I had the opportunity to do a field visit to communities impacted by Sud-Cameroun Hévéa (“Sudcam”), a rubber plantation company situated in the South region of Cameroon. Sudcam is a subsidiary of Halcyon Agri based in Singapore and is responsible for by far the most devastating new forest clearance for industrial agriculture in the Congo Basin. Halcyon Agri is a supplier to major tyre brands like Goodyear, Continental, Michelin and Bridgestone. An “influential member” of the Cameroonian political elite is reported to own 20% of Sudcam. The plantation lies only seven kilometres from the Mvomeka’a mansion of Cameroon President.
This visit took place from the 17th-19th of November 2019 with stakeholders (senators, parliamentarians, representative of council of chiefs, representatives of council of churches, representative of human rights organizations and journalists). We visited five villages namely Ndibesson, Zoumayo, Ekok, Edjoum and Bitieh. Some stakeholders regretted why they had breakfast in the morning before the visit because communities received us with lots of food and drinks as if we were there to do the traditional wedding of one of their daughters.
The objective of the visit was for these stakeholders to get first hand information from local and indigenous communities as well as visit the concession area to be able to evaluate the deforestation, displacements and above all the human rights abuses inflicted on the communities by Sudcam.
The entrance to Sudcam plantation: Security, with instructions from HR, denied stakeholders access to the plantation.
Forest Campaigner Sylvie Djacbou Introducing the delegation of stakeholders to the villagers of Ndibesson
Here pictured is the Chief of Ndibesson recounting the hardship brought to his community by Sudcam. He said “when we went to Sudcam to complain, we were told by Sudcam officials to go and complain in Paris, France as per the Establishment Convention”
This is ridiculous! How can people who don’t even have transport fare to go to neighbouring Yaounde be able to afford money to pay flight tickets to go and file complaints in Paris?
Chief Nyatte from a neighbouring village to Ndibesson said that Sudcam has not only seized their land, but that it’s workers also steal their crops and take away their wives.
“When Sudcam came we thought our lives will change for the better but it has gone worse” said a native of Ndibesson.
Woman in Zoumayo village recounting insecurity caused by activities of Sudcam “We have to go around the village with at least two dogs because the forest clearance by Sudcam has led to habitat destruction causing wild animals to take refuge in the village”.
The Chief of Edjoum Village talking to the press how his community is struggling to accommodate these indigenous Baka people whose camps were destroyed by Sudcam.
Displaced Indigenous Baka People who sought refuge in Edjoum Village explain to the delegation how they were forced out of their land by Sudcam and are now displaced.
“Communities were not represented in the consultation process and communities have not been adequately compensated” “Some community members were given sums as low as 2500FCFA ($5) as compensation for the land. said Chief of Ekok Village.
Bitye community members recounting the false promises Sudcam made to them such as providing social services like healthcare, education etc
The field visit cumulated with a press conference in Yaounde on Thursday the 23rd of November 2018 with over 20 journalists in attendance.
Stakeholders and Greenpeace Africa Staff at the press conference
“By refusing to address the social concerns affecting riverine communities, Sudcam is nurturing a ticking bomb,” revealed Joseph Zebaze, the National Coordinator of Cameroon Network of Human Rights Organizations (RECODH).
Greenpeace Africa Forest Campaigner Sylvie Djacbou talking to the press “Sudcam violated both national and international law and never respected the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous people” said Madam Djacbou
After hearing from these people about the human rights abuses they have gone through, about the failed promises and seeing the deforestation on the ground, it is important that Sudcam and Halycon Agri should stop focusing on publishing empty policies about what they could do, but instead focus on engaging in a conflict resolution process with local and indigenous communities, addressing violations of their rights and providing redress for harms due to physical and economic displacement. SUDCAM and Halcyon Agri also need to immediately suspend any further clearance of the forest.
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Discussion
Non à l'accaparemment des terres. Ces terres constituent la mane nourricière pour beaucoup d'entre nous. Et nombreux sont ceux qui sont devenus ce qu'ils sont aujourd'hui grâce aux fruits des récoltes venant de nos terres. Alors je dis non à cet acte ignoble qui appauvrit davantage nos populations.
Les populations autochtones de l'afrique sont les plus touchées par l'accaparemment des terres; ces terres sont leur richesse, leur vie en générale et ces dernières finissent toujours par payer au prix de leurs vies. Alors tous ensemble disons NON à l'accaparemment des terres.
Les populations autochtones sont les plus concernées par l'accaparemment des terres. Ces terres sont leur richesse bref leur vie en générale. Disons NON à l'accaparemment des terres.
Land grabbing must stop i really thank Green Peace for his work. The human rights of vulnérable persons "the villagers" must be preserved. And together i 'am sure we can change things. We all have the right to live and enjoy what our environment offerts to us.
Nous avons tous le devoir de résister et d'accompagner les peuples qui se battent pour leur dignité ! NON À L'ACCAPAREMENT DES TERRES