MIRI: Seventy-six villagers from Kampung Long Bedian led by their headman, Leslie Lah Anyie, held a press conference at Dynasty Hotel here yesterday clarifying that they were not involved in a recent blockade of a logging road near their settlement.
Leslie said those who put up the blockade comprised a small number of the villagers who became frustrated after their requests for jobs with the logging company were rejected.
“They also demanded more payment of commission from the company,” he said.
He disclosed that in an agreement between the company and villagers in 2017, two payments amounting to RM119,983.90 and RM216,763.30 were made by the company on March 21 and Aug 3 last year.
Although the payments were made, those involved in the blockade continued to ask for more money.
Last Monday, officers from the Forestry Department arrested 11 men (including a former community leader) aged between 35 and 55 when they sat on the road to block it.
All of them were released on Tuesday.
The blockade began on Sept 26 last year aimed at preventing logging trucks from leaving the area which they claimed is their native customary rights (NCR) land.
