[asia-apec 129] Letter to ABB re Bakun project

[news]

Dear friends,

Many thanks for endorsing the letter to Percy Barnevik, CEO of ABB,
expressing our disappointment that the contract with Ekran was due to be
signed on Monday 30th September.  203 NGOs from 30 countries, 35 Members
of the European Parliament, 4 Presidents of GLOBE, and 32 individuals
supported this letter.  This is great, many thanks for your solidarity.

We have received the good news today that the contract signing has been
postponed for the 2nd time - no reasons were given nor a new expected
signing date.  However we have proceeded with faxing the letter to ABB
today.  The Swiss version of the letter can be found below - this was
faxed to ABB's Zrich HQ by the Berne Declaration.  The UK version of
the letter has 5 UK groups as the lead signatories, and was faxed by
Forests Monitor to ABB in Zrich and London.  We also leafletted
employees at the ABB UK office on 26th September.  Groups in other
countries should feel free to layout the letter on their own headed
paper, change the lead signatory, and fax it to their local ABB office.
Even though the signing has been delayed it will reinforce the message
to ABB.

Press releases have been issued in Switzerland, the UK and USA.  A copy
of a UK press release sent by the Ecologist is attached.

We hope that the continued postponement of the contract signing is
something positive, and are sure that it is of the utmost importance to
maintain and, if possible, increase the pressure on ABB to withdraw from
the Bakun project completely.

With best wishes,

Nicholas Hildyard       James Lochhead          Monique Baker
The Ecologist             KEHMA-S                   Global Witness


PRESS RELEASE

Bakun Signing Cancelled
NGOs call on ABB - Europe's "most respected company" - to reconsider
involvement

For the second time in a month, the signing ceremony for the main
contract to build the controversial Bakun Hydroelectric Project in
Sarawak, Malaysia, has been cancelled.  The ceremony was due to have
taken place on September 30th.  It has been postponed at the request of
Ekran, the Malaysian company responsible for the privately-financed dam.
No explanation has been given.

The main contract for the dam has been awarded by Ekran to a consortium
led by ABB Asea Brown Boveri, recently voted Europe's "most respected
company" in a Financial Times survey.  ABB's involvement in the dam,
which will flood an area of tropical forest the size of Singapore and
require the forcible relocation of 9,000 indigenous peoples, has been
severely criticised by environment, human rights and development groups
worldwide.

In a letter faxed to ABB's Zurich headquarters earlier today, some 200
groups and parliamentarians urged the company to withdraw from the
project.  Reacting to the news of the cancellation of the signing
ceremony, leading signatories to the letter welcomed the decision as "an
opportunity not to be missed" for ABB to reconsider its involvement.

The Bakun project has been dogged by controversy since it was first
proposed in the early 1980s.  A coalition of over 40 Malaysian groups
has called for its abandonment.  Controversy reached a head on June 19th
when a Malaysian court ruled that the environmental impact assessment
for the dam was in breach of Malaysian law and the rights of the
affected indigenous people had been ignored.

At the same time, doubts have been expressed as to the financial
viability of the project.  The proposed flotation of the Bakun
Hydroelectric Corporation has been postponed twice.  The cancellation of
the contract signing ceremony has also raised speculation as to the
overall state of the project's finances.


LETTER TO ABB

Mr Percy Barnevik
CEO, ABB Asea Brown Boveri AG
P.O. Box 8131
8050 Zrich

September 27, 1996

Re: Bakun Hydroelectric Project in Sarawak, Malaysia


Dear Mr Barnevik,

We are deeply disappointed to learn that ABB is planning to sign a
contract on Monday 30th September with Ekran Berhad for its part in
constructing the highly controversial Bakun Hydroelectric Project. As
you know, the project will have severe effects on people (including the
more than 9,000 indigenous people to be forcibly resettled) and the
environment. You will also know that the recent delay in the signing of
the contract came about because of a Malaysian High Court decision which
found Ekran and the federal and Sarawak state governments in breach of
Malaysian legislation regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment
process. In particular, the rights of the indigenous peoples within the
project area were deemed to have been severely infringed. We are
disappointed that the letter from ABB dated September 3rd in reply to
the NGO letter of July 2nd does not address this issue.

