Jenny Weber, Hobart-based Bob Brown Foundation Campaigns Manager, is flying to Miri, in Sarawak, Malaysia to be an international observer at a globally important court case involving indigenous rights.
A giant Malaysian logging corporation, Samling, has issued a writ against Indigenous-led environmental rights group SAVE Rivers, following their campaign to support indigenous peoples protection of their ancestral rainforests from logging. SAVE Rivers is a small advocacy organisation that supports indigenous communities to protect their lands, livelihoods and forests.
The case will be heard in Miri, in the Sarawak and Sabah High Court from Sept 18, 2023.
The writ has drawn concern from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders and indigenous rights. In April 2023, Bob Brown Foundation joined 160 groups to ask Samling to withdraw its legal suit and urge Samling to respect Indigenous rights in Sarawak and the right of civil society organisations to publish community concerns as a matter of public interest.
Ms Weber has been to Sarawak several times to support indigenous people’s campaigns against both logging and hydroelectric dam projects.