Indonesian Environmental Hero Acquitted in Landmark Case

In a precedent-setting case with deep implications for natural resource conservation in Indonesia, the Bentian Dayak Chief, Loir Botor Dingit was recently exonerated of forgery charges made against him in a provincial Borneo court. Chief Dingit has led the struggle to protect indigenous Bentian forests in Indonesian Borneo against clearcutting by powerful logging and plantation interests. Chief Dingit received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Award in 1997 in recognition of the Bentian people’s world-renowned sustainable system of forest management and rattan production which, while earning foreign exchange through the sale of rattan, also acts to preserve forest biodiversity.

In 1993, Chief Dingit reported to government authorities the bulldozing and destruction of Bentian forests by employees and subcontractors of the PT. Kalhold Utama logging and plantation company, owned by Mohamad “Bob” Hasan, a close associate of General Suharto and the director of Indonesia’s major timber associations. No investigation of the company was carried out. Instead, Chief Dingit and his supporters were interrogated by Indonesian security forces. In 1997, after failing to silence Chief Dingit and the Bentian forest farmers through extrajudicial means, the government issued charges of forgery against him. These charges were based on a list the Chief helped villagers compile detailing the bulldozing of 2,000 trees and 10,000 rattan plants by Mr. Hasan’s company. On October 26, 1998, the District Court cleared Chief Dingit of all charges, ordered the government to reimburse his legal costs, and issued precedent-setting statements recognizing the existence of indigenous peoples in Indonesia and their rights to protect their territories.

“Chief Dingit’s success represents a remarkable victory for Indonesia’s indigenous peoples and forests,” said Dr. Stephanie Fried, an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) scientist who attended the court hearing in East Kalimantan.

“The court’s landmark decision to recognize the existence of indigenous peoples in Indonesia and their right to protect their forested territories calls into question the right of the Indonesian government to grant large plantation, mining, and logging companies access to forested and other lands occupied, owned, and managed by indigenous people throughout Indonesia,” said Dr. Fried. “This clearly sends a strong message, not only to the central government of Indonesia, but to international financial institutions pushing an agenda of large-scale plantation development and mining exploration in Indonesia’s Outer Islands. Indigenous communities which, in the past, were intimidated into silence as their lands were seized and deforested by powerful companies will now be more secure in asserting their legitimate rights.”