News

Rising concerns about sexual abuse probe
Bruno Manser Fund worried about Malaysian authorities' handling of Penan sexual abuse cases
more

Papua New Guinea court deals blow to Malaysian timber group
Rimbunan Hijau forced to stop illegal logging in 800'000 - hectare concession
more

Malaysian Human Rights Commission to probe Penan rape claims
SUHAKAM will send a team to Sarawak next week to carry out investigations into the alleged sexual abuse of Penan women by logging company workers
more

New report slams Malaysian oil palm industry
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), a member of Friends of the Earth International, has released a report on the adverse impacts of the expansion of oil palm plantations in Sarawak
more

Penan stage blockade against Malaysian Interhill group
Protest highlights desperate situation of the rainforest communities in Sarawak's Middle Baram region
more

Penan women denounce sexual abuse by loggers (Updated)
Malaysian authorities and Human Rights Commmission announce probes
more

New problems for Samling in Guyana
Guyana Forestry Commission launches audit into Samling subsidiary's investment programme
more

Samling shares fall to new all-time low
Hong Kong Stock Exchange requests explanation from the Malaysian timber group
more

Sarawak government deposes Penan leaders
Malaysian authorities attempt to engineer the replacement of elected headmen by logging company stakeholders
more

Sarawak Chief Minister implicated in yet another timber scam
European Union asked to stall timber trade talks with Malaysia
more

Malaysian Human Rights Commission concerned over Sarawak dam projects
Stakeholder meeting to be organized in September 2008
more

Malaysian NGO calls for inquiry into logging, plantations in Sarawak
The Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) calls for a Royal Commission to investigate the logging and plantation industries
more

Sarawak Chief Minister irks activist over dams
Land rights lawyer See Chee How lauds the Bruno Manser Fund for disclosing Sarawak dam plans
more

Logging out the Penan
Australian journalist Paul Malone reports on his trip to research logging in the upper reaches of the Baram river in Borneo
more

Malaysian NGOs against plans for twelve new hydropower dams in Sarawak
Environmentalists are renewing calls for the Malaysian government to formulate a comprehensive energy policy
more

Dayak leadership stands up for Native Customary Rights
A senior Dayak minister spoke out about the insecurities the Dayaks in Sarawak are feeling regarding their lands
more

UNESCO seeks clarification on Sarawak dam project
UNESCO's World Heritage Centre requests Malaysian authorities to clarify hydropower plans at Gunung Mulu National Park
more

Angry native landowners act against Sarawak oil palm company
20 Iban longhouses cheated by "joint venture" oil palm plantations
more

Malaysian police ordered to clear Kenyah logging road blockade
Conflict between Samling corporation and indigenous communities in Sarawaks' Upper Baram region escalates
more

Leaked document details Sarawak's excessive hydropower plans
Malaysia's native communities doomed to pay the price for the production of export energy
more

Hunting, deforestation wipe out hornbill species in Borneo park
Biologist speaks out on drop in wildlife populations in Sarawak's Lambir Hills National Park
more

Malaysian government plans to turn a vast area of Borneo into rice paddies
Controversial plan might cause biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and social upheaval
more

New Sarawak dam project threatens rainforest communities
Surveying work for the proposed Limbang dam has started without proper information being given to the communities affected
more

Sarawak's Kayans protest land encroachment
New road blockade aims at preventing a plantation company from encroaching on native lands
more

Land rights dispute in UNESCO World Heritage site
In struggling for their land rights, the small Berawan community has launched a campaign to highlight their plight to tourists visiting the Mount Mulu National Park
more

International cry for indigenous land rights
An international fact-finding team has called on the government to recognise the indigenous people's native customary rights (NCR) to land and livelihood as it concluded its six-day-long mission in Sarawak.
more

Five Ibans arrested over oil palm dispute
Plaintiffs of land rights litigation against oil palm company Mega Jutamas Sdn Bhd arrested in Miri
more

