Headlines
January 31, 2014
DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE
Sengwer spokesman Yator Kiptum denounced the “disaster” caused by combined force of the Kenya Forest Service and Administration Police, a paramilitary unit of the police, which is now evicting the Sengwer not just from the Embobut Forest but from the entirety of the Cherangany Hills, destroying property and burning homes. “The government of Kenya is forcing us into extinction," he said.[ii]
The extension of the evictions to all other areas in the Cherangany Hills forest complex to include Kapolet and Lelan/Kamolokon “means the removal of the entire population of Sengwer indigenous people living in the Cherangany Hills from their ancestral lands.”[iii] Some13,500 Sengwer live in the Cherangany Hills in Kenya’s Northern Rift Valley, and are one of the few hunter-gatherer groups left in eastern Africa.[iv]
According to Forest Peoples Programme, the Sengwer are not squatters. “The Sengwer have their rights to their ancestral forest lands enshrined in the Constitution and international law.” [v] The Sengwer obtained court orders to prevent further evictions to no avail.
Inspector Stephene Chessa who works for the Kenya Forest Service and is in charge of the Embobut evictions, denied anyone had been evicted by force. According to Mr. Chessa, the presence of the security forces is to ensure that the process is smooth.[vi] Funders of the Kenya Forest Service include the World Bank and the government of Finland.[vii]
Last year, the World Bank funded the Government of Kenya’s REDD+ Program exclusively through its $68.5 million dollar Natural Resources Management Program, in the Cherangany Hills.[viii]
According its Inspection Panel report No. 77959-KE, the World Bank was “financing REDD+ readiness activities” as part of this program. As of last May, activities started include: “Identification of Grazing Systems as a REDD+ Strategy Option [and] Development of a Methodology for Monitoring Community Engagement in Forest Management and REDD+.”[ix] REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) is a carbon offset mechanism that uses forests and land as sponges for Northern pollution.[x]
Solomon Mibei, Head of Conservation at KFS, said that “At the moment, the KFS is conducting workshops with communities living around the Embobut forest and the Kakamega forest to educate them on carbon financing.”[xi]
Possible partners for eventually doing REDD in Kenya include the Africa Development Bank, which is already working with communities on “forest conservation” exchange programs through a programme known as Green Zones Development Support Project (GZDSP).[xiii] Toyota[xiv] and Coca-Cola[xv] may also be prospective partners.
Last year, Sengwer representatives denounced previous KFS evictions in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 as well as the alleged shooting of the Sengwer woman Mrs. Beatrice Chepkorir in The Cherangany Hills Project Operation area of the World Bank-funded Natural Resources Management Project.[xvi] The Sengwer representatives also demanded that the Bank suspend funding for REDD+ until these injustices are addressed.[xvii]
This is not the first time in Kenya that Indigenous People suffer violent evictions from their ancestral territory that is slated for REDD. “The Mau Forest was made “ready” for UNEP-funded REDD with violent evictions of the Indigenous Ogiek People,” which threaten their cultural survival.[xviii] A landmark ruling on these evictions is expected to be handed down by the African Court this year.
The evictions of the Sengwer join the growing roster of land grabs and grave human rights violations caused by REDD ‘readyness” initiatives and forest carbon projects, which also include persecution, imprisonment, and killing.[xix]The evictions of the Sengwer may also confirm Friends of the Earth International’s concern that REDD could “foster an ‘armed protection’ mentality that could lead to the displacement of millions of forest-dependent people, including by force.”[xx]
“A false solution to climate change, REDD+ is emerging as a new form of colonialism, economic subjugation and a driver of land grabs so massive that they may constitute a continent grab. We must defend the continent from carbon colonialism,” declares the No REDD in Africa Network.
Even the United Nations admits that REDD+ could result in the “lock-up of forests,” “loss of land,” “conflict over resources,” “new risks for the poor” and “marginalize the landless.”[xxi]
There has been some debate as to whether REDD could potentially cause cultural genocide.[xxii] The evictions of the Sengwer People indicate that it very well may.