Since the legal appeal made by Ekran and others has not yet been heard,
perhaps you can explain to the indigenous peoples, all other Malaysians,
shareholders of ABB, to us and to the world at large why it is that ABB
is signing a contract to participate in a project which at this moment
is so clearly in breach of standards of procedure that ought to be
respected. Why is ABB endorsing the illegitimacy of the way in which the
Bakun Hydroelectric Project has been planned? Why is ABB disregarding
the decision of the Court and colluding in abusing the rights of the
affected indigenous peoples? Why is ABB not at least waiting for the
appeal to be heard and then reviewing its involvement in the project
thereafter?

ABB's action in hurrying to sign the contract is a disreputable one.
This letter is an expression of the widespread disappointment felt
around the world over ABB's planned action. The negative social and
environmental effects of the project are certain to be extensive.
Moreover, the economic viability of the project is in serious doubt.
Despite promises to the contrary, the cost of Bakun's electricity is
already projected to be the highest in Malaysia's history.

Participating in the Bakun project, especially while the legal issues
remain unresolved, will irreversibly tarnish ABB's reputation. We urge
you not to sign the contract.

Yours sincerely,


Peter Bosshard
Berne Declaration
Switzerland

cc. World Business Council for Sustainable Development

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS:
Carolyn Deere, A SEED, Australia
Aviva Imhof, AID/WATCH, Australia
Joseph Kwok, University of New South Wales Student Guild, Australia
Anja Light, Rainforest Information Centre, Australia
Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth, Australia
Brigitte Parnigoni, Friends of the Earth, Austria
Shireen Sultana Shereen, Friends of the Earth, Bangladesh
KEHMA-S (European Committee for Human Rights in Malaysia & Singapore),
Belgium
Hemmo Muntingh & Lesley O'Donnel, International Fund for Animal Welfare
(IFAW), Belgium
Sian Pettman, FERN, Belgium
Wendel Trio, European Alliance With Indigenous Peoples, Belgium
Joao Gerson M Cardoso, GTA, Brazil
Maria Clara Couto Soares, IBASE, Brazil
Alejandro Argumedo, Cultural Survival, Canada
Thubten Samdup, Canada Tibet Committee, Canada
John Thibodeau, Probe International, Canada
Cesar Padilla, Observatorio Latinoamericano de Conflictos Ambientales,
Chile
Gabriel Rivas-Ducca, Friends of the Earth, Costa Rica
Valdur Lahtvee, Friends of the Earth, Estonia
Martin Arnould, SOS Loire Vivante, France
Roberto A. Epple, European Rivers Network, France
Freda Meissner-Blau, ECOROPA, France
Reinhard Behrend, Rettet den Regenwald, Germany
Hermann Edelmann, Pro REGENWALD, Germany
Peter Franke, Suedostasien Informationsstelle, Germany
Sylvia Hamberger, Gesellschaft fr kologische Forschung, Germany
Bernhard Henselmann & Sascha Timm, Artists for Nature, Germany
Wolfgang Kuhlmann, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Regenwald und Artenschutz,
Germany
Christoph Meyer, Robin Wood, Germany
Wolfgang Sachs, Wuppertal Institut, Germany
Heffa Schucking, Urgewald, Germany
Katrin Seifert, EURONATURE, Germany
Barbara Unmussig, WEED, Germany
Asian Legal Resource Centre, Hong Kong
Sanjeewa Liyanage, Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong
Mario Mapanao, Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA), Hong Kong
Shripad Dharmadhikary, Narmada Bacaho Andolan (Struggle to Save The
Narmada River), India
Smitu Kothari, Lokayan, India
Kavaljit Singh, Public Interest Research Group, India
Maria Anik, International NGO Forum on Indonesia Development (INFID),
Indonesia
Arimbi Walti, Friends of the Earth, Indonesia
Francesco Martone, Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale, Italy
Reiko Amano, Society Against the NAGARA River Estuary Dam Construction,
Japan
Keiko Ebina & Aya Saitoh, Friends of the Earth, Japan
Muto Ichiyo, People's Plan 21 Council, Japan
Hiroshi Kanda, Institute for Alternative Community Development (IACOD),
Japan
Kazuko Matsue, Shinrin Renmei (Forest Association), Japan
Kazumi Mazane, Survival International Japan Network, Japan
Yoshihiko Murata, Japan Committee on CHT Issues, Japan
Takahiro Nanri, Japan Tropical Forest Network (JATAN), Japan
Dr Osami Nomura, Peace in Nerima, Japan
