Nature Alert: Don’t pass the buck, prove Malaysian firms involved says Suhakam

Monday 14 September 2009

Don’t pass the buck, prove Malaysian firms involved says Suhakam

Submitted by amir azree on Monday, September 14th, 2009

Prove Malaysian firms involved in human rights and environmental violations, Suhakam tells Indonesian counterpart

Pearl Lee

Monday, September 14th, 2009 Malay Mail

THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) says it does not have the authority to interfere in matters taking place in Indonesia on claims that Malaysian oil palm plantation firms are involved in human rights and environmental violations.

Suhakam complaints and inquiry working group chairman, Datuk Khalid Ibrahim, told Malay Mail it had not received any memorandum from the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

“The matter should be addressed and investigated by Komnas HAM and it should not be passing the buck to us. We have similar issues in our own country in Sabah and Sarawak. How are we to interfere in matters happening in another country?” he asked.

Komnas HAM deputy chairman Ridha Saleh said last week violations by several Malaysian oil palm plantation
firms had been going on for some time.

But there has been no response from Suhakam, Ridha added. He also said the alleged violations in Indonesia included environmental damage from land burning, violations of the people’s land rights, forest destruction, turf-field clearing and environmental destruction from factory waste.

It was reported that Kulim (Malaysia) Bhd in Central Kalimantan, Tabung Haji Plantation Bhd in Riau and Wilmar International Ltd in West and Central Kalimantan were identified as the companies committing the violations.

However, Khalid said: “If Sukaham is to take any action, there must be evidence provided to support claims that indeed such violations were happening.

“We did not receive any memorandum from Komnas HAM. We only received a memorandum from a non-governmental organisation from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea about four months ago to advise the Malaysian companies involved.”

He added that though Suhakam could advise the Malaysian companies (if the allegations were true), the matter would first have to be investigated and the duty to carry out the investigation would be on the Indonesian authorities.

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/13146-don%E2%80%99t-pass-buck-prove-malaysian-firms-involved-says-suhakam

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.