ORANG Asli activists battling plantations in Gua Musang, Kelantan have put up another blockade on a dirt road in Kuala Betis after a similar one was torn down two weeks ago.

The new blockade at Kaleg, which consists of metal and wooden rods across the road, has reignited tensions with locals who are believed to be working at the plantation.

Kelantan Indigenous Peoples Network (JKOAK) chief Mustafa Along said the Kaleg blockade was put up again at midnight on August 16 by the same activists behind the first one.

The new blockade was at the same location as the old one which was destroyed by chainsaw-wielding men on August 4.

“At 4.40pm today, five four-wheel drives rode up to the blockade. Going by their accents, we think they were villagers from Kuala Betis,” Mustafa told The Malaysian Insight when contacted.

The men were believed to be carrying equipment used in timber latex clone and durian plantations surrounding the Temiar tribe’s settlements in Pos Tohoi.

After being stopped from continuing the journey, several men got down from three vehicles and lifted the pole blocking the road, according to a video taken by the JKOAK activists.  

The men pushed aside the activists manning the blockade and were able to drive two of the pickups through.

“The activists did not put a fight. No one was hurt,” said Mustafa.

The other three vehicles did not force their way through and returned to Kuala Betis.

The activists have been embroiled in a conflict with loggers and planters over land rights to forests the community claims as their customary land.

The stand offs have led to blockades and tense confrontations between activists and loggers and planters for access to the rich forests of Ulu Kelantan.

The Temiar in Gua Musang claimed that loggers and plantation companies have destroyed their communal land which is their source of food, clean water, medicine and is critical to their identity and religion.

The problem lies in the fact that the Kelantan government does not recognise the Temiar’s claims on customary land in Gua Musang, thus allowing it to be encroached by outsiders.

The federal government has pledged to begin talks with Kelantan and the Orang Asli to resolve competing claims between the planters, the state government and the community. – August 17, 2018.