Bruno Manser’s pictures are online
Unique documentation of one of the last nomadic rainforest peoples are globally accessible
more

Penan leader's body to be exhumed
The Malaysian police will exhume the remains of the late Kelesau Naan who was allegedly murdered
more

Iban villagers arrested for setting blockade
Natives to file complaint against illegally operating plantation company
more

Illegal logging: Further fines for Samling in Guyana
Samling's forest crimes raise doubts if investors were properly informed on risks related to the company's logging operations
more

Logging company official threatens Penan community
Death threat issued in context with Samling plantation project
more

Missing Penan chief found dead, suspected murdered
Penan file police report, suspect murder for political reasons
more

New global forest agreement depends on local support
UN General Assembly adopts non-legally binding forest agreement
more

International media report on Penan struggle
Following a Samling-organized journalists' trip to Sarawak, various media have carried reports on the Penan
more

Penan leader reported missing
Communities worried about loss of key witness in pending landrights claim
more

Sarawak native communities urgently ask for support
Logging giant Rimbunan Hijau to destroy Iban's native lands in Sarawak
more

Sarawak Police arrest Native Chief
Iban community leader in custody over oil palm plantation dispute
more

Samling fined for illegal logging in Guyana
Non-compliance with the Forest Act leads to sanctions against Samling subsidiary Barama Co. Ltd.
more

Guyana's Head of State condemns Samling
Malaysian timber giant plays leading role in Guyana's illegal logging scandal
more

"Give us your forest - and we'll give you a water pipe"
Logging giant, Samling Global, justifies the use of force against the Penan in Sarawak's last primeval rainforests
more

UN General Assembly adopts Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
After more than 20 years of intensive negotiations, the highest body of the UN system adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
more

Forest certifiers issue ultimatum to Malaysian timber giant
Samling will lose its MTCC certification unless the company resolves its conflict wit the blockading Penan by November 2007
more

Penan blockades in Middle and Upper Baram in Sarawak struggle to continue
Friends of the Earth Malaysia (SAM) call on the Federal and State Government to respect the rights of the Penans and ensure that the timber companies cease operations in their native territories.
more

Sarawak denies entry to NGO director
Dr Kua Kia Soong, director of SUARAM, a Malaysian human rights NGO, was denied entry for being on the "blacklist for involvement in anti-logging activities"
more

Marginalised Penans fighting for survival
The Penan community of Ulu Belaga, Sarawak, no longer has any legal avenue to claim their rights over ancestral land. The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) unearthed this disturbing fact following investigations into complaints from the community.
more

Suhakam Finds Seven Areas To Improve Life Of Penans
A fact-finding mission of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has identified seven key areas requiring "drastic improvement" by the government to uplift the life of the nomadic Penan community in Sarawak to be on par with that of the other communities in the country.
more

Iban set up second anti-logging blockade
More than 200 men, women and children from the Iban community around Lundu, Sarawak, have set up a new road blockade, in a bid to stop logging activities on their native customary rights land.
more

Taib’s law suit: Regent Star seeks deregistration
In another twist to multi-million ringgit timber kickbacks scandal, Hong Kong-based Regent Star, which is allegedly linked to Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and his family, has sought deregistration last week. ?
more

Rainforest World Music drowns sounds of chainsaws in Sarawak
A group of indigenous people of Sarawak took their campaign against loss of land rights and rainforest destruction to the World Rainforest Music Festival event near Kuching.
more

Desperate plea from Penans
The Sarawak Penan Association (SPA) has made a desperate plea to the Sarawak state authorities for help because of continuing threats to their lands by commercial logging and plantation activities.
more

NGO challenges minister over rainforest clearing remark
Plantation Industries Minister Peter Chin reiterates claims that Malaysia "is not destroying rainforests for palm oil production"
more

Penan sue Samling and Sarawak government to save their rainforest from logging
The Penan community of Long Lamai on the Indonesian border claims Native Customary Rights to 31'000 hectares of primary rainforest and farmlands
more

