courtesy of Raymond Abin

KUCHING: Police arrested Ngang Buling, chairman of the Peleiran Murum Penan Affairs Committee (PEMUPA), who led the blockade mounted by about 300 Penans at the site of the Murum dam yesterday morning.

The leader of a blockade mounted by 300 Penans at the Murum dam in Sarawak was arrested by police yesterday morning amidst chaotic scenes.

Ngang Buling was bundled into a police vehicle and driven away. Police have not given any reason for Ngang's arrest.

The Borneo Post reported that police were forced to fire a shot in the air when Penans involved in the blockade attempted to prevent Ngang's apprehension.

Sarawak Conservation Alliance of Natural Environment (SCANE) chairman Raymond Abin confirmed that the police vehicle bearing Ngang was driven to Belaga town where he is expected to be detained at the district police headquarters for the next few days.

About 30 policemen were sent to the Murum dam where they were confronted by about 300 Penan protesters dissatisfied with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB).

The blockade had been triggered by the "unannounced" impoundment of the Murum Dam by SEB. Penan and Kenyah communities who live in six villages in the vicinity of the dam had been caught off guard by the impoundment.

The communities of the six villages were in the midst of negotiations for compensation with the SEB when the dam was impounded. The Borneo Project reported that the Penans are demanding that SEB close the flood gates as the six villages, home to 1,500 people, will be flooded within a year at the current rate.

Meanwhile, the Swiss-based Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) has called for Ngang's immediate release and asked the government to intervene in the matter. "Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should intervene with the Sarawak state government and halt the Murum dam impoundment until a decent solution has been reached," BMF said in a statement.