The Rainforests of Malaysia
World renowned for itsU genetic diversity the rainforests
of Malaysia, some of the oldest on earth,
are experiencing one of the worldUs fastest growing rates of
deforestation. Nearly two-thirdTs of the
rainforests in the east Malaysian state of Sarawak have
been licensed for logging. The rainforests of
Sarawak alone account for 35 percent of the worldUs raw
log exports.
Deforestation is taking a heavy toll. Streams and rivers
once plentiful with fish and used as a
means of transport are clogged with silt. Wild game, sage
palm and other animals, plants and
insects are disappearing - along with the native peoples
known as the Dayak - at an alarming rate.
The Dayak: Indigenous People of the Rainforest
RIf they continue to extract logs and timber from our
forest, our lives will wither like leaves on
the trees, like fish without water.S Chief Along Seaga,
leader of the Penan
Deforestation threatens the survival of native peoples
such as the Dayak tribes: Iban, Kelabit,
Kayan, Kengan and Penan who have lived for thousands of
years in the rainforests of what is known
today as the island of Borneo and Malaysia. A nomadic
people, the Penan have been forced out of
the rainforests by the Malaysian government into Rmodel
villages.S Fewer than 800 Penan live as
their ancestors did, and in their own words face extinction
in a matter of months.
Since 1987, more than 340 Dayak have been arrested for
erecting peaceful barricades to save their
forest homeland at logging sites in Sarawak, Malaysia.
About 400 Penan are currently blockading
logging sites at Long Ajengin, Sarawak. The Penan have
made international appeals for donations
of rice to keep themselves and their children alive during
the non-violent blockade. The Malaysian
government has prevented local non-governmental
organizations from bringing food supplies to the
peaceful blockaders at Long Napir and Long San, Sarawak.
The Global Timber Market
RWe get too much rainfall in Sarawak. It stops me playing
golf.S Datak Amar James Wong,
SarawakUs Minister of Environment and Tourism, 1988.
International agencies and lending institutions like the
UNUs Food and Agricultural Organization
and the World Bank funnel billions of dollars to countries
within tropical regions which finance the
destruction of the rainforests and the extinction of native
people like the Dayak. The Japanese invest
millions of dollars for equipment and logging roads in
Sarawak then buy up 90 percent of the timber
logged from these rainforests.
The political system of Malaysia is dominated by
international companies and local elites.
Regional politicians control logging concessions that are
mainly divided up among global
conglomerates who then supply the NorthTs demand for
rainforest timber in North America, Japan
and Europe. The Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tan Sri Taib, his
family and political cronies control
nearly 4 million acres of logging concessions, roughly one-
third of all rainforest land under contract,
estimated to be worth $4 billion dollars.
SOS Sarawak 8
RWe appeal to you to help us stop these timber companies
that cause so much trouble to our
lives. If they disappear from our lands, only then will we be
happy.S Quote from an international
appeal for help which carried the witnessed thumbprints of
51 Penan and Kelabit.
Responding to the appeals made by the peopleUs of the
rainforest, eight global citizens chained
themselves to cranes on log barges July 5, 1991 at Kuala
Baram, Sarawak halting the offloading of
rainforest logs for over 8 hours.
After surrendering peacefully to local police, the eight
were detained in Miri jail for two days then
transferred to Lambir state prison and held for two weeks
without legal representation prior to their
July 18th trial. Five of the eight plead guilty to criminal
trespass and received 60 day sentences as
an example to other Rforeigners who wish to interfere with
the internal affairs of Sarawak.S The
other three plead not guilty and await their trial July 30
and 31.
The group of eight known as the SOS Sarawak 8 because
their actions were in response to a call
for help from the indigenous people of Sarawak are:
Anja Light, Sweden, not guilty, who went on a two week
hunger strike, RIC/ Earth First!
Australia
Angie Zelter, UK, not guilty, Earth First! UK
Carsten Huettche, Germany, not guilty, Robin Wood
Germany
Jake Burbridge, UK, 50 days, Earth First! UK
Jake Kreilick, US, 60 days, Earth First! US
Deborah Witkin, US, 60 days, Independent US
Ralf Schmitt, Germany, 60 days, Robin Wood Germany
Nancy Rolfe, Australia, 60 days, Earth First! Australia
International Call To Action
RTropical deforestation, the extinction of species and the
plight of indigenous peoples are global
issues that transcend political boundaries.S SOS Sarawak 8
As global citizens, we petition the Prime Minister of
Malaysia:
To place an immediate moratorium on tropical timber
trade from primary forests;
To recognize in law, the traditional land rights, culture
and human rights of the indigenous Dayak
tribes: the Penan,
Iban, Kelabit, Kayan and Kengan;
To protect in law, the worldUs oldest remaining
rainforests in Malaysia;
To allow non-governmental organizations to distribute
food to people who are peacefully
blockading logging sites in
Malaysia;
To immediately and unconditionally release the SOS
Sarawak 8 and all other rainforest prisoners
held in Malaysia.
Write to:
Prime Minister of Malaysia Chief Minister of Sarawak
Dr. Mahathin bin Mohammed YAB Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi
Prime MinisterUs Office Abd. Taib Mahmud
Jalan Dato Oun 50480 Chief MinisterUs Office
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Bangunan Tunknu
Abd. Rahman Putra
Petra Jaya, 93503
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Write & Call:
Sen Max Baucus Rep. Pat Williams
US Senate US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
(202) 224-2651 1-800-332-6177
(406) 329-3123 (406) 549-5550
TO HELP THE DAYAK AND THE SARAWAK 8 CONTACT:
US SOS SARAWAK 8 COMMITTEE
C/O COLD MT, COLD RIVERS
PO BOX 7941, MISSOULA, MT 59807
(406) 549-7632