The lackadaisical attitude of some enforcement agencies towards human rights workshops could see the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) turning to the courts to ensure attendance.

Commissioner Prof Hamdan Adnan said today he has discovered that these agencies do not even bother to send representatives for such workshops.

And if push comes to shove, he warned that the commission might have to twist their arms by seeking a court action.

"Suhakam can even go to the court and get a subpoena to require them to attend. We will do that if it comes to that," he said.

The commissioner told this to malaysiakini when speaking on Suhakam's upcoming one-day workshop for enforcement agencies in Miri, Sarawak, next month. The workshop will aim to create awareness on enforcement and human rights.

Contamination claim

In another development, Suhakam will go to the ground to investigate if a company behind an agro-tourism project near an Iban longhouse in Sarawak is using 'poison' on trees and contaminating the villagers drinking water source.

According to Hamdan, the visit would take place in mid-February.

Villagers from the 95-door Ruman Rayong in Bakong, about 40 km from Miri, have complained that the developer is using a poison, known locally as jelait , on the trees to prevent termite attacks.

They also claimed that many of the villagers who had come into contact with the contaminated water are suffering from skin irritation.

A retired senior agricultural officer told malaysiakini that jelait , which is a yellowish substance, can do more harm than just causing skin irritation and therefore should not be used.

"It is, of course, poison, although not as poisonous as agent orange. It is like paraquat which is now banned. It is better not to come into contact with it," he added.

The longhouse dwellers have so far not been able to obtain a court injunction to stop the company from carrying on with its work.

Some villagers who had tried to stop construction work have even been arrested, according to a report received by Suhakam from representatives of the longhouse.

Compensation promise

Recently, Bidayuh villagers in Raso I and II between Bau and Lundu, about 40 km from Kuching, managed to stop a logging company from continuing its operations on Native Customary Land (NCL), after Suhakam intervened.

The company had also promised compensation for fruit trees, especially engkabang (illepenut) trees that were fell.

"We are monitoring whether the company is keeping its promise (to compensate). We prefer they deal with the whole community rather than one or two villagers," said Hamdan.

The commissioner said he was disappointed with the attitude of some government officials who appeared to think that some can be above the law in Sarawak.

In dealing with NCL issues, especially encroachments from outsiders whether in the form of logging or plantation activities, he said everyone must follow the law.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.