Ibrahim firm on land issue<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Aceh is not just about the bloody prolonged fighting between
\nseparatist rebels and the Indonesian Military, with all of the
\nunrecorded brutalities and countless devastations of people and
\ntheir lives.<\/p>\n
A rich cultural trove, Aceh is also blessed with natural
\nresources and rain forest stretching across its lands and hills.<\/p>\n
However, political interests and human greed must just be put
\naside as Muhammad Ibrahim talks about saving his land, its
\nfertile soil and all the God's creatures that call it home.<\/p>\n
A giant highway project, called Ladia Galaska (an acronym for
\nLautan Hindia, Gayo, Luwes and Selat Malaka) is underway --
\npenetrating into the pristine 100.2 square kilometer Gunung
\nLeuser National Park and posing a threat to the provinces's
\nendangered species.<\/p>\n
The project kicked off in 2002 an in the second year of work
\nhas reached 10 kilometers of road construction from Lamsemol to
\nBeutung Ateuh in North Aceh.<\/p>\n
International groups and local environmental activists have
\nstood up against the construction of the 500-kilometer road that
\nwould link the province from west to east.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old Muhammad, the executive director of the Aceh
\nbranch of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has
\njoined the protests against the highway. As a result, he has been
\ntargeted by some locals who support the construction and the
\nmilitary, which dominates Aceh since martial law was declared
\nthere.<\/p>\n
\"Some local figures sent a letter to the governor, asking him
\nto take stern measures against Walhi and if he (the governor)
\nfailed to do so, they would take the law into their own hands,\"
\nMuhammad told The Jakarta Post recently in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Now Muhammad regularly receives threats through telephone
\ncalls and letters.<\/p>\n
\"Our sole concern today is to save the forests in Aceh,
\nparticularly our protected forests,\" he said, brushing off any
\nrisks he might face because of his work.<\/p>\n
Local environmental activist Bestari Raden was recently held
\nby the military on charges that he had links with the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM). Bestari, 50, was a member of a government-formed
\nteam charged with assessing the construction of the highway. He
\nwas detained when he was visiting the area to evaluate the
\nfeasibility of the project.<\/p>\n
But that will not deter Muhammad, who was born in Sigli, Pidie
\nregency. He is married to Afrida Nurizki, 26, and they are the
\nparents of 18-month-old Nabil Ramadhan Hamuda.<\/p>\n
Muhammad went to school in Banda Aceh, about 112 kilometers
\nfrom his hometown. In 1991, he went to Syiah Kuala University in
\nBanda Aceh, majoring in agriculture. During his university years,
\nhe was an activist with the Islamic Student Association.<\/p>\n
\"I never wanted to be an environmentalist before,\" he said
\nwith a laugh.<\/p>\n
He joined Walhi in 1998 at the invitation of a friend. When he
\nfirst joined the organization, he was appointed head of the
\ncampaign division. His interest and passion in environmental
\nissues has grown ever since.<\/p>\n
Muhammad soon became frustrated by the by residents and
\ngovernment officials lack of concern over environmental issues.<\/p>\n
\"People here have only begun to become aware of the importance
\nof taking good care of the environment following recent flooding.
\nUnfortunately, local government officials prefer to help the
\nvictims rather than preventing the floods,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aceh is home to quite a vast forest area. However, because of
\nunchecked logging, floods and landslides occur frequently. In
\n2003 alone, Aceh suffered 128 natural disasters.<\/p>\n
Today, some 25 percent of the forest in Aceh has been damaged,
\nmostly because of illegal logging and the activities of forest
\nconcessionaires.<\/p>\n
That is why Muhammad and Walhi are doing everything within
\ntheir power to protest the construction of Ladia Galaska, because
\nthe road, if completed, would pierce the heart of the protected
\nforest.<\/p>\n
Muhammad sees the project as being very dangerous. Aside from
\nthe fact that the slope of the land is over 45 degrees, the
\nhighway would travel through a protected forest that is home to
\nelephants, tigers and rhinos.<\/p>\n
\"Basically, this road construction project is good. Our
\nprotest concerns only part of the plan that goes through a
\nprotected forest as it will be harmful to the Acehnese,\" he said.<\/p>\n
If the government insists on constructing the highway through
\nthe national park, it is feared the road will only benefit
\nlogging bosses and their destructive illegal logging activities.<\/p>\n
As an environmentalist, Muhammad has also dealt with problems
\nrelated to the operations of Exxon Mobil in Lhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
\"Until now I remain convinced that Exxon Mobil should be held
\nresponsible for human rights violation in Aceh, either directly
\nor otherwise. They have provided the facilities for the
\nmilitary,\" he noted.<\/p>\n
To activists in Aceh, Muhammad is held up an example of a
\nselfless crusader for good. When a military emergency status was
\nenacted in Aceh and political activists were compelled to leave
\nthe province, Muhammad remained in Aceh.<\/p>\n
If he remains and continues his protests, it is not only
\nbecause Aceh is his home, but also because he values his calling
\nto save the land.<\/p>\n
\"It is possible for me to remain here perhaps because I deal
\nwith environmental issues. Although, in this case, I often have
\nto face high-ranking government officials,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A friend of Muhammad's, lawyer Rufriadi, commented: \"He is
\ncourageous and is highly consistent in taking good care of the
\nenvironment even though that is not an easy job in Aceh.\"<\/p>",
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