2.6. Sogit
We believe that Sogit is a custom that gives balance to a violation of
customary law. When there is a violation of customary law, we believe
nature and humans will undergo a situation of 'heat' (fights,
unpredictable weather, crop failure, sickness). Therefore, we believe
Sogit is needed to cool or calm down the 'hot' situation. Usually Sogit will
be imposed according to the level of violation of customary laws and
taboos by the individual. For example, the form of Sogit imposed will be
one chicken for minor violations, a pig for moderate violations and a
buffalo for heavy violations.
3. Dusun Kiau Forest Management System
The Kiau Community Conserved Forest was the main hunting grounds for
villagers from Kiau before it was gazetted as part of Kinabalu Park in 1964
and then excised in the 1980s when the Kinabalu Park boundaries were
revised. Kiau villagers had appiled for Native titles in phases with the Land
and Survey Department. Applications during the First Phase were
processes and several villagers managed to obtain the title. However,
land applications during the Second Phase were frozen because the area
had been declared as a water catchment. In 2001, the Kiau community
through the Kiau Nuluh Village Community Organization, GOMPITO, had
unanimously decided to make the 1,204 acre area a Community
Conserved Forest Area for Kiau Nuluh/Bersatu.
3.1. Dusun Kiau Community Organization
The establishment of the Community Conserved Forest was motivated by
the need to protect the forest from encroachment and deterioration, and
also by the interest to revive our forest practices and customs. The
community forest is divided into three zones by the community: tourism
zone, research zone and forest Tagal or Bombon zone (which will be
decided together by the community). Together with the community
organization GOMPITO, our community monitors activities in the forest
12 | D u s u n K i a u C o m m u n i t y P r o t o c o l