Gaucho part 2

Ok, this is unrelated to the previous post even though it has the same title. It’s about something else altogether. In fact, I could just change the title to a more relevant one but I can’t be bothered. Besides, I’m horning my skills in imitating my beloved Bolehland ministers’ budding enthusiasm in fooling the public these days. Don’t marah, ah…

I was reading this newspaper article yesterday which reported on a dialog session between the Penan community and some “foreign trade representatives”. I don’t really know the exact purpose of the dialog but I guess it’s a noble attempt *koff*koff* by the “foreign trade representatives” to understand the Penan and their fondness of reasons for erecting the blockades. Or so they say. Now, after reading the newspaper article - and actually thinking about it! - my mind roams into my internal wilderness of stupidity. First, I think the dialog session was lopsided, favoring the organizers in shutting out any complaints from the community for the “foreign trade representatives” to hear. Oh, and the dialog was carried out with the Penan of Batu Bungan located in Mulu National Park, listed by UNESCO as one of the world’s many World Heritage areas. How convenient. What about the other Penan communities that are directly and currently affected by the unscrupulous logging activities for decades? Why not have dialog with them? Or is it another cunning tactic to divert the attention of the “foreign trade representatives” away from the real issue?

Batu Bungan

Also, I can’t understand some of the things written in the paper. For instance, an excerpt of this statement below:

Okay, let me get this right. This Penan guy said that they do blockade because they “need to protect the source of their food supply…”, which is fine by me. But in the next paragraph, he said that some of them were “used by some parties, especially environmentalists, to go against the government by erecting blockades…” I just can’t see the connection, really. Okay, so is it the community’s wish that they set up the blockades to protect their food sources? Or did they erect blockades because they were told to do so by “some parties”? Is this a case of bad reporting or the Penan guy interviewed did not know what he’s saying? Or was he *ahem* paid to say these things? Blockade is a big thing, y’know. It’s a symbol of resistance against the breaching of their native customary rights and forced intrusion into their territory with the purpose of exploiting their natural resources. And this fellow did not even know what he was saying? First, he says that they erected the blockade to prevent the kompeni from destroying their food sources. Of course, the article did not specifically mention the blockade was to prevent the kompeni from entering their area but seriously folks, for what other purpose do the Penan erect the blockade? To prevent Godzilla Doraemon from entering? And then, he somehow blamed “some parties” for using them to go against the gomen. What is this la?

I is sik paham…

Gaucho

I don’t have much to say about this. This is sad. First, we had Rivaldo. Then, Ronaldo. Both were flops at Milan. Both breached their contracts in their previous clubs to join Milan. Both were passed their heydays. Both were jaded while at Milan. And now…oh, god…Ronaldinho?! Do Milan really need him? I know I don’t. I can feel a storm brewing in the dressing room.