A Consequence of Illegal Logging

A CONSEQUENCE OF ILLEGAL LOGGING

by Antonio C. Antonio

September 5, 2014

A colleague from a group called “UPlanders” shared this link: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/photo-report-amazon-indian-warriors-beat-strip-illegal-loggers-battle-jungles-future-1464021?utm_medium=social which is a photo essay published in the International Business Times (IBT).  (Incidentally, the UPlanders is an organization committed to promoting environmentalism and is composed of academicians and students of environmental science.  I am closely identified with the UPlanders.)  The photo essay was reported by photographer Lunae Parracho who followed the Ka’apor warriors during their jungle expedition to search for and expel illegal loggers from the Alto Turiacu Indian territory in the Amazon basin.  The Ka’apor is an indigenous tribe in Brazil.

The photo essay is composed of 14 photographs but for this article I only used 12… the other 2 photos were omitted to save space in the photo collage provided in this article.  I also tried to post these photos to what I believe was the chronology of events --- starting from top left to bottom right.

Photo No. 1:  The image shows as the Ka’apor warriors preparing to for a jungle expedition to search for and expel illegal loggers.  Tired of what they say is a lack of sufficient government assistance in keeping illegal loggers off their land, the Ka’apor people, who along with 4 other tribes are the legal inhabitants and caretakers of the territory.

Photo No. 2:  The Ka’apor warriors crossing a timber/log bridge to the area they suspect illegal loggers are operating.  This timber/log bridge is crucial as it provides access to the forest area.  The photo only shows the Ka’apor warriors crossing it.  Conventional wisdom dictates that this bridge should be destroyed to leave only a footbridge.  Why?... for 2 reasons: (1) To trap the illegal loggers where they are; and, (2) To discourage the use of this bridge for either ingress or egress of illegally harvested timber in the future.  The IBT report is silent on what was done to this bridge.

Photo No. 3:  Shows the Ka’apor warriors catching up with the illegal loggers and the subsequent mauling that ensued.  This is where I start to disagree with the entire proceedings.  I still believe that even illegal logger, no matter how evil they are perceived to be, should be treated in the most humane fashion.  Anywhere in the world, government functions in a structure where a system of justice exists and people should never take the law into their own hands… or else we will all live in a chaotic world where crimes are solved with lawlessness or resolving wrong with wrong methods equals wrong results.  Niccolo Machiavelli once said: “The ends justify the means.”… this, unfortunately, does not apply to morality and righteousness-related cases.  Whose moral standard should be followed in a community where wrong is right?  I could not say for certain what sort of people the Ka’apor tribesmen are… all I know is this sort of behaviour is akin to savages and have no place in civilized society.  In the Philippines, the Commission on Human Rights will certainly have a mouthful to say about this.

Photo No. 4:  Shows the Ka’apor warriors watching over the captured illegal loggers (with their hands tied behind their backs).  It seems apparent that the illegal loggers are exhausted and immobile from the beating they were subjected to.

Photo No. 5:  Shows the illegal loggers being stripped off their pants and footwear.  This is an acceptable strategy to prevent any attempt at escape.

Photo No. 6:  Shows a Ka’apor warrior poking his rifle at the back of an illegal logger.  This is again something I disapprove of.  The gun looks old and primitive compared to modern rifles.  But, primitive or modern, guns are guns and guns have a curious way of accidentally firing by themselves.  We should take into consideration that this particular illegal logger is a human being who goes home to and is loved by a family.  If he accidentally gets shot and dies, some family in Latin America will have to bear the emotional burden of losing a member of their family.

Photo Nos. 7 and 8: Show an illegal logger (with his hands tied behind his back) attempting to escape with a Ka’apor warrior hot on his tail with a stick.  The following photo shows the illegal logger back in captivity with apparently more bruises after the failed attempt to escape.

Photo Nos. 9, 10 and 11: Show (in sequence) petrol being poured onto the truck hauler, a Ka’apor warrior about to torch the truck and the vehicle burning.  I am inclined to agree with this.  However, in the Philippine justice system, there is a possibility that this might weaken a case against illegal loggers for lack of evidence.

Photo No. 12:  Shows a Ka’apor warrior carrying home a confiscated chain saw.  The chain saw is the iconic symbol of logging (legal or illegal).  I just can’t help but wonder why this chain saw was not burned together with the other logging equipment.  Is it being preserved for further use?  Are the Ka’apor tribesmen also engaged in logging?... legal or illegal?

When I first saw these photos, my initial reaction was “bagay lang sa kanila” (they [the illegal loggers] deserved it).  But after looking at the photos again, my views changed to be more balanced.  Although I strongly disagree with the manner by which the Ka’apor warriors treated the illegal loggers, I still believe illegal logging