Mika Obayashi, Citizen's Nuclear Information Center, Japan
Shinichi Sakuma, People's Action Network To Monitor Japanese TNCs, Japan
Gaku Takayama, Sarawak Campaign Committee, Japan
Yuu Tanaka, Group KIKI, Japan
Mihoko Uramoto, Mekong Watch, Japan
Yoshie Yokokawa, Global People's Foundation"EARTH TREE", Japan
Reiko Yukawa, Women 1000, Japan
Lee Tae Hwa, Green Korea, Republic of Korea
ALAIGAL, Malaysia
Ang Hiok Gai, Parti Rakyat Malaysia, Malaysia
Sem Kiong Angin, Indigenous Peoples Development Centre, Malaysia
David Anthony, Society for Christian Reflection, Malaysia
Arul, Community Development Centre, Malaysia
Chee How, Sarawak Access, Malaysia
Steve Cheong, Selangor Graduates Society, Malaysia
Diong Chi Tzuoh, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section, Malaysia
Fan Yew Teng, Centre for Peace Initiatives, Malaysia
Irene Fernandez, Tenaganita, Malaysia
Ibrahim Halim, Mahasiswa UIA Y.g Prihatin, Malaysia
Hasmayudin Hashim, Badan Perunding Mahasiswa Negara (BPMN), Malaysia
Jerald Joseph, Community Communication Centre, Malaysia
Marcos Juing, Baram Self-Development Association, Malaysia
Zaiton Mohamed Kasim, All Women's Action Society, Malaysia
Teresa Kok, Democratic Action Party Women, Malaysia
Dr Kua Kia Song, DONG ZONG, Malaysia
Lai Sin Siang, Jiao Zhong (Association of Chinese Teachers in Malaysia),
Malaysia
Jannie Lasimbang, Partners for Community Organisers, Malaysia
Lee Siew Hwa, Youth Centre, Malaysia
Ismail Mohammed, Secretariat Pelajar, Persatuan Ulamak Malaysia,
Malaysia
Mani Muthu, Federation of Malaysian Consumer Association, Malaysia
Colin Nicholas, Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, Malaysia
Ong Boon Keong, Penang Organic Farm, Malaysia
G. Rajasekaran, Malaysian Trade Union Congress, Malaysia
K. Ramakrishnan, ALIRAN, Malaysia
Selvam, Suara Warga Pertiwi, Malaysia
Debbie Stothard, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development,
Malaysia
Sulaiman, Jawatankuasa Sokongan Peneroka Bandar, Malaysia
Tian Chua, INSAN, Malaysia
Elizabeth Wong, SUARAM, Malaysia
Wong Meng Chuo, IDEAL, Malaysia
Irene Xavier, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Malaysia
Ronny Yap, Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth, Malaysia
M Camilleri, Friends of the Earth, Malta
Carlos Heredia, Equipo Pueblo, Mexico
Jeanette Abma & Dennis Janssen, Int. Nat. Jeugduitwisseling, Netherlands
Irene Bloemink & Bertram Zagema, Friends of the Earth, Netherlands
Wouter Veening, Netherlands Committee for IUCN, Netherlands
Marie-Jose Vervest, Both ENDS, Netherlands
Nina Drolsum, FIVAS, Norway
Carino V. Antequisa, Tri-People Partnership for Peace & Development (A
network of 112 development organisations), Philippines
Mila Arbozo, Peoples' Movement for Empowerment and Development (People's
MEND), Philippines
Reginald Benitez Jr., Regional Integrated Development Coordinating
Council, Tri-People Partnership for Peace & Development, Philippines
Anna Maria Gonzales Biglang-awa, Alternative Planning Initiatives
(ALTERPLAN), Philippines
Rogelio Cabiladas (Datu Sandigan sa Bayug), Higaonon Tribal Council of
Rogongon, Philippines
Leoncio Cabusas & Ernesto Marinduque & Ludicita Cawit, Democratic
Movement of Farmers of the Philippines-Lanao Provincial Chapter (dKMP-
Lanao), Philippines
Datu Amenodin Cali, KALIMUDAN Inc. (Center for Community, Environment &
Development), Philippines
Prof. Luchi C. S. Castro (Bai Kalalagan sa Iligan/Higaonon Tribal Title)
& Frederick R. Castro (Datu Ina-Ama ko Ranaw/Higaonon Tribal Title),
LUNDUAN Human & Material Resource Development Services (RCDN, Inc.),
Philippines
Alex Gaviola, People's Council for International Solidarity and Peace,
Philippines
Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center-Kasama
sa Kalikasan (LRC-KSK/Friends of the Earth), Philippines
Ramon Loberiano Jr., District Youth Council, National Council of
Churches of the Philippines, Philippines
Liddy B. Nacpil, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Philippines
Ma. Fe Nicodemus & Ma. Luz Anigan, Kakammpi, Philippines
Prof. Geoffrey G. Salgado, RANAO Community Development Network, Inc.,
Philippines
Ellene Sana, Phil-SETI, Philippines
Al Santos, Asian Council for People's Culture, Philippines
Vim Santos & Joy Obera, People's Global Exchange, Philippines
