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Bruno Manser Fonds
Heuberg 25
4051 Basel
Switzerland
phone +41 61 261 94 74
fax +41 61 261 94 73
updated
News Archive
Where is Bruno Manser? Results of the search-expedition into the heart
of last nomadic Penan's refuge area. Basel, January 31st, 2001
A search team organised by the Bruno-Manser-Fonds (BMF) investigated whether Bruno fell when climbing the mountain Batu Lawi. Mountain guide Dario Schwoerer lead a helicopter search around Batu Lawi at the same time as a ground team searched on Batu Lawi on foot and followed Bruno's traces and talked to witnesses and close Penan friends.
High-ranking Malaysian general visits Switzerland Zurich airport, 21th January 2001
The Swiss Minister of Defense Bundesrat Mr Samual Schmid personnally talked to the Malaysian Delegation on the issues and forwarded the letters of appeal to General Dato Seri Mohd Hashim bin Hussein.
Solving Sarawak's Forest and Native Problem A book writen in 1990 by Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has for many years been involved In the research and documentation of the ecological and human dimensions of the problems, and in. helping the affected native communities. In this book, SAM puts forward concrete proposals to resolve the Sarawak problem.
Semi-settle Penans resumed blockade since Friday, 5th January Borneo Project 17.01.2001
More than one hundred Penans, including women and children from some Penan villages from the two Penan villages, Long Sayan and Long Belok located in the interior land areas of river Apoh, Tutoh in the Baram region had erected blockade on logging road belonging to Lajong Lumber Sdn. Bhd., subsidiary company to Rimbunan Hijau Sdn. Bhd
Light for Bruno Manser Basel, December 15th 2000
This light will be brought on Wednesday, December 20 to Basel and Geneva as well as to the Nufenen-Rheinwald
Where is Bruno Manser? Basel, December 8th, 2000
A report from OnLineReport.ch published in Tong Tana of December 2000
Penan Leader statement Sarawak, November 23th, 2000
Statement of 17 Penan leaders concerning the disappearance of Bruno Manser
Where is Bruno Manser? Basel, November 20th, 2000
Since May 2000 Bruno Manser is missing. This human rights activist wanted to visit his friends, the Penan forest nomads in the Sarawak, who are surrounded by logging companies, the army and the police. It seems he never arrived. Search parties have had no luck. Now the Swiss Diplomatic Corps has stepped in. Manser could have been arrested, had an accident or could have been murdered.
Sarawak 2000 - A Chronology Basel, November 17, 2000
Natives struggle against the government and the industry
"Land is our life, our livelihood, our breath, our blood, our property,
our right. It's where we return when we die. We will defend our land with
our life."
International Appeal to support the Penan Press Release 17.08.2000
Semi-settled Penan blockade timber road - A desperate attempt to stop three logging companies from conducting operations in their forest - urgent appeal for help!
Petition of nomadic Penan Press Release 10.07.2000
Nomadic Penan appeal for urgent action - Stop logging our forest - Urgent appeal for help!
Statement of Penan and Berawan living in and around Mulu NP Press Release 22.06.2000
Mulu-National Park native's rights first! Urgent appeal for help!
Penan protest Statement 28.04.2000
Penan protest on survey works performed on their Native Customary Land for help!
Mobile Dental Clinic for the Penan in Sarawak Basel/Switzerland, March 16 th, 2000
Bruno Manser and his team wish SELAMAT HARI RAYA HAJI to the whole population of Malaysia and offer a Mobile Dental Clinic for the Penan in Sarawak.
WET has no time for a child Davos, January 29th, 2000
Prof. Dr. Klaus Schwab, organizer of the World Economic Forum in Davos, denied to meet the little Clara.
Press Release Basel, July 26th, 1999
The BMF is warning the consumers that the Jumbo shops in Switzerland are still selling furnitures of undeclared tropical timber.
Penans blockade Baram timber land The Star, June 22th, 1999
Stephen Then related this event in The Start news paper.
