Suriname Information Update: 11/1/97
11/1/97
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Headline: Suriname Information Update: 11/1/97
Source: Forest Peoples Programme
1c, Fosseway Business Centre
Stratford Road
Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9NQ
United Kingdom
Tel. 44. 1608. 652. 893. Fax. 44. 1608. 652. 878
Email : wrm@gn.apc.org
Date: 11/1/97
On October 7, Errol Alibux, Suriname's Minister of Natural Resources and the
Dutch Ambassador to Suriname signed a contract worth US$30 million for the
Forestry Production Control Project. This project, supported by the UN's
Food and Agriculture Organization, is intended to monitor logging activities
by using mobile inspection units. This is one component of a larger project
that will support reconstruction of the Forest Service's infrastructure that
was destroyed in the Civil War (1986-92) and the establishment of a Timber
Institute to control logging and promote investment in the Forestry Sector.
Alibux also stated that protected areas would be increased from 5% of
Suriname's total area to 10%. The Global Environmental Facility has just
completed a preliminary assessment to identify additional areas for
protection. Both control over logging and increased protection of
biodiversity were said to be part of Suriname's quest for sustainable
development and larger responsibility to the World. They were also
essential, he concluded, as Suriname intends to intensify logging activities
in the near future.
Alibux didn't say, however, that logging concessions have already been
granted and operations have already begun therein. Berjaya Bhd., a
notorious Malaysian logging company was granted an exploratory concession in
August of this year. Berjaya has been working illegally in Suriname for the
past year and a half through a front company called Suriname American Wood
Industries. Government officials were well aware of this. An exploratory
concession gives Berjaya the right to conduct an inventory of commercial
timber and to develop a management plan within two years. Subject to
approval of the management plan, it can then begin cutting. Berjaya has
already started constructing roads inside its concession and (unverified)
reports have surfaced that
it is already cutting timber. This concession is directly adjacent to the
Bronsberg Nature Reserve. Reports (unverified) have also been made that
Berjaya is cutting inside the Nature Reserve.
At least two other large concessions have also been granted. One of these
is on the South-east point of the Van Blomenstein reservoir. This is way
beyond the bounds of the existing forestry belt. To whom it has been
granted is unknown.
A joint Surinamese-Chinese company, operating under the name of NV Tacoba
obtained a concession in October 1996. This concession covers a large area
beginning near the Bronsberg Nature Reserve and South to within 3 kilometres
of the Maroon community of Pokigron. Representatives of Tacoba, described
in the press as "English-speaking Chinese," were recently in the Maroon
communities of Guyaba and Nieuw Aurora. They said that they were about to
commence logging operations in the area.
When the communities objected, stating that approval had not been obtained
from the village councils, the Tacoba representatives said that they did not
need to do so as they had made a deal with the Saramacca Maroon Granman
(paramount leader), Songo Aboikoni, to work in his concession. This 127,000
hectare concession was obtained under the name of Sorejo Mining NV, although
it is unclear whether it has officially been granted yet.
Guyaba and Nieuw Aurora, and the other communities in the concession are
outraged. They say that the Granman has no right to give Maroon land to
loggers as the land belongs to the clans that make up Saramaccan society,
not to the Granman. They intend to hold a krutu (gathering) of all the
affected villages soon to make their objections know to the government and
the Granman. In particular, they will demand that the government withdraw
the concession, remove Tacoba and
legally recognise their rights to their lands and resources. Tacoba
meanwhile has started to construct roads into the concession.
Indonesian company Barito Pacific Timber Group was recently in Suriname to
investigate the
possibility of investing in oil palm production. The meeting was attended
by the Indonesian Ambassador to Suriname and the Surinamese Ambassador to
Indonesia. Barito is Indonesia's largest plywood producer with close ties
to the Indonesian government. It has not ruled out the possibility that it
also interested in logging in Suriname. Indeed, it was looking into the
possibility of buying into Brunzeel, the Surinamese parastatal timber
company. According to company documents, it needs to secure additional log
supplies to maintain its plywood production operations at optimal levels.
Surinamese President Wijdenbosch flew to Indonesia on the 11th of October.
Rumors have it that a deal will be signed with Barito while he is there.
Stating that Suriname is moving away from traditional donors and investors
in favour of regional (Brazil in particular) and Asian partners, the
President said that he will also discuss Indonesian investment in logging,
mining and the energy sector. "Energy sector" means the Kabelebo dam project
that will submerge a large area of pristine rainforest to provide power for,
among others, bauxite and gold mining and logging in West Suriname.
Given the controversy and intense international pressure inspired by
Suriname's plan to hand out 3-5 million hectares of rainforest to Berjaya,
MUSA and Suri-Atlantic in 1995, it is understandable that the government is
being very cautious about granting logging concessions.
Increasing protected areas, provided Indigenous and Maroon rights are
recognized and respected, and increasing the capacity of the Forest Service
appear to be positive measures. Serious questions must be raised however,
about the sincerity of the government and other issues must also be addressed.
For instance, Indonesian company, MUSA, is still operating with impunity
throughout the interior. Its operations jump around from place to place
with no regard for the bounds of its concession. It continues to induce
local communities to strip their communal forest areas. This is illegal
under Surinamese law. It has also been accused of cutting experimental
forest plots used for studying sustainable forestry practices. MUSA's
operations are so bad that Skephi, an Indonesian NGO, felt it necessary to
inform the Indonesian parliament. MUSA's operations have violated
Surinamese laws on multiple counts and it has never been fined, let alone
prosecuted despite widespread awareness of these abuses. It is assumed that
MUSA is being protected by former military dictator, Desi Bouterse, himself
active as a third party timber buyer.
Also, the government must reform timber royalties and export duties. These
rates are ridiculously low. In fact they have barely changed from rates
applicable in 1947. Regulations raising the rates have been drafted and
approved but have never been published. A law cannot be implemented until
it is published. In recent years, government revenue from logging has been
as little as US$500.00. When expenses related to the Forestry Service and
the Ministry of Natural Resources are added up, the government actually
loses money on logging. Undoubtedly, the low rates have been maintained due
to the influence of powerful local elites, like Bouterse. If royalties and
duties are not reformed, government assertions that logging is needed for
revenue generation must be considered as dishonest.
Last, but by no means least, Indigenous and Maroon rights to land and
resources are still not legally recognized in Surinamese law. The
government continues to give out vast tracks of their ancestral lands to
logging and mining companies without their consent or knowledge. Failure to
recognize and respect these rights violates international human rights
standards voluntarily accepted by Suriname and threatens peace and stability
in the interior. Indigenous peoples and Maroons have stated as recently as
one year ago that they will fight to defend their lands against miners and
loggers. Also, recent government statements on protected areas indicate
that Indigenous and Maroon rights will be neither recognized nor respected.
If Alibux gets his way these areas will be prohibited to humans with the
exception of paying ecotourists.
For more information, please contact:
Forest Peoples Programme
1c, Fosseway Business Centre
Stratford Road
Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9NQ
United Kingdom
Tel. 44. 1608. 652. 893. Fax. 44. 1608. 652. 878
Email : wrm@gn.apc.org