Isagani Serrano, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Philippines
Krysztof Kamieniecki, Friends of the Earth, Poland
Rev. Oswald B. Firth & Bernard Edirisinghe, People's Forum For
Development Alternatives, Sri Lanka
Lars Bern, The Natural Step, Sweden
Katarina Bjork & Ola Larsson, Faltbiologerna, Sweden
Kristina Bjurling, Action 21/ PeaceQuest, Sweden
Nils Hannerz, Fair Trade Center, Sweden
Susanne Lindberg, Social democratic Students of Sweden, Sweden
Jenny Lundstrom, Friends of the Earth, Sweden
Bo Thunberg, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Sweden
Gunnar Tidstrom, Utbildning for bistandsverksamhet, Sweden
Goepf Berweger, Society for Threatened Peoples, Switzerland
Monica Borner, WWF, Switzerland
Armin Braunwalder, Fondation Suisse de l'Energie, Switzerland
Gaby Fierz, Group Tourism and Development, Switzerland
Roger Graf, Bruno Manser Fund, Switzerland
Franziska Nydegger Gueven, Swiss Peace Council, Switzerland
Annette Hug, Terre des Hommes, Switzerland
Carmen Jud, Swiss Peace Council, Switzerland
Werner Kueng, Swissaid, Switzerland
Gerhard Meili, Swiss Labour Assistance, Switzerland
Ursula Schaffner, Action Group Financial Centre, Switzerland
Urs Sekinger, Solifonds, Switzerland
Otto Sieber, Swiss League for Nature Protection (Friends of the Earth),
Switzerland
Brigitte Vonaesch, Incominidios, Switzerland
Andres Wiederkehr, Helvetas, Switzerland
Markus Wittmer, Swiss World Shop Association, Switzerland
Premrudee Daoroung, Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance,
Thailand
Somchai Homlaor, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-
ASIA), Thailand
Monique Baker, Global Witness, UK
Peter Bunyard, FLS Wadebridge Ecological Centre, UK
Marcus Colchester, Forest Peoples Programme, UK
John Dent, Richmond & Twickenham Friends of the Earth, UK
Hildegard Dumper, Singaporean, Malaysian and British Association
(SIMBA), UK
George Gelber, Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, UK
Dr John Green, Friends of the Earth, Scotland
Jo Hamilton, Lloyds and Midland Boycott Campaign, UK
Nicholas Hildyard, The Ecologist, UK
Kath McNulty, Norwich Earth First!, UK
Yvette Mahon, Burma Action Group, UK
Aubrey Meyer, Global Commons Institute, UK
Sophie Mustapha, Sarawak Solidarity Campaign, UK
Ross Nockles, Reforest The Earth, UK
Lekara Nwinia, MOSOP, UK
Saskia Ozinga, FERN, UK
Louise Platt, Empowering Widows in Development, UK
Martin Sharp, Bristol Rainforest Campaign, UK
Mike Silvey, EarthAction International, UK
Sue Tibballs, Women's Communication Centre, UK
Sarah Tyack, Friends of the Earth, England, Wales & Northern Ireland
Sue Wheat, Tourism Concern, UK
Stuart Wilson, Forests Monitor, UK
Dr Kate Young, WOMANKIND Worldwide, UK
Angie Zelter, Tree Cover Project, UK
Simon Billenness, Franklin Research & Development Corporation, USA
Ron Bosch, Montague Technology Center for Media & the Arts, MCTV
Montague Channel 6, USA
Dang Ngo, UCLA Rainforest Action Group, USA
Mark Dubois, WorldWise, USA
Andrea Durbin, Friends of the Earth, USA
Amy Fedde, Colorado Group Against Bakun Dam, USA
Stephanie Fried and Bruce Rich, Environmental Defense Fund, USA
John W. Friede, Worldview, USA
Jo Marie Griesgraber, Centre of Concern, USA
James Hansen, Wetlands Rainforest Action Group, USA
Whitney Haruf, Amnesty International, USA
Pharis J. Harvey, International Labor Rights Fund, USA
Randall Hayes, Rainforest Action Network, USA
Jason Hunter, Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable
Development, USA
Tim Keating, Rainforest Relief, USA
Robert Klein, Ecology Now, USA
Sally Konrady, Iowa Rainforest Action Group, USA
Orin Langelle & Anne Petermann, Native Forest Network, USA
Alexis Latham & John Clark, Friends of Nitassinan, USA
Patrick McCully, International Rivers Network, USA
Timothy J. McGloin, Friends of the Filipino People, USA
George Marshall, Rainforest Foundation International, USA
Colin Rajah, Overseas Development Network, USA
Mary Reed, Nebraskans For Peace, USA
Carol Reed-Klein, Environmental Resource Center, USA
Stephanie Rychlowski, Rainforest Action Group, USA
UCLA Environmental Coalition, USA
Robert Weissman, Essential Information, USA
Kunzang Yuthok, Tibetan Rights Campaign, USA
Marcos Arruda, ICVA Commission on Sustainable Development
Antonio B. Quizon, Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural
Development (ANGOC)

SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:
Martina Gredler, Austria
Johannes Voggenhuber, Austria
Magda Aelvoet, Belgium
Paul Lannoye, Belgium
Lone Dybkjaer, Denmark
Ulla Sandbaek, Denmark
Heidi Hautala, Finland
Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, Germany
Hiltrud Breyer, Germany
Wolfgang Kreissl-Drfler, Germany
Bernd Lange, Germany
Edith Mller, Germany
Elisabeth Schroedter, Germany
Wilfried Telkmper, Germany
Wolfgang Ullmann, Germany
Friedrich Wolf, Germany
Nuala Ahern, Ireland
Bernie Malone, Ireland
Gianni Tamino, Italy
Jan Willem Bertens, Netherlands
Nel van Dijk, Netherlands
Doeke Eisma, Netherlands
Maartje van Putten, Netherlands
Maria Teresa Estevan, Spain
Per Gahrton, Sweden
Ulf Holm, Sweden
MaLou Lindholm, Sweden
Inger Schrling, Sweden
David Bowe, UK
Peter Crampton, UK
Michael McGowan, UK
Mair Eluned Morgan, UK
Christine Oddy, UK
Anita Pollack, UK
Ian White, UK

PRESIDENTS OF GLOBE (Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced
Environment):
Akiko Domoto, GLOBE Japan
Carlos Pimenta, GLOBE EU
Vitaly Savastianov, GLOBE Russia
Tom Spencer, GLOBE International

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS:
Dr George J. Aditjondro, Deparment of Sociology & Anthropology,
Newcastle University, Australia
Higo Akemi, Japan
Andres Calvo Barrantes, Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands
Ryan Borrowman, USA
Elizabeth Brady, Canada
Joanna Fuller, UK
Douglas Gibbs, Oxford Forestry Institute, UK
Elizabeth Goggins, US Virgin Islands
Dorothy Grace M. Guerrero, International Committee, SCHOLAS, Institute
of Social Studies, Netherlands
Heiner Hoellerl, University of Forestry, Germany
Isomi Kagaya, Japan
Datu Jamail Kamlian, Ph.D., Department of History, College of Arts &
Social Sciences, Mindanao State University-Institute of Technology,
Philippines
Professor Jane Kelsey, Law Faculty, Auckland University, New Zealand
Duncan Kennedy, USA
Chris Lang, UK
Luis Alberto Camargo M., Colombia
Avonice Martin, US Virgin Islands
Yoshitaka Mino, Japan
T.K. Oey, Philippines
Kathryn S. Quick, USA
Marc Receretnam, University of Sydney, SRC Overseas Student Collective,
Australia
Dawn Robinson, Oxford Forestry Institute, UK
Jerome Rousseau, Professor, Department of Anthropology, McGill
University, Montreal, Canada
Agus P. Sari, Energy and Resources Group, University of California at
Berkeley, USA
Maria Lourdes B. Suplido, MA Student Institute of Social Studies,
Netherlands
Masahiko Tachibana, Japan
Daphne Thuvesson, Department of Rural Development Studies, Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Mutang Urud, Canada
Nikolei Vorortuov, Former President of GLOBE Russia
Dr Weiluo Wang, Department Of Spatial Planning, University of Dortmund,
Germany
David V Williams, Treaty of Waitangi researcher, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Alexey Yablokov, Environmental Adviser to President Yeltsin, Russia