By Pak Bui (Hornbill Unleashed)
The government has finally admitted that vulnerable Sarawakians have been raped by logging workers in Baram. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development caved in to demands by NGOs and the electronic media.
Malaysian civil society has been clamouring for justice for nearly a year. As a result, the Ministry released its National Taskforce report to PKR Women’s Chief Zuraida Kamaruddin this week.
Our wealthy logging companies behave as if they are kings in rural parts of Sarawak. Rape is an expression of power over the victim as much as it is a crime of passion or lust. Therefore it is no surprise to learn that schoolgirls as young as 10 years old have been molested, abducted and raped by loggers.
These loggers carry out these crimes because they can.
They exploit, torture and humiliate Penan girls, and girls from other rural Dayak communities, because they feel invincible.
Feeling invincible
The rapists know their victims live far from towns and have little recourse to protection or justice from the police.
The rapists are aware that most teachers in the rural schools have been posted there against their will, from distant places. Most would avert their eyes if there are any signs of sexual abuse of their students. Most rural teachers do not want to rock the boat. Instead, they yearn only to complete their “tour of duty” in the ulu and return to their homes in Peninsular Malaysia, without creating any fuss.
The rapists see that the Department of Education has not provided transportation for poor rural students, even those living several days’ walk from their schools. The rapists observe that the Education Department has not pursued action against teachers who have sexually exploited children in Sarawak in the past. Why should loggers fear the Education Department, when teachers involved in sexual exploitation of minors are merely transferred to other schools?
The rapists know that many village chiefs or Tua Kampung are on the payroll of the timber and plantation companies. The rapists understand that many village chiefs have been cowed by threats from timber companies, the companies’ hired thugs, or the companies’ Big Brother, the Sarawak Government. Such village leaders will not act to protect victims of sexual exploitation.
The rapists feel secure in the knowledge that even when police reports are made, as in the cases of “Cindy” and “Bibi” described in the Ministry’s report, Bukit Aman and the Sarawak Police will sit on the reports and do nothing.
Marudi Police Chief DSP Jonathan Jalin, for example, insulted the victims of these sex crimes, when he said police “investigated” reports by asking timber camp workers and schoolteachers whether such crimes had taken place. The loggers and teachers said no, and the police looked no further.
The rapists rejoice in the lopsided coverage given by the local Sarawak press in favour of the logging companies. After all, timber conglomerates own these newspapers. The local press will publish “stories” to support logging workers, boasting how loggers have “assisted” in transporting villagers, even though the entire world knows schoolgirls are raped when they hitch rides, and companies dismantle roads and bridges after they have removed all the valuable timber they can.
The rapists congratulate one another, because the Sarawak government will continue to defend logging and plantation companies against all criticism. State luminaries such as Deputy Chief Ministers Alfred Jabu and George Chan, and Land Minister James Masing, have tried to cast doubt on reports of starvation, or rape of schoolgirls in rural areas.
Alfred Jabu and Housing Minister Abang Johari have claimed the Penan are being manipulated by foreigners. These local champions imply that the Penan cannot tell for themselves that logging companies have contributed to the hunger the Penan are suffering, and the sexual abuse visited on Penan schoolgirls.
James Masing was even quoted as saying the Penan are “good storytellers.” What does this make our State BN leaders?
Read more at: http://hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/3823/
written by Jbao, September 11, 2009 11:45:37
written by Foong, September 11, 2009 11:46:21
written by Liberace, September 11, 2009 12:25:48
written by Century Patriot, September 11, 2009 12:56:40
This decade is the worst in term of efficiency of the PDRM except corruption! If you don’t know how to investigate, outsource your investigation there will be many volunteers for FREE. Stupid morons.
written by verifunny, September 11, 2009 15:01:06
"The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development caved in to demands by NGOs and the electronic media."
This statement shows that the administration needs to be forced to do their job well.
The chief Minister claimed that the raping are just lies. Also indicates to you that they need Rakyat to tell him how to do his job well.
The polis are asking for more evidences instead of seriously taking care of the issue. Also indication that Rakyat needs to tell them how to do their job well.
What evidences do you still need to convince you that the history book needs a dramatic and happy event.
Join the RIGHT opposition parties and give them the support.
Vote down all the parties that have been in the system for so long.
