borneo
The Indigenous Right
To be forcibly moved from one’s own country or living space under the conditions of someone else’s circumstances can create daunting challenges to overcome. Internally Displaced Persons, often referred to as “IDPs”, are defined as "persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence” (E. Mooney, 2005). The forces that inflict the departure of these groups can range from political or environmental threats, ranges of violence within the group’s surroundings or a degree of violations against human rights. South East Asia is home to Borneo, the third largest island in the world, and residence to a lush variety of endangered species and dense rainforests. Within the landscape of the island, an estimated 18 million people inhabit the land, with a variety of Indigenous groups who have occupied the island for generations (WWF, n.d). Due to the lush environment and progression of resources, the Malaysian government has been interested in the Borneo land for a number of years, wanting to construct a set of 10-12 large water dams to generate larger amounts of hydroelectricity by the year 2020 (Morgan, 2012). The construction of these dams has displaced, and currently threatens to relocate the indigenous people who have inhabited the Borneo land for generations. The people of the Borneo land face the initial challenge of being uprooted from their homes, but more effectively are being approached with the aftermath and future of becoming Internally Displaced Persons, and learning how to adjust to the radical changes that are being made in their lives. When a group is displaced from their homeland, there are environmental, economic, cultural and human right factors that accompany the removal and add to the challenges they have to face.
The Bakun Dam and Environment
The Bakun Dam was an early dam constructed on the Balui River within Borneo, generating
To be forcibly moved from one’s own country or living space under the conditions of someone else’s circumstances can create daunting challenges to overcome. Internally Displaced Persons, often referred to as “IDPs”, are defined as "persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence” (E. Mooney, 2005). The forces that inflict the departure of these groups can range from political or environmental threats, ranges of violence within the group’s surroundings or a degree of violations against human rights. South East Asia is home to Borneo, the third largest island in the world, and residence to a lush variety of endangered species and dense rainforests. Within the landscape of the island, an estimated 18 million people inhabit the land, with a variety of Indigenous groups who have occupied the island for generations (WWF, n.d). Due to the lush environment and progression of resources, the Malaysian government has been interested in the Borneo land for a number of years, wanting to construct a set of 10-12 large water dams to generate larger amounts of hydroelectricity by the year 2020 (Morgan, 2012). The construction of these dams has displaced, and currently threatens to relocate the indigenous people who have inhabited the Borneo land for generations. The people of the Borneo land face the initial challenge of being uprooted from their homes, but more effectively are being approached with the aftermath and future of becoming Internally Displaced Persons, and learning how to adjust to the radical changes that are being made in their lives. When a group is displaced from their homeland, there are environmental, economic, cultural and human right factors that accompany the removal and add to the challenges they have to face.
The Bakun Dam and Environment
The Bakun Dam was an early dam constructed on the Balui River within Borneo, generating
References: Mooney, E. "The Concept of Internal Displacement and the Case for Internally Displaced Persons as a Category of Concern", in: Refugee Survey Quarterly, Volume 24, Issue 3, 2005, Web. 10 Nov. 2013 "The Human Heart of Borneo." WWF. World Wild Life Fund, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2013. Morgan, Brihannala. "The Borneo Project: Defending Rivers and the Communities That Rely on Them." Earth Island Journal (2012): 15. Summer 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. "Penan - Survival International." Penan - Survival International. Survival International Charitable Trust, 1969-2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. "Bakun Dam." International Rivers. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. Aiken, S. Robert, and Colin H. Leigh. "In the Way of Development: Indigenous Land - Rights Issues in Malaysia." The Geographical Review (Oct 2011): n. pag. American Geographical Society, Oct. 2011. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.