Taib's broken Bakun dam promises
Malaysian NGO Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) calls for transparency and accountability regarding the approval of large plantation projects in Sarawak
more

Amerindians force Samling to stop logging on their lands
The Amerindian village of Akawini in Guyana has forced the Malaysian logging giant to cease all operations on its titled lands
more

Amerindians of Guyana ask Samling to cease logging on their titled lands
Malaysian logging giant accused of “new vicious variant of colonialism”
more

Leading Sarawak land rights lawyer sued by Chief Minister for distributing leaflets
Taib Mahmud attempts to silence opposition and media over his alleged involvement in a timber corruption scandal
more

No questions allowed as Taib speaks about kickbacks scandal
In a personal declaration in Sarawak's state assembly, Chief Minister Taib Mahmud refuted allegations of his involvement in a timber kickbacks scandal
more

Setback for Malaysian timber certification scheme
Successful Greenpeace appeal: Dutch timber testing institution says MTCC is no guarantee for legal origin of timber
more

Leading Sarawak official accuses NGOs of illegal logging in Penan forests
Baseless accusations by Miri Resident Ose Murang damage credibility of Malaysian timber agreement negotiators
more

HSBC reviews green due diligence after Samling listing
HSBC Holdings is reviewing its environmental due diligence after being accused of breaking its own policies by sponsoring the listing of the Malaysian Samling group
more

WWF decides that Samling certification was not such a good thing after all
WWF has issued a new statement on the suspended FSC certification of Barama, the Guyanese subsidiary of the Malaysian Samling group
more

Credit Suisse asked to pay back profits of Samling listing
Malaysian Samling group accused of large-scale illegal logging in Guyana
more

Japanese NGOs write to Malaysian Prime Minister over timber shipping kickbacks
International pressure for a formal investigation against Sarawak's Chief Minister Taib Mahmud is rising
more

Sarawak villagers protest against tree-plantation project
A group of Bidayuh villagers staged a peaceful protest against a tree planting project on their native customary rights (NCR) land
more

Second round of EU - Malaysia timber trade talks in Brussels
EU and Malaysia agree that further work is needed in developing a legality definition and broadly supported stakeholder consultations
more

Taib strikes back over corruption allegations
Sarawak Chief Minister to sue press and opposition over reports on his involvement in a timber corruption scandal
more

Blockading Penan give reasons for their defiance
Lower Baram communities ask Sarawak State Government to stop plantations and logging in their forest reserves
more

British Fund Management asks HSBC for explanation over Samling IPO
Socially Responsible Investment Manager says it would be of 'deep concern' if bank has failed its vetting procedures for projects
more

Five new Penan blockades in Sarawak
Penan communities in the lower Baram region set up blockades against KTS logging, Rimbunan Hijau and Samling corporation
more

Sarawak Police dismantle Penan blockade for the second time
Indigenous community intimidated with gunshots – The Bruno Manser Fonds urges the international community to pressure Samling and the Sarawak State government to end human rights violations
more

Sarawak Chief Minister involved in timber corruption scandal
Japanese companies allegedly paid 1.1 billion yen (9.2 million USD) kickbacks to Taib Mahmud agent for shipping timber
more

HSBC irks fund managers over Samling support
Money guardians question the banking giant's standards on social responsibility
more

War of words between NGO and Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC)
MTCC’s spirited defence of a logging road construction brings into question the credibility and legality of its certification scheme
more

Rainforest communities step up campaign against Samling
Indigenous communities in Sarawak and in Guyana protest against logging on their native lands
more

Sarawak Police demolish more houses for plantations
Sarawak authorities demolish the farm huts of Rumah Senguk and Rumah Mikai, Sungai Binyu, Pandan, Bintulu to make way for an acacia plantation.
more

President of the Swiss Confederation receives family of Bruno Manser
Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation, received a delegation of the Manser family and of the Bruno Manser Fonds for a one-hour discussion
more

