KUCHING, May 7, 2015 - A Penan delegation from Sarawak
Wednesday night presented their case at the Geneva Press Club, a renowned
public space very close to the United Nations' Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Bilong Oyoi, headman of the Penan community of Long Sait,
Upper Baram, called on the international
community to stand up for the defence of the rainforests and to support the Penan
Peace Park project, a community-managed biosphere in the Heart of Borneo.
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| Members of the Penan delegation (from left) Bilong Oyoi, Mutang Urud and Telio Abing |
Bilong, who had met with Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan
Satem in London on Monday, also commented on the Chief Minister's apparent
policy change.
He said it was very good to hear from Adenan's mouth that
forest conservation is important - something the Penan had been advocating for
many years.
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| Executive editor of Bergli Books Richard Harvell (right) launching Money Logging. Struasmann is at the centre |
On the other hand, he said Adenan lacked credibility as
long as the Penan's native customary rights were not recognised and community-based
conservation efforts like the Penan Peace Park were not officially endorsed by
the government.
The Penan delegation appeared in Geneva on the occasion
of the launch of "Money Logging: On The Trail of Asian Timber Mafia" by Swiss historian Lukas Straumann.
The event was moderated by Richard Harvell, the executive
editor of Bergli Books, a Swiss publisher. An introduction was given by Guy
Mettan, the chair of the Geneva press club
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