Dutch Govt bans Sarawak Logs

26 Oct 2011

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR today warned the state government of the seriousness of the logs ban imposed by the Dutch government if the state continues not to comply with the conditions of the international timber certification and trade regulations.

Other European countries may follow suit, See Chee How, state PKR vice-chairman said.

“Although the European countries only import about 2% of timber from Sarawak, the consequences of ignoring the conditions for sustainable forest management would be far worse than we can imagine,” he said.

“We do not see the impact now, but in the long run we will suffer,” he added, pointing out that PKR supports sustainable forest management.

See, who is the Batu Lintang assemblyman, said that he would raise the matter in next month meeting of the state legislative assembly.

He said most of Sarawak logs go to Japan which accounts for 38%, India 12%, Taiwan 10% and Korea 9% and the rest to America, other Asian and European countries.

“Such ban will affect timber exports from these countries as the finished products such as furniture will be traced coming from Sarawak,” he said.

“The EU will certainly ban those products later on,” said See.

The assemblyman who is also a lawyer and activist was asked to comment on the ban of logs by the Dutch government.

He said that the state government’s regulations governing forestation were well below world standards.

It does not respect the rights of the natives as well as respecting the decisions of the courts which uphold the rights of the natives over land.

The environmental impact assessments (EIA) in Sarawak are inadequate to assess sustainability and no guarantee can be given that Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) certified forests do not disappear for other land uses such as plantations.

“The government leaders are only interested to make as much money as possible through their cronies. They just ignore long term benefits at the expense of the natives’ rights,” he claimed.

Sarawak is one the world largest exporters of tropical timber. In 2008 alone, more than RM7.4 billion worth of timber products and logs were exported.

In 2009 the exports of timber went down to RM4.15 billion and picked up in 2010 to RM4.75 billion.

The timber exports this year have increased by 20% from the previous year due to higher demands from countries like Japan which suffered due to earthquakes.

It is expected that the value of timber exports may increase to more than RM5 billion by the year end.

Iban Natives mount blockades against logging company

SIMUNJAN SARAWAK: About 120 Iban natives including women from Kampung Ensika, Kampung Entanggor, Kampung Tungkah Iban, Kampung Arus Sebangan are in full force once again setting up blockades to defend their communal land and forest from being destroyed by a logging company Hock Tong Hin (forest licence Holder of T/5090) and its contractor Forest Wealt Sdn Bhd.

This is the second time they have set up blockades to save their communal forest. The previous blockade was made on 14th day September 2006 and subsequently a suit was filed in 2007 (Suit No 22-118-2007) against the same licencee (Hock Tong Hin) which then their contractor was Roundtree Timber Sdn Bhd. The case trial has been set on the 8th December 2009.

Their spokesman, Nicholas Mujah said he had made a police report on the incident at the Simunjan Police Station on 9th September 2009 and also lodged a complaint with the Sarawak Forest Corporation whom he believed is the authority entrusted by the government of the day to deal with logging thief in the state.

“I am very much saddened and of grave concern with no action by authorities to stop government’s assets and monies being stolen in a bright daylight,” he said, alleging suspicious collusion between the SFC especially SAPU section and the logging company.

Mujah further said that when he and colleagues went to SFC office at Serian on the 8th September 2009 to check the validity of the said logging operation, they met one man who later acknowledged himself from the logging concession T/5090. He was seen to really control the office (like just sitting all over the tables belonging to the corporation freely as if on our first glance he was the boss there).

Mujah said: “And when told that the man is the officer from the logging company I approached him about our complaint. He told me that he can only say that I have to refer my complaint to their head office in Kuching.”

Mujah, however met the officer in charge by the name of David Mohamad who took down his little statement. The said officer had promised to call him in a few days later while making arrangement for a transport for field investigation.

Until today the officer has not called to him, claimed Mujah.

Meanwhile at the blockade site the natives had successfully met the “mandor” and stopped the locomotive laden logs from removing them from the communal area.

The blockade is still going on for the third day running. The people are yet to meet the police as normally expected.

Nicholas also said that the people are determined to defend their land and forest even if there are arrests to be made by the police.

“I am already immune to this situation and I will face the authorities and challenged them in the court of justice if my people are harassed or intimidated,” he said. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com