Malaysian NGOs seek clarification from HSBC
JOANGOHutan, the Network of Indigenous Peoples & Non-Governmental Organisations on Forest Issues, asks for an explanation why HSBC suppports the public listing of Samling
more

Penan tell Human Rights Commission: Blockade to continue
Penan representatives participate in a dialogue with SUHAKAM, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
more

Penan re-erect road block against Samling corporation
Controversial Samling Group enjoys support from international banks
more

NGOs ask investors to shun Malaysian logging giant
37 non-governmental organizations from 18 countries are asking investors and banks to shun the Malaysian Samling Group which was publicly listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange earlier this week.
more

HSBC: world’s local bank raises money for global forest destruction
HSBC appears to be violating its own forest sector guidelines by arranging the stock exchange listing for Malaysian timber giant Samling, said Global Witness
more

Rainforest NGOs launch campaign against Samling stock exchange listing
It is feared that the logging company's public listing will increase the pace of tropical rainforest destruction
more

Shin Yang resumes logging in National Park buffer zone
The Penan community of Ba Tik near the Pulong Tau National Park in Sarawak is struggling again to prevent a timber company from logging its watershed area
more

Manser family shocked by Credit Suisse deal with loggers
The family of missing Swiss rainforest conservationist Bruno Manser is shocked to hear about the involvement of Credit Suisse in the public listing of Samling
more

Swiss bank involved in Malaysian logging giant's stock exchange listing
Credit Suisse, HSBC and Macquarie are taking steps to list Samling Global Ltd on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
more

Malaysian police clear Penan blockade for
Samling has started to log the last primary rainforests of the Malaysian state of Sarawak after the police removed a roadblock set up by the local Penan communities.
more

Sarawak natives win court case over oil palm protest
Natives from Iban longhouses who defend their lands against oil palm plantations have won a court case against the police and the government.
more

Forest Stewardship Council suspends Samling certification
The Malaysian Samling Group’s most important certificate for forest management has been suspended following an audit by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
more

EU delegation to visit Penan blockade region
Malaysian officials "unable to organize logistics" for a meeting with the Penan
more

Malaysian newspaper: “Bruno Manser’s legacy lives on”
With a series of articles, Malaysia’s leading English-speaking newspaper "The Star" reports on the Penan struggle
more

Longhouse demolition leaves 120 homeless
Sarawak police evict eleven Iban families from their native lands
more

Trees or People: "Sustainable" logging or People's rights
The continuing Long Benali Penan blockade has been on local Malaysian news lately. A systematic campaign by the authorities, it seems.
more

EU Says Malaysia Must Focus More on Preserving Tribal People in Rainforests
Malaysia must focus more on preserving the tribal communities living in its rainforests, the EU's envoy to Malaysia has said.
more

“Bruno Manser – Laki Penan” film to be started on April 5
In his documentary film “Bruno Manser – Laki Penan”, the Swiss producer Christoph Kuhn reveals how an environmental activist evolved from the person in search of paradise.
more

Leading British company to drop Sarawak timber
Campaign success for rainforest-dwelling Penan tribe. Jewson Ltd. refuses to comment.
more

Sarawak government agency refuses to meet NGOs
A Sarawak government agency involved in the development of native customary rights (NCR) land for oil palm cultivation refused to meet an international group of NGO representatives
more

Person with medical training being sought
We are looking for a person with medical training (human medicine or dentistry, possibly nursing / physiotherapy) for voluntary service of 4-6 weeks.
more

Penan blockade still intact despite harassment
For more than two years, the Penan from Long Benali have been blocking the construction of a logging road in one of Borneo’s last primeval forests.
more

Council of States wants mandatory declaration for wood
In the autumn session of Parliament, the Swiss Council of States approved a motion requiring that the species and origin of wood products be declared, and charged the Federal Council with elaborating the necessary draft for a bill.
more

Switzerland’s accession to the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006
The Federal Council has decided to sign the International Tropical Timber Agreement of 2006.
more