Global action to protect Papar River

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PENAMPANG: Communities from several villages here joined hands yesterday to erect a stone at the banks of the Papar River as part of a global action and to send a strong signal that a proposal to build a dam for water supply would adversely impact their lives.

Villagers and NGOs celebrating the International Day of Action against Dams and for Rivers, Waters and Life event at the Papar River. The newly erected monument is in the foreground.

Close to a hundred people gathered at Botung Luluba, about an hour by road from here, to renew their sense of solidarity at the 14th annual International Day of Action against Dams and for Rivers, Waters and Life event which was held in 27 nations on March 14.

The action is coordinated by International Rivers, an international NGO that supports community efforts worldwide to protect rivers and to gain meaningful participation in the decision making process.

The communities of Kampung Bisuang and Kampung Kaiduan which will be affected should the Kaiduan dam be built, organised the local event with support from the Task Force Against Kaiduan Dam.

The day started with villagers and members of several NGOs including Partners of Community Organisations (Pacos), Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) and Indigenous Peoples’ Network of Malaysia (JOAS), selecting a large stone to erect a monument.

Participants then collected small river stones to mark in the sand the words “Hormati Sungai Kita” (Honour Our Rivers), the theme for the global celebration.

Kampung Bisuang Tagal (community-based fisheries management system) Committee head Joannes Jikuil said villagers along the upper reaches of the Papar River were worried about plans to construct a dam for Kota Kinabalu’s water supply.

“Although nothing much has been said recently, we are concerned that the project may proceed.

“Our lives depend on the river. This is where we catch fish, and though some of us have gravity feed water systems, we still use the river for cooking and drinking.

“There are many types of fish here, with the most famous being pelian. We also have two types of prawns here,” he said.

He also touched on the need for villagers to understand the importance of keeping their river clean and free of pollution.

Sabah Fisheries Department Papar district head Mohd Tahir Ahmad who attended the programme with several staff, said there were six tagal initiatives along the Papar River, and attributed the success of the system to villagers.

He said the community-based fisheries management system, which includes zoning to close parts of the river for fish harvesting during certain periods, has allowed villagers to continuously get food supply.

“At one time, the fish here were just a few inches long, and now we have pelian that reach the length of an adult’s arm. This is the benefit of the tagal system and we are pleased that villagers have worked hard for the project,” Mohd Tahir said.

Meanwhile, Taskforce Against Kaiduan Dam head Nousi Giun explained that the proposed dam at Ulu Papar would cause the river to become shallow.

“Sea water will start to seep in, and this will have an impact on our padi fields, fish farms and the quality of the water.

“The whole tagal system that villagers have worked so hard for would be destroyed,” he said.