NABAWAN: The people in the district expressed deep regret that personnel of the Wildlife Department enforcement unit brandished firearms when they raided and confiscated meat of hunted animals being sold openly at the tamu.
District chief OKK Sayau Tangkap said it was not necessary for the enforcement personnel to brandish their firearms when conducting the raid.
He said that he had received complaints from residents and some angry butchers on the actions of the enforcement personnel.
Sayau said the enforcement personnel should conduct themselves in a more professional manner.
He also said that it was not appropriate for the enforcement personnel to raid the butchers and seize their meat because it was not established if it was obtained from the prohibited forest or the forest near their village.
“We do not rue the department’s enforcement unit’s action if they make arrest and detain fugitive hunters caught in the act of hunting wildlife illegally. However, when the hunted animal meat has been put on sale, do not act as such,” he told reporters here yesterday.
The actions of the department’s enforcement unit, according to the district chief, could evoke passion and anger among the people in this area, particularly the Muruts, and feared that it could lead to bloodshed if the parties concerned do not deal with it wisely.
Therefore, he said it is imperative that the parties concerned, especially law enforcement, should take the necessary steps to resolve the problem.
“If no action is taken by the law enforcement department, then custom practitioners in this area may take action in accordance with their custom, as such actions by the department’s enforcement unit violated the community custom in this area,” he said.
Sayau added he would not take sides if action is imposed on them based on the existing laws.