4 Penan-men not guilty BMF Office, June 17h, 1999
The proceeding in the case of 4 Penan who were arrested on March 13th, 1997 was continued. The hearing at the magistrate court in Miri took place on June 15th, 1999 at 0900 am. The four Penan-men were found not guilty by the judge who sentenced over them because the police does not have enough evidence to charge them at court.The Penan are returning to their villages as their case is settled now.Please check our Newsletter "Tong Tana May 99", pages 3-5, where Hennison Bujang from Long Benali, one of the 4 Penan reports what happened to him and his 3 friends.
Timber-Road-Blockade built up June 17th, 1999 - Latest News
In Sarawak's up-river Apoh/Tutoh area a blockade set up by Penan, organised by the headman of Long Sayan TK Ajeng Kiew.
Tong Tana, May 1999 BMF Office, June 12th, 1999
The news letter of BMF for May 1999 is now online available.
Report from the Penan BMF Office, June 9th, 1999
Received on May 1999
Campaign on use of timber in public construction BMF office, May 7th 1999
Already 241 Swiss municipalities, representing 2'556'651 inhabitants i.e. one third of the Swiss population, have taken decision not to use timber from non-sustainable production be it from the north or south in public constructions and to give preference to local resources.
Look up the list for your municipality
Press Release Basel, April 22th, 1999
The other view - A personal Account by Bruno Manser
BMF launch a emergency action Basel, April 19th, 1999
Support the Penan peoples, send a letter to the Samling Co. together with over 25 international invironmental NGO's
Bruno Manser in deportation arrest Basel, March 30th 1999
The report that Bruno Manser has already been deported to Switzerland is false. According to newest information, however, the Penan are being held under arrest in their hotel.
Look at the press release for details
Bruno Manser arrested in Sarawak An action for the Penan, Kuching/Sarawak/Malaysia, 29 March 1999
The Swiss environmental and human rights activist Bruno Manser surrendered himself to the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Malaysia, Datuk Patinggi Taib Mahmud in Kuching today at 11:30 a.m. (Malaysian time). He was arrested together with a group of 11 Penan.
Look at the press release for details
New release of the journal of Bruno Manser Fonds Basel, 9 december 1998
Tong Tana is available for the third time this year What is the current situation in the rainforest of Sarawak ?
Press release, Campaign on use of timber in public construction in Basel, September 25, 1998
206 municipalities and 4 cantons of Switzerland have already withdrawn the use of timber from non-sustainable production for their public constructions. This involves 2.2 Mio inhabitants or 30% of the Swiss population.
Look at the press release and photos
Exposition in the Museum for Natural History Basel, September 11th, 1998
Have a look at the journals of Bruno Manser during his living with the Penan tribe in Sarawak. At the same time you can enjoy the work of the artist, Fifo Stricker, dedicated to the "Pantanal fragil" in Amazona. The exposition is held from September 11th, 1998 to February 21th, 1999.
New release of the journal of Bruno Manser Fonds Basel, July 1st, 1998
Tong Tana means "in the forest" in the language of Penan. It is also the new title of our news letters, first of all available on the Web.
Bruno Manser is seeking dialogue with the Chief Minister and with Press Release, Basle/Singapore, June 11th, 1998
The amount of USD 10'000 for the Mobile Dental Clinic destinated to the Penan and Kelabit has been transfered into a bank-account - especially opened for this purpose - in Singapore today June 11th, 1998.
Bruno Manser going back to Sarawak Basle, May 19th, 1998
Bruno Manser has left Switzerland today for Sarawak, seeking dialogue with the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, with the wish for positive steps for Malaysia and its forests, the Penan and the International Community as well. Details can be taken from the Open Letter, sent to the Chief Minister today. For more information contact our office.
Open Letter to the Chief Minister of Malaysia
Bruno Manser - Parachute-jump in Geneva with Message of Peace and Today, April 6th, 1998, Hari Raya Haji,
text:Since the Chief Minister of Sarawak did not reply at all to Bruno Manser's requests and a legal entry into Malaysia was prevented through diplomatic channels, the act is taking place at the Malaysian Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. The lamb as a islamic symbol of reconciliation and a message of peace will be handed over to the Malaysian Ambassador Mr Hamidon Ali in order to forward it to the Chief Minster Datuk Taib Mahmud in Kuching/Sarawak/Malaysia.
