FARMERS AND OTHERS IN RICE FIELDS BEATING OUT RATS; RATS BEING KILLED; FARMERS WITH DEAD RATS; RATS IN FISH TRAP.




Initials MJS/VS/DB/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AT KOTA BELUD, A REMOTE TOWN IN MALAYSIAN SABAH, A WAR IS BEING FOUGHT. ONE SIDE IS AN ARMY OF SABAH RICE FARMERS; THEIR ENEMY: THOUSANDS OF RATS. AND THE WAR IS A WAR FOR SURVIVAL.

THE RATS HAVE BEEN PLAGUEING THE REGION SINCE LAST MONTH. RECENT BUSHFIRES ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE DRIVEN THEM FROM THEIR NORMAL JUNGLE HABITAT. SO FAR THEY HAVE DESTROYED FIFTEEN ACRES OF MATURING CROPS. POISON AND INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS FAILED TO STOP THE RODENTS. FACING POSSIBLE FAMINE IF THE RAMPAGE CONTINUED UNCHECKED, THE FARMERS ENLISTED THE HELP OF ALL THE LOCAL PEOPLE, EVEN SCHOOL-CHILDREN, IN AN ALL-OUT DRIVE TO BRING IT TO A RAPID CONCLUSION.

GROUPS OF BEATERS DRIVE THE RATS OUT OF THE RICE-CROPS WITH STICKS, AND THEN KILL THEM AS THEY TRY TO ESCAPE. ANOTHER METHOD IS TO DRIVE THEM INTO A STREAM WHERE THEY ARE CAUGHT IN BAMBOO FISH TRAPS. SINCE THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN OVER 3,000 RATS HAVE BEEN KILLED, BUT FOR THE FARMERS OF SABAH, THE BATTLE WILL ONLY BE OVER WHEN THE LAST RAT IS CAUGHT.