Forest Loggerheads

The people of Siberut island have been locked in a fierce forestry dispute with Andalas University from Padang for some time. A case of the college land grant program gone awry?

June 26, 2001

Here is the story: some 200 members of 12 tribes living on the island off Sumatra have said they are ready to die in Saibi Bay to protect each and every tree of the Siberut forest.

Before "war" broke out, however, the university removed the 22 heavy-duty logging machines it had brought to the bay area. This anti-climax followed the burning down of two university base camps by some 70 villagers a day earlier. These people rejected a

...

More Articles