Activist slams ‘misleading' claims over Baram forest project collapse
MIRI (May 24): Sarawak land rights activist Peter John Jaban has criticised the state government's narrative blaming civil society groups for the termination of the Upper Baram Forest Area (UBFA) project, calling it 'misleading'.
He was responding to Deputy Minister Len Latif's clarification during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, where it was claimed that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF) and SAVE Rivers failed to meet project conditions by not taking into account the interest of indigenous groups apart from the Penan.
'These claims are misleading and ignore the actual reasons behind the project's collapse.
'The truth is that the project was derailed by a lack of transparency, top-down interference, and an abrupt shift away from the conservation and indigenous-led vision that was originally agreed upon,' he said in a statement.
The UBFA initiative – known locally as the Baram Peace Park – was championed by the indigenous communities to protect over 79,000 hectares of primary forest, with the broader goal of ensuring sustainable livelihoods and forest stewardship across 283,500 hectares.
Backed by international donors including the Japanese government and the City of Basel, the project emphasised Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and community leadership.
Peter claimed that after securing international funding, the Sarawak Forest Department and the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) changed the project's direction and excluded core conservation areas, prioritising commercial forest exploitation without adequate community consultation.
He said the government's narrative was now an attempt to 'deflect from reality' and that this project was compromised from the top.
He also pointed to the controversial logging activities commencing in the area shortly after the expiration of previous concessions, as a new concession was granted to Borneoland Timber Resources Sdn Bhd.
'On the other hand, civil society groups had consistently advocated for transparency, FPIC and the inclusion of indigenous perspectives, while being scapegoated by the authorities.'
The activist called on both the Sarawak government and ITTO to return to the principles of true indigenous leadership, conservation over profit, and full transparency.
'If Sarawak is serious about sustainable development, it must start by listening to the people who have protected these forests for generations,' he said. lead misleading Peter John UBFA Upper Baram Forest Area
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