Message of peace, lamb as a gift
Campaign on use of timber in public construction BMF office, February 1998
Already 92 Swiss municipalities have taken decision not to use timber from non-sustainable production be it from the north or south in public constructions and to give preference to local resources.
Kuching, Sarawak Hari Raya (30.1.98, last day of the Ramadan)
Penan delegation from Ulu Baram handed an appeal letter to the chief minister Taib Mahmud demanding to withdraw logging concessions inside their home land.
Wood plantations instead of forests Kuala Lumpur/Kuching, November 1997(«Tigerpaper»/Perkasa)
The Malaysian Ministry of Economic Affairs has announced an increase in wood plantations throughout Malaysia. At present there are about 692 km2 in West Malaysia (peninsula) and 1127 km2 and 100 km2 in each of the two federal states on Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak. Annualy, Malaysia has produced some 35 million m3 of wood from natural forests. The number will drop to 26 million m3 by 2010. Malaysia’s sawmills have a total production capacity of 27 million m3 . Additional wood from plantations is thus needed to satisfy rising demand. In the past, most of the wood plantations were established by the state. More participation from private industry is anticipated in the future. YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak’s Chief Minister, has announced that «a part» of the 64,000 km2 forest reserve will be declassified so that new plantations of trees can be cultivated.
Temporary halt to Bakun Dam Zurich/Kuala Lumpur, November 1997
The construction of the 2400 megawatt dam has been stopped for the time being for economic reasons. According to an announcement by Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian Vice President, certain large-scale projects in Malaysia, including the Bakun Dam, are being postponed for at least two years. The enormous decline in the value of the Malaysian currency has added substantially to the project’s costs. According to press reports, Ekran, the Malaysian contracting agent, has canceled the contract with ABB (the Swiss-Swedish Asean Brown Boveri group) for the construction of the power plant. ABB has denied this, stating that negotiations are still in progress.
«New York Times» calls for boycott of tropical timber and Asia’s Forest Disaster, September 27, 1997
The smoke, coming from forest fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and the Indonesian part of Borneo, now blankets Singapore, Brunei and parts of Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. The fires are accelerated by drought but were set by man. In its headlong rush to cut down its timber and sell it, Asia has saddled itself with the worst deforestation problem of any continent. Environmentalists have long warned of the consequences. Asian leaders have dismissed the critics as subversives inspired by the West to try to stop Southeast Asia’s dazzling economic growth. But while previous fires have not persuaded governments to halt deforestation, Asia’s leaders should now realize that growth is fleeting when based on the wanton destruction of natural resources.
Innovest Bhd in Congo-Brazzaville
In September 1997, the Malaysian company Innovest Bhd began logging in a 3360 km2 concession in the southwest of Congo-Brazzaville. It plans to cut 100,000 m3 of timber each year. 92% of the shares of the Congolese subsidiary Innovest Congo SA belong to the Malaysian parent company, 5% to the government of Mossendjo (Congo) and 3% to an unknown investment holding. Timbermaster Industries Bhd in Gabun" Timbermaster Industries Bhd has purchased another timber concession of 10,000 km2 in one of Gabun’s primeval forests. The area is on the Okano River, directly adjacent to an already existing concession of 2200 km2 . 300,000 m3 of timber, especially okoumé and ozigo, will be cut annually. The company employs 270 workers and has 62 bulldozers at its disposal. Timber-master is expecting to earn between $ 120 and $ 150 per cubic meter of wood and is figuring with an annual net profit of $ 9 million.
