Story
April 25, 2022
Mentawai Youth Movement Against Forest Exploitation (bahasa Indonesia)
Country:
Mentawai Indigenous people are struggling to defend their last forest in North Pagai Island, West...
This story excerpt was translated from bahasa Indonesia. To read the original story in full, visit Mentawai Kita. You may also view the original story on the Rainforest Journalism Fund website here. Our website is available in English, Spanish, bahasa Indonesia, French, and Portuguese.
MENTAWAI-In a loud voice, Yulia Tiorajani Satoko gave a speech against the exploitation of the Mentawai forest in front of the West Sumatra Forestry Service Office last February. The student from Saibi Samukop, Siberut Tengah, Mentawai, asked the government to no longer issue permits for timber companies in her hometown.
That afternoon, Yulia seemed emotional. She even had tears in his eyes. “For the Mentawai people, forests are a source of life and have important values. For this reason, we will continue to fight for forest safety in the Mentawai. We're not going to stand still, remember that," she said.
As a nonprofit journalism organization, we depend on your support to fund journalism covering underreported issues around the world. Donate any amount today to become a Pulitzer Center Champion and receive exclusive benefits!
Lia is a group of young Mentawai youth who are members of the Coalition to Save the Future of Mentawai Forests. With her friends from the West Sumatra Mentawai Student Forum (Formma), they joined the Coalition to reject a number of forest utilization permits in Mentawai, one of which was the Non-Forestry Activity Timber Utilization (PKKNK) permit in Silabu, North Pagai covering an area of 1,500 hectares for the Koperasi Minyak Atsiri Mentawai. This Koperasi will clear forests and community fields for plantations of essential oil crops.
