About three weeks ago, a media release by non-governmental organization Bruno Manser Foundation (BMF) brought to light a long-held concern of the sexual abuse of Penan women. The Swiss group charged that workers from two timber companies were preying on Penan women in the various settlements within the companies’ operation areas, and targeting female students who relied on the companies’ transportation service to get to school. Students from middle Baram are boarders in secondary schools in the interior towns of Long Lama dan Long San, which could take up to a week to travel on foot from their villages.
According the media report, a visit to several villages reveals that prevalence of sexual abuse since the advent of commercial logging. Village leaders who readily air their grouses of hardship brought by logging are hesitant to talk about the sexual exploitation by workers from nearby logging camps.
The following are the quotes uttered sadly from the vulnerable Penan elders:
“We complained to the camp manager. He assured us that they would take action against their men but we’re still suffering”
“They become bold after several drinks and will coax our boys to bring them to houses with young women or girls, or they bring along instant noodles and persuade the victims to cook them a meal on the pretext that they have not had dinner. They then hang around and wait for chance to strike after other occupants of the house turn in for the night”
“If we don’t send our children to school, we are blamed. But providing them transportation is beyond our ability. We are at the mercy of the timber companies. We have to beg them to ferry our children to the secondary schools which are far away”
In response to the issue of the sexual crimes against young Penan girls which has been in the news of late, readers like me are left infuriated. I couldn’t agree more with those calling the relevant ministries, NGO and the public to take immediate action. The situation has become intolerable and should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet any longer.
Horrifying that such incidents have been taken place since 1996 and far worse they claimed that their complaints to the authorities have taken on deaf ears.
The Penan community are helpless and now with their way of life taken away from them as their daughters, sisters and closest people are being sexually abused. They have feelings and they have the right to be safe from harm and be treated with dignity.
I hope the relevant ministries, NGO and the public will take appropriate action to protect the interests of this vulnerable people group in Sarawak.
Bear in mind, act now or be forever guilty in our moral blunder..
1 comment:
My Dear Friend..
Media Asing Yang Celupar..
Peranan media dalam masyarakat begitu penting. Media merupakan agen pembangunan dan juga penyebar segala maklumat untuk masyarakat. Namun harus kita ingat, segala maklumat yang disampaikan itu hendaklah tepat dan berasas. Bukan sekadar andaian semata-mata. Baru-baru ini, media asing telah melebelkan bahawa gadis kaum penen telah diperkosa oleh pekerja-pekerja balak di Sarawak. Adakah dogengan ini benar atau sandiwara asing yang mahukan kestabilan politik di sarawak tergugaan tidak dapat. Kita sebagai penerima maklumat harus sedar dan tidak seharusnya menerima bulat-bulat cerita yang disiarkan oleh media asing. Boleh dikatakan mereka ini terlalu celupar dan sibuk untuk menjaga tepi kain orang sedangkan negara sendiri kucar- kacir.
Post a Comment