Siberut island

Not long ago I visited the island of Siberut, an island near Padang, West Sumatra. Meeting the Mentawai and learning about their way of life is probably the best experience I had during my travels through Indonesia. The Mentawai tribes live in clans, they have their own language and their own way of life.

With the help of a guide, who speaks their language, they pointed out to me that the Indonesian government is destroying their rain forest to build oil palm plantations. Building those plantations implies killing the clans living on Siberut island, as they live in the forest from which they get their food.

I would like to point out to all of you that in a few years yet another Indonesian tribe will be eliminated by a destructive way of doing business. In order to keep Siberut as it is, the government should invest in education and health care.

Please do not destroy this beautiful and valuable nature and your very interesting culture just to earn quick money. I am afraid that is short-term thinking.

MIEKE

Amsterdam, The Netherlands