United Nations rep visits Kaiduan village

PENAMPANG - United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter yesterday visited Kg Terian, which is one of the villages that will be inundated should the Kaiduan Dam project proceed.

Schutter was on a visit with two other delegate members of the UN to understand how the
Kaiduan Dam project will affect the communities in Ulu Papar, or more specifically, their right to food, whether or not there has been or will be any human rights violation concerning food resources.

“I’m here to understand the situation that is developing on the ground, by speaking to the communities, listening to their testimonies will help expand my understanding of the issues,” said Schutter, when met at the session at Kg Terian, here yesterday, in a visit which included Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) members from across Malaysia.



The visit was also part of JOAS’ quarterly coordination meeting, attended by four JOAS members from West Malaysia, seven from Sarawak, and six from Sabah.

Schutter disclosed that prior to the site visit, he had spoken to various agencies of the state government as well as those of the federal government.

“And it’s very useful for me to conduct these visits and also get the views of the communities first-hand.”

Schutter revealed that his preliminary conclusions will be delivered on December 18, at the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, and later to the UN Human Rights Council, of which Malaysia has been a member for the past six years, in Geneva, on March 10, 2014.

“I think that the UN human rights system is a broad system but usually functions from Geneva and New York, and that is not very effective.

“It’s much more effective to be in the countries concerned, to meet with the grassroot communities who have never travelled to Geneva and New York themselves, and see the context in which they interact with the authority,” he told reporters when asked as to why he felt the visit was important.

During the visit, Schutter, who communicated via language translation by former SUHAKAM commissioner, Jenny Lasimbang, had asked the communities of Terian, Buayan, Pongobonon, Timpayasa, Tiku, Babagon Laut on their knowledge of the Kaiduan Dam updates.

Communities from the other two villages that will be affected by the mega dam project, Longkogungan and Kalanggaan, could not make it to the event as it would take them five hours of travelling by foot to Terian.

Member of the Task Force Against Kaiduan Dam, Mary Giun, answered on behalf of the communities how they have been left in the dark about the issue, which was supported by the communities present.

Meanwhile, Jenny Lasimbang expressed hope that the site visit would get the attention of the Malaysian government and make them listen to the voices of the indigenous communities, specifically those who will be affected by the Kaiduan Dam project.

“For me, I think the site visit is good and I hope that the government will take note of the upcoming report from the Special Rapporteur, which will hopefully highlight the issues pertaining to the rights of the indigenous communities.

“It’s special that the UN has created a mandate like this, that they can go and visit and advise governments. Malaysia is part of the UN Human Rights Council. So this kind of mandate is important to remind the government that they are part of it and if they care for human rights, it will be shameful for us Malaysians not to take their duties and responsibilities accordingly,” she said.

She added that the Malaysian government should also invite other special mandate-holders like Schutter, on the right to various issues related to the indigenous people.

Supporting the delegates on the visit yesterday was Moyog assemblyman, Terence Siambun and his crew, who provided four-wheel drive transportation for the visit. Also present were members of Persatuan Anak Negeri Sabah (PANSA), and PACOS Trust.

The current proposal to construct the RM2.8 billion mega Kaiduan Dam project threatens to directly submerge an area of 12 km sq, consisting of six villages, and would result in the gazetting of approximately 350 km sq as a water catchment reserve.

The flooding of the 12 km sq will cover fruit and vegetable gardens, rice mills and rice fields, and forest areas rich in biodiversity, traditional hunting and foraging areas that have been critical sources of food for the communities within Ulu Papar, Penampang.

Hence, the Kaiduan Dam will also threaten the right to food for approximately 1,400 indigenous Dusun community members of Ulu Papar, Penampang, since a large majority of the people in this area are subsistence farmers, relying principally on hill rice, animals and freshwater fish, as well as gathering of forest products for their daily needs, threatening their traditional production and consumption practices.

The task force urged the government to take immediate action to reconsider alternative means of improving clean water supply accessibility in Sabah, in a way which does not directly threaten the Ulu Papar communities’ right to food.

BP