A car in exchange for the forest? Penghulu James, Long Lamai (official representative of the Penan
In earlier times, we Penan lived with flints and tinder made from lessey palms and clothed ourselves with skins and bast. The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam was the first to administer Sarawak, then the Brooke government, the Japanese, the English Crown and since 1962 Malaysia. But before there was any kind of government in Sarawak, we Penan were living in the forest. There were also difficulties in earlier times, but none like those today with the timber industry. The timber companies have come without asking us. If we tried to keep them out, they replied by saying «Whether you like it or not, we are going into your forest.» There is no representative of the government who comes to straighten out the difficulties. Only the military and police to prevent us from defending our land and to silence us. The timber company wanted to give me a car in exchange for the forest. I rejected it. If the forest is destroyed and I find no more food, what should I do with a car? Eat it? And if I need the car, and tomorrow it no longer works, what should I do about it? Why should I use the car to bring my people down to the cities in the valley? So that they can argue and steal? How many times have I been in Marudi, Miri and Kuching without any money? What good does it do me to see all of these things? The Company did not buy my heart when others were taking thousands of Ringgit. In their eyes, we are fools. But the money, regardless of how much, will one day be used up. However if we work in our forest, which is still a primeval forest, we will be able to live and have children because there is enough food. That is our heart. How many times have I spoken with the government? But until now, we have not been respected. Do not forget us. We are hoping for your help!
Like a discarded child Gerawet Megut (nomad in Magoh), summer 1997 (Translation from the
Now we are sitting like long-tailed macaques on the branches of felled meranti trees. How many times have we spoken with the Company? They simply don’t listen. If a wild boar or a stag is hit with an arrow, they have no telephone to call for help. The same applies to us as Penan in the remote mountainous regions. The Company wanted to give us rice and money. We did not accept it. We still have a small amount of forest. If we want to defend it, the police come and shoot around in the area with their «pom-pom- pom.» «Kusui,» a Chinese forestry entrepreneur, even fired his gun between us! We have become like a rejected child, groping its way at night in the darkness and without light. We are seeking the way of life. All of us children, women, fathers and mothers are having a difficult time. The Company is working in the reservations on the Magoh and Adang Rivers which have been promised to us. And down in the valley, they want to plant oil palms. Then there will not be a single tree left, not even one as thick as a finger. There will not even be enough for firewood.
Rimbunan Hijau and WTK in Brazil
Kuala Lumpur, June 27, 1997 (The Star) Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has dismissed accusations that Malaysian officials and timber companies are threatening the Amazonian rain forest. «We have nothing to fear because we are certain that the accusations are unfounded,» the minister was quoted as saying. The criticism is of a purely political and economic nature. When asked why Malaysian timber companies are repeatedly being criticized, the Minister replied by saying «as we are logging in many countries, it is only natural that we are constantly being controlled.» The Malaysian ambassador to Brazil, Datuk Zainal Zain, expressed himself somewhat more harshly. «We are being accused of ruining the trees, and described as monsters who have come to destroy the forests of the Amazon. Please show us a single tree which has been sawed down by a Malaysian timber company.» The ambassador accused the rich Western nations, which see the Amazon as nothing more than a backyard to be exploited, of instigating the campaign against Malaysia. These countries feel threatened by the superiority and advanced technology of the Malaysian timber companies.
Sarawak to become the largest producer of cellulose Bintulu, May 25, 1997(«The Star»)
By the turn of the century, Sarawak will become the world’s largest producer of cellulose. That is at least what Taib Mahmud, Sarawak’s Chief Minister, announced at the ceremony marking the start of construction of «Borneo Pulp and Paper Sdn Bhd,» a new 2.5 billion Ringgit (ca. US$ 600 million) cellulose factory. The factory is in Ulu Tatau, not far from Bintulu. The project is a joint venture between the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation and the Asia Pulp & Paper Company Ltd. Taib Mahmud has stated that the project will be very influential in the socioeconomic development of Sarawak. He was quoted in «The Star» as saying «Such projects could mean a fortune for the people [meaning the indigenous peoples editorial note] who have lived in poverty for generations. » The government will plant rapidly growing trees over an area of some 2000 km2 to supply the paper factory. The trees will supposedly grow five times faster than forest trees. The factory will start production in 1999 and have an initial annual production of 750,000 tons of cellulose.