Threat of legal action against Indigenous Borneans protesting timber company
by Danielle Keeton-Olsen on 1 June 2021
For more than a year, Indigenous communities in Malaysian Borneo have been campaigning against timber conglomerate Samling and its subsidiaries.
Indigenous groups and environmental NGOs allege the company failed to obtain free, prior and informed consent of communities affected by its certified-sustainable timber production plantations; the company denies the allegations.
In late May, Samling subsidiaries threatened to take legal action against Indigenous communities alleging the company was involved in trespass, damage or destruction of forest.
NGOs describe the letters as an attempt to silence Indigenous communities who have spoken out against the company.