In a distressing video from Indonesia, members of an uncontacted Indigenous tribe urgently warn against bulldozers destroying their ancestral forest on Halmahera island, revealing a human rights catastrophe. Logging and nickel mining operations endanger the vulnerable Hongana Manyawa people, risking genocide. Survival International's Director, Caroline Pearce, emphasizes the gravity of the situation, declaring the video as unequivocal proof that mining operations are encroaching deep into the heart of the Hongana Manyawa's rainforest. The crisis draws substantial investments from major corporations, with urgent appeals for the Indonesian government to recognize and protect the Hongana Manyawa's territory, highlighting the imminent human rights catastrophe and stressing the crucial need for swift action.
A recent distressing video has surfaced, capturing members of an uncontacted Indigenous tribe in Indonesia urgently warning outsiders to stay away as bulldozers destroy their ancestral forest on Halmahera island. The footage reveals an unfolding human rights catastrophe, with logging and nickel mining operations penetrating the rainforest of the vulnerable Hongana Manyawa people, risking their genocide, according to campaigners.
Caroline Pearce, Director of Survival International, emphasizes the gravity of the situation, stating that the video is unequivocal proof that mining operations are encroaching deep into the heart of the Hongana Manyawa's rainforest. The crisis extends to vast areas of Halmahera's rainforest slated for logging and nickel mining, drawing major investments from companies such as Tesla and involving French, German, Indonesian, and Chinese corporations in mining activities.
The video showcases a tense encounter between uncontacted Hongana Manyawa individuals and bulldozer operators, highlighting the clash between indigenous rights and industrial pursuits. Despite the destruction being illegal under international law, mining companies, including Weda Bay Nickel, continue operations, posing a direct threat to the survival of the uncontacted tribe. Urgent calls are made for the Indonesian government to recognize and protect the Hongana Manyawa's territory, as campaigners stress the potential human rights catastrophe and the need for swift action to preserve the delicate balance between development and the preservation of indigenous lives and lands.