SAVE Rivers receives Korean Justice and Peace Awards 2016

MIRI, March 11, 2016 - Grassroots civil society  SAVE Rivers was selected as one of the 11 recipients for the 19th Tji Haksoon Justice & Peace Award 2016.

 SAVE Rivers chairman Peter Kallang received the award in Seoul on behalf of SAVE Rivers yesterday.

He was accompanied by Dominic Mathew Usek, a villager from Baram, who is one of those who oppose the proposed Baram Hydroelectric Power Dam.

Peter (second right) receiving the Korean award on behalf of SAVE Rivers network

 

SAVE Rivers which was formed in October 2011, has been a vigorous movement supporting those who are resisting the government’s proposed HEP Dams.

Since its formation the network has been campaigning against the construction of mega dams and giving various supports to those who oppose the projects.  

They have a commendable success in empowering those affect by the project which enable formidable resistance from those who are directly affected.

The Tji Hasoon Justice & Peace Award is given out annually to deserving individuals or organisations who ‘’at great personal risk, stand up to opposition, in pursuit of justice, peace and respect for human rights.’’

The 2016 award is the 19th honour being presented since it was formed in 1997. Before SAVE Rivers from Malaysia, the recipients over the last nineteen years were from thirteen different Asian countries.

The countries range from South Korea itself to Uzbekistan. The foundation is named after a Catholic prelate, the late Bishop Tji Hak Soon who was an activist and spent most of his life in fighting for human rights, social justice and against corruption.

Commending SAVE Rivers on the award, the Chairperson of the accolade, Monsignor Kim Byung-Sang said, “SAVE Rivers has demonstrated the full practice of God’s will for the world peace, with small difference in degrees and form.”

Commenting on the award Kallang said:“This award is a gesture of support and approval and we are really grateful for it. We therefore urge Chief Minister Adenan Satem and the Sarawak government to stop all mega dams and consider alternative energy sources like solar power, biomass and micro hydro. These alternatives would be more people centred and environmentally friendly.”

He said mega dams are among the  causes for ecocide and ethnocide which are often ironically being built or endorsed by the very governments or institutions which should champion the cause of the

environment and their citizens.

"This is one general and prevailing trend, especially in the developing countries. Justifications often used for these constructions are economic and social progress for the countries.

"Yet the brunt of the exploit is on the environment and the populace, especially the indigenous peoples whose cultural heritage are often destroyed and their livelihood is lost.

"Thousands and thousands of hectares of land with forest which are habitat for millions of species

are destroyed by these humongous dams worldwide.

"When inundated, these species are often permanently and totally lost to the world. Example of this could be seen in the case of Borneo Island where the Malaysian government is building dams in their state of Sarawak and Sabah and the Indonesian government is building more dams in Kalimantan Indonesia.

"Borneo is one of the most bio-diversed spot on this planet. Borneo jungle is also the home for the famous Orang Utan. If these ventures are not stopped, these dams will create more destruction than any progress which they could ever bring," he said.

According to the World Commission on Dams, he said large dams have forced some 40-80 million people from their lands in the past six decades. Indigenous, tribal, and peasant communities have been particularly hard hit.

"These legions of dam refugees have, in great majority of cases, been economically, culturally and psychologically devastated. I would therefor say that these dams have severe impacts on the most vulnerable and marginalised groups," he added.