Sunday, June 28, 2015

INCIDENT IN SARAWAK

Hardly  noticed   in Australia, this  recent  low key  demonstration opposite the   State  Legislative Assembly, Kuching ,was   the  subject of a  report in the Borneo  Post , the largest English  news  online  site in  that country. The group wants the government to pass a law or hold a referendum on the subject of returning  the  rights  of   people  to express  their  views .

A  spokesman for the group , which was  visited  by the Kuching police chief, said it is planned to hold  a  large march  on July 22  with  5000  taking  part,  made up  of  locals and  Sarawakians  from  Singapore, Kualu Lumpur and  Australia . Stickers like the one below,  obtained by  Little Darwin , have been appearing on taxi cabs, cars , motorbikes  and included in  T-shirt design . Authorities have said  there is no  concern  as  long as the group  does not  advocate  secession  from the Malaysian federation  or  overthrowal  of   the  government .
Public servants , including police and firemen  , have been warned they should  not  display the stickers  in  any way.

Over the years Sarawak experienced the Portuguese traders ,   100 years of rule by  the British  White Rajahs, the troubled period when it became  part of  the Malaysian federation which  sparked the confrontation with Indonesia.Most of its  lush rainforests have been logged  and  palm oil  plantations  set  up ; a huge  Chinese  hydroelectric dam also impacted  on  flora  and  fauna . Tourists are  taken  for fast boat trips  down waterways  which  seem   flanked by  rainforest. However, a closer  examination reveals  that it is a  narrow strip of remnant forest , clear felling as far as the eye can see  having  taken place .  
   
In 1992 the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) financed setting up the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sactuary in which there are  4000 orangutans . There are  moves to protect dugong and the Irrawaddy dolphin, both endangered  species.  Attempts are being made  to protect and rehabilitate Sarawak's ocean ecosystem , damaged  by  runoff ,   by  placing  artificial  reef  modules to  form new  habitats. NEXT:The Wikileaks of Sarawak  fights deforestation  of the country  and  numerous   allegations  of  massive  corruption involving  people in high  places  and  several countries,Swiss bank accounts..