###
DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE
(Forest guards arrive in Kenya's Embobut Forest in preparation for the evictions. © FPP)
Last year the Government of Kenya was getting “ready” for REDD in the
Embobut Forest, now it is violently evicting the Sengwer People and
forcing them “into extinction.” According to Survival International, “as
many as a thousand homes have already been torched.”[i]Sengwer spokesman Yator Kiptum denounced the “disaster” caused by combined force of the Kenya Forest Service and Administration Police, a paramilitary unit of the police, which is now evicting the Sengwer not just from the Embobut Forest but from the entirety of the Cherangany Hills, destroying property and burning homes. “The government of Kenya is forcing us into extinction," he said.[ii]
The extension of the evictions to all other areas in the Cherangany Hills forest complex to include Kapolet and Lelan/Kamolokon “means the removal of the entire population of Sengwer indigenous people living in the Cherangany Hills from their ancestral lands.”[iii] Some13,500 Sengwer live in the Cherangany Hills in Kenya’s Northern Rift Valley, and are one of the few hunter-gatherer groups left in eastern Africa.[iv]
According to Forest Peoples Programme, the Sengwer are not squatters. “The Sengwer have their rights to their ancestral forest lands enshrined in the Constitution and international law.” [v] The Sengwer obtained court orders to prevent further evictions to no avail.
Inspector Stephene Chessa who works for the Kenya Forest Service and is in charge of the Embobut evictions, denied anyone had been evicted by force. According to Mr. Chessa, the presence of the security forces is to ensure that the process is smooth.[vi] Funders of the Kenya Forest Service include the World Bank and the government of Finland.[vii]
Last year, the World Bank funded the Government of Kenya’s REDD+ Program exclusively through its $68.5 million dollar Natural Resources Management Program, in the Cherangany Hills.[viii]
According its Inspection Panel report No. 77959-KE, the World Bank was “financing REDD+ readiness activities” as part of this program. As of last May, activities started include: “Identification of Grazing Systems as a REDD+ Strategy Option [and] Development of a Methodology for Monitoring Community Engagement in Forest Management and REDD+.”[ix] REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) is a carbon offset mechanism that uses forests and land as sponges for Northern pollution.[x]
Solomon Mibei, Head of Conservation at KFS, said that “At the moment, the KFS is conducting workshops with communities living around the Embobut forest and the Kakamega forest to educate them on carbon financing.”[xi]
(Homes of the Sengwer People in Kenya's Cherangany Hills torched by forest guards © Justin Kenrick/ Survival)
However, according to Forest Peoples Programme, KFS does not have a
good track record protecting forests. “…when the KFS is in control then
indigenous forest is fast destroyed, as profit-making plantations and
agriculture replace the biodiversity of the indigenous forest.”[xii]Possible partners for eventually doing REDD in Kenya include the Africa Development Bank, which is already working with communities on “forest conservation” exchange programs through a programme known as Green Zones Development Support Project (GZDSP).[xiii] Toyota[xiv] and Coca-Cola[xv] may also be prospective partners.
Last year, Sengwer representatives denounced previous KFS evictions in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 as well as the alleged shooting of the Sengwer woman Mrs. Beatrice Chepkorir in The Cherangany Hills Project Operation area of the World Bank-funded Natural Resources Management Project.[xvi] The Sengwer representatives also demanded that the Bank suspend funding for REDD+ until these injustices are addressed.[xvii]
This is not the first time in Kenya that Indigenous People suffer violent evictions from their ancestral territory that is slated for REDD. “The Mau Forest was made “ready” for UNEP-funded REDD with violent evictions of the Indigenous Ogiek People,” which threaten their cultural survival.[xviii] A landmark ruling on these evictions is expected to be handed down by the African Court this year.
The evictions of the Sengwer join the growing roster of land grabs and grave human rights violations caused by REDD ‘readyness” initiatives and forest carbon projects, which also include persecution, imprisonment, and killing.[xix]The evictions of the Sengwer may also confirm Friends of the Earth International’s concern that REDD could “foster an ‘armed protection’ mentality that could lead to the displacement of millions of forest-dependent people, including by force.”[xx]
“A false solution to climate change, REDD+ is emerging as a new form of colonialism, economic subjugation and a driver of land grabs so massive that they may constitute a continent grab. We must defend the continent from carbon colonialism,” declares the No REDD in Africa Network.
