The Ulu Niah land dispute has been going on since the 1980’s. This dispute turned violent in September of 1999 when a clash between employees of the Sarawak Oil Palm contractor and villagers defending their customary rights clashed. It ended with the deaths of four of the workers. Eleven men from two Iban communities, Rumah Busang and Rumah Bali, were arrested for the murders. Six were acquitted and out of the remaining five, four of them were eventually freed. Jalen Antom, the remaining Ulu Niah Iban from Rumah Bali, was given a reduced charge. He was convicted of culpable homicide in September 2001. Jalen Antom, reportedly 87 years old, has appealed to the Court of Appeals of Malaysia. Mr. Antom requires constant medical attention and treatment due to an increasing number of health problems. The application says he should be able to get out on bail in order to obtain full and complete medical attention and treatment. Malaysian law stipulates that a person in prison can be released on bail if the court determines the reasons are just.
