(PNG) logging giant

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Logging giant goes on the attack-Malaysiakini.com

Soon Li Tsin

Aug 19, 06 4:52pm

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The battle between Rimbunan Hijau and Greenpeace in Papua New Guinea (PNG)

rages on with the Malaysian logging giant accusing the international

environmental group for singling the company out for criticism.

 

In a report entitled 'Whatever it takes - Greenpeace's anti-forestry

campaign in Papua New Guinea', Sarawak-based Rimbunan argued that Greenpeace

has no interest in developing sustainable commercial forestry or improving

the economic welfare of the people of PNG.

 

" Greenpeace is not interested in economic growth in PNG, or what it means to

the people of PNG.

 

" Greenpeace evidently considers that cessation of commercial logging in PNG

is worth any cost, including damage to efforts to raise living standards,

increase life expectancy, and improve child literacy in Papua New Guinea, "

it stated.

 

" It has only two interests in PNG: first, to see it used as a model for its

own view of how the world should look; and second, to secure a tactical

victory to support its global campaign to stop commercial forestry, " it

reported.

 

The report comes in response to blistering attacks made by Greenpeace

International's 'The Untouchables: Rimbunan Hijau's world of forest crime

and political patronage' in 2004 and Greenpeace UK's 'Partners in Crime: The

UK timber trade, Chinese sweatshops and Malaysian robber barons in Papua New

Guinea's rainforest' in 2005.

 

Both reports had accused Rimbunan of being involved in criminal activity,

illegal logging, corruption, environmental destruction and abuse of human

and labour rights.

 

In the wake of the Greenpeace reports, Rimbunan had commissioned

Australian-based international consultancy firm ITS Global to provide

" correct information " about the company's activities.

 

*Lack of evidence*

 

Rimbunan's report argues there is a general lack of evidence to back the

environmental group's claims and it offers justifications on the specific

incidents raised in the 2004 and 2005 reports.

 

" Greenpeace has built its case against the company on bias and weak evidence

but has made sensationalist claims about corruption, environmental

destruction, human rights abuses and illegal logging. "

 

Furthermore, Rimbunan claimed that Greenpeace has unfairly broaden the

definition of what is 'legal' and this resulted in singling the logging

company out as criminals.

 

" It (Greenpeace) has expanded it to mean that no transaction is legal

unless, at the time of the transaction, all laws, regulations and

international treaties have been properly implemented by government,

including labour rights, indigenous peoples' rights, and business' payment

of all taxes and fees.

 

" This is not a definition – it is a political platform requiring governments

as well as forestry companies to behave in a certain way. Greenpeace is not

proposing requirements to comply with national laws, but with laws and

policies which it is trying to mandate. "

 

Rimbunan's report was based on extensive desk research, interviews and field

visits to PNG as well as conduct interviews with the company, the government

and key stakeholders.

 

Rimbunan was founded in 1976 by Sarawakian logging cum media tycoon Tiong

Hiew King, who also controls Chinese Malaysian newspapers *Sin Chew Daily*and

*Guangming Daily*, as well as *The National* in PNG and *Ming Pao* in Hong

Kong.

 

A major player in the forestry sector in PNG, the company is now one of the

largest foreign investors in the country with business interests in timber

extraction and processing, media, shipping, aviation, travel, property

development and wholesale and retail trading.

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