By Editor NL Shikin Louis
By Shikin Louis
MIRI, July 3: Two Penan men who were arrested for allegedly obstructing enforcement officers from the Forest Department of Sarawak (FDS) in Telang Usan last Saturday (June 28) have been released from remand and are now out on bail pending further investigation鈥攁n outcome the Penan community of Long Tepen describes as a small but meaningful step towards justice.
In a statement today, FDS confirmed that the two suspects were released by the Magistrate after being held for four days to assist with investigations.
They are now temporarily bound under a bail bond issued by the Department.
The case is being investigated under Section 103(1) of the Forests Ordinance 2015 (Chapter 71), which pertains to obstruction or interference with forest officers, police, or public servants in the course of their official duties.
The suspects are also being investigated under Section 26 of the same Ordinance for trespassing into a Forest Reserve or Protected Forest.
鈥淭he alleged incident took place on June 28, 2025, in the Telang Usan district. Investigation papers will be submitted to the State Attorney-General鈥檚 Chambers for further legal action,鈥 the Department said.
Meanwhile, the Jawatankuasa Tanah Adat Sungai Pelutan has described the release of the two men as joyful news for the entire village of Long Tepen.
鈥淎s we know, the issue in Long Tepen has been going on for several months. There have been many discussions with the parties involved, but no good solution has come out of it,鈥 the committee said in a statement.
They stressed that the Penan people are not seeking conflict, but are simply demanding that their native customary rights (NCR) and identity as indigenous people be acknowledged and respected.
鈥淪ome people might think this protest is to bring someone down, but honestly, for the Penans, this is our last resort to fight for our rights and dignity, which have been stepped on,鈥 they added.
The committee also encouraged other indigenous communities across Sarawak facing similar struggles to remain strong in defending their ancestral land.
鈥淭his land is our heritage, passed down by our ancestors. Don鈥檛 be afraid to fight for what鈥檚 right and fair,鈥 they emphasised.
Previously, DayakDaily reported that the two men were arrested for allegedly assaulting and threatening forest officers during enforcement operations in Telang Usan on June 28.
In that earlier statement, FDS claimed that a group of individuals, including the two suspects, used force against enforcement personnel carrying out their duties.
The suspects allegedly assaulted and injured officers and issued verbal threats during the confrontation. A third suspect reportedly fled the scene and is still being sought by authorities.
However, in a separate statement dated June 30, the Jawatankuasa Tanah Adat Sungai Pelutan rejected those claims, asserting that the two men were unjustly detained and that the official narrative did not reflect the actual events.
The committee said the three men, including the two detainees, were resting by the roadside at Batu 12鈥攐ne of them en route to his village in Long Beluk after attending his father鈥檚 funeral, while the others were returning from Long Lama after sending a car for repairs.
鈥淭hey stopped to rest and look for a mobile signal. Not long after, a team of 11 officers from FDS and the police arrived in four vehicles. One officer asked what they were doing, and the men explained they were just taking a break,鈥 the committee wrote.
According to the villagers, a female forest officer suddenly ordered all three men to be detained without any explanation. The men were allegedly pushed and roughed up in the chaos that followed, with one of them sustaining scrapes on his knee while trying to flee. He reportedly witnessed the other two being arrested after a struggle.
鈥淭here was no provocation or threat made against the enforcement team during the incident,鈥 the committee asserted, claiming the allegations of obstruction and intimidation were baseless and likely fabricated to justify the arrests.
They also alleged that this was a case of misconduct and abuse of authority by the enforcement team.
The committee further pointed out that a dialogue session had been held on June 26 at the Telang Usan District Office involving FDS, the police, logging company representatives and protesting villagers. The meeting was meant to address community grievances over alleged breaches of logging agreements and sustainable forest management terms by the company鈥攏ot any direct conflict with the Forest Department.
鈥淭his is not a case of villagers attacking enforcement officers. It鈥檚 a deeper land dispute concerning logging activities on our native customary land,鈥 the statement concluded.
The case has reignited public attention on the long-standing tensions between indigenous communities and logging operations in northern Sarawak. 鈥 DayakDaily