Compasionate Justice

End Logging and Palm Concessions in Leuser International Ecosystem

Leuser International Ecosystem covers 2.6 million hectares and is the last habitat for Sumatran orangutans (4,000) elephants (500) tigers (500) and rhinos (60).

This habitat is disappearing rapidly. This vast territory was depopulated during the thirty years of war since most of the fighting went on in the mountains. Since the peace accord was signed, large commercial logging and palm interests have moved in and devastated the mountains. You can stand on a ridge and see mountain after mountain after mountain of palm, which does not hold water or soil but is replacing the vast rain forest being clear-cut.

One can stand in the bio-reserve and hear a dozen chain saws all going non-stop. Sides of the mountains are falling off and floods are expanding. Local people say, "Floods? There&s always floods." But, they are changing:

• Floods of 1926, 1963 and 1973 brought about ONE foot of clear water.
• Floods of 1995/6 and 2005 brought THREE feet of dirty, itchy water.
• Flood of 2006 brought 12-14 feet of dirty, itchy water and 3-4 feet of sediment--taking lives, homes and livelihoods and impinging on all activities.

The enormous Tamiang River in the flood of 2005-2006 had a log-jam that local people said went twelve miles up river.

Conflict Refugees

Conflict refugees are living in Leuser International Ecosystem unrecognized by any government. Seven hundred families of mostly Javanese farmer were run out of Aceh, primarily East Aceh, during the war. They invited us to come to the refugee camp to do Alternatives to Violence workshops there. They have their own school that they built with some assistance from the Jesuit Relief Services, but who have long since left the area. They asked for scholarships for children to go to school and for books.

These brave facilitators returned to Aceh to their great amazement to join us in Alternatives to Violence training and to their even greater amazement, accepted Acehnese facilitators in the refugee camp to conduct AVP workshops together. By the end of these workshops the Acehnese and the Javanese refugees had become so close they discovered common relatives and did not want to part ways. Amir said, "You will never, ever know how much I have changed since I met you. You will never be able to imagine that. I have to confess that before you came 100 percent of us thought of nothing but revenge. Now, it is so different. If anyone had told me it could be different, I would have looked them straight in the eye and said,'You have no idea what you're talking about; you just don't understand.' I never would have believed we could have changed so much. Thank you."

Trauma Healing and Recovery

Trauma Healing and Recovery is a great need, but remains a hope for the future among many of the survivors of the war in Aceh. We are beginning to train friends in grounding and stabilization techniques and healing.