Even the United Nations admits that REDD+ could result in the “lock-up of forests,” “loss of land,” “conflict over resources,” “new risks for the poor” and “marginalize the landless.”[xxi]
There has been some debate as to whether REDD could potentially cause cultural genocide.[xxii] The evictions of the Sengwer People indicate that it very well may.
###
[i] Kenyan government forcing us into extinction’: evictions of Sengwer tribe escalate , Survival International, 24 January 2014 http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/9932
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Kenya Burns Indigenous People Out of Ancestral Lands, Environmental News Service, January 22, 2014
http://ens-newswire.com/2014/01/22/kenya-burns-indigenous-people-out-of-ancestral-lands/
[iv]
Sengwer, Marakwet and other inhabitants of the Embobut Forest are being
told to move by authorities, Survival International, March 2013.
http://www.survivalinternational.org/news.rss
[v] Ibid. and Indigenous Peoples evicted and their homes set on fire; Embobut forest, Kenya, REDD Monitor
http://www.redd-monitor.org/2014/01/24/indigenous-peoples-evicted-and-their-homes-set-on-fire-embobut-forest-kenya/#more-14794
[vi] Interview with Inspector Stephen Chessa, by Kenyan journalist Esipisu Isaiah. January 19, 2014.
[vii]
Miti Mingi Maisha Bora (MMMB) – Support to the Forest Sector Reform in
Kenya, Embassy of Finland in Kenya, “…while components 2 and 3 are
primarily implemented by KFS;” Note promotion of “trade in bio-energy.”
http://www.finland.or.ke/public/default.aspx?nodeid=46392&contentlan=2&culture=en-US
[viii]
PROJECT APPRAISAL DOCUMENT ON A PROPOSED CREDIT IN THE AMOUNT OF SDR
46.0 MILLION (US$68.5 MILLION EQUIVALENT) TO THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA FOR
A NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECT February 26, 2007
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2007/03/12/000020953_20070312104941/Rendered/PDF/37982.pdf
[ix]
World Bank Inspection Panel, Report and Recommendation KENYA: Natural
Resource Management Project (P095050), May 29, 2013, page 70
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/05/31/000442464_20130531104013/Rendered/PDF/779590IPR0P09500lPN0REQUEST0RQ01302.pdf
[x] See No REDD Papers, Volume 1 http://www.no-redd.com/ No REDD Reader, http://noredd.makenoise.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/REDDreaderEN.pdf
[xi] Interview with Solomon Mibei Head of Conservation Kenya Forest Services by Kenyan journalist Esipisu Isaiah, January 18, 2014.
[xii] Kenya Burns Indigenous People Out of Ancestral Lands http://ens-newswire.com/2014/01/22/kenya-burns-indigenous-people-out-of-ancestral-lands/
[xiii] Interview with Solomon Mibei Head of Conservation Kenya Forest Services by Kenyan journalist Esipisu Isaiah, January 18, 2014.
[xiv]
Interview with Sayoko Morita, Assistant to Managing Director, and in
charge of the Cooperate Social Responsibility – Toyota Kenya by Kenyan
journalist Esipisu Isaiah, January 2014;
Cherangany water tower gets new lease on life, The Standard, 11 may 2011, "We presented a proposal to Toyota and they agreed to fund part of the rehabilitation of this important water tower," said Core Country Chairman Kiyoshi Kita.” https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000034623&pageNo=1
Cherangany water tower gets new lease on life, The Standard, 11 may 2011, "We presented a proposal to Toyota and they agreed to fund part of the rehabilitation of this important water tower," said Core Country Chairman Kiyoshi Kita.” https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000034623&pageNo=1
[xv]
Introduction to PES and REDD, Nairobi, 2011, Coca Cola listed as a
funder (slide
6): http://www.slideshare.net/ICRAF_PRESA/introduction-ot-pes-and-redd-namirembe
“Kerio Valley Development Authority, Eldoret Water and Sanitation
Company (Eldowas), Marakwet County Council and Coca Cola have also come
together to save the forest.” The Standard, https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000034623&pageNo=1
[xvi]
“Shooting of a woman in Kapolet forest - in 2009 when the forest guards
entered Kapolet forest to arrest members of Sengwer families they used
live bullets. During the shootings, Mrs. Beatrice Chepkorir a Sengwer
indigenous woman was shot from the back and left for death.” page 28
REQUEST FOR INSPECTION PANEL REVIEW OF THE KENYA: NATURAL RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT PROJECT (P095050) received by the Inspection Panel on January
14, 2013 and registered on January 30, 2013 (RQ13/02).(Annex 1)
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/05/31/000442464_20130531104013/Rendered/PDF/779590IPR0P09500lPN0REQUEST0RQ01302.pdf
World Bank The Inspection Panel http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTINSPECTIONPANEL/0,,contentMDK:23350855~pagePK:64129751~piPK:64128378~theSitePK:380794,00.html
World Bank The Inspection Panel http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTINSPECTIONPANEL/0,,contentMDK:23350855~pagePK:64129751~piPK:64128378~theSitePK:380794,00.html
[xvii] Ibid, page 30.
[xviii]
The Worse REDD-type Projects in Africa: Continent Grab for Carbon
Colonialism , No REDD in Africa Network,
http://no-redd-africa.org/index.php/16-redd-players/84-the-worst-redd-type-projects-in-africa-continent-grab-for-carbon-colonialism
[xix]
Ibid and A Dozen of the Worst REDD-type Projects, Carbon Trade Watch,
http://www.ienearth.org/docs/REDD-A%20Dozen-of-the-Worst-REDD-type-projects.pdf
[xx] Friends of the Earth International, REDD: Critical questions and myths exposed,, Summary www.foei.org/publications
[xxi]
UN-REDD Framework Document,
http://www.undp.org/mdtf/UN-REDD/docs/Annex-A-Framework-Docoment.pdf ,
p. 4-5 A Poverty Environment Partnership (PEP) Policy Brief, Based on
the report “Making REDD Work for the Poor”, (Peskett et al, 2008)
http://www.povertyenvironment.net/pep/ PEP includes UNDP, UNEP, IUCN,
OCI, SIDA, ADB, DFID, WCMC
[xxii] Launch of No REDD in Africa Network: “REDD could cause genocide.”
“In 1948, the United Nations approved the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which defines genocide as follows: ‘genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.’
Does this definition apply to REDD? Potentially, it does. REDD could involve a vast area of land (theoretically covering the area of forest land – including large areas of agricultural land – in the global south). The rights to the use of that land could be taken away from Indigenous Peoples who depend on their forests for their livelihoods. Destroying livelihoods on this scale could conform to the parts (a), (b), and (c) of the definition of genocide, above.”
REDD Monitor http://www.redd-monitor.org/2013/04/03/launch-of-no-redd-in-africa-network-redd-could-cause-genocide/
Without a doubt, the massive evictions and burning of their homes are causing the Sengwer People mental harm, and, thus, conforming to criteria (b) of genocide.
“In 1948, the United Nations approved the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which defines genocide as follows: ‘genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.’
Does this definition apply to REDD? Potentially, it does. REDD could involve a vast area of land (theoretically covering the area of forest land – including large areas of agricultural land – in the global south). The rights to the use of that land could be taken away from Indigenous Peoples who depend on their forests for their livelihoods. Destroying livelihoods on this scale could conform to the parts (a), (b), and (c) of the definition of genocide, above.”
REDD Monitor http://www.redd-monitor.org/2013/04/03/launch-of-no-redd-in-africa-network-redd-could-cause-genocide/
Without a doubt, the massive evictions and burning of their homes are causing the Sengwer People mental harm, and, thus, conforming to criteria (b) of genocide.
No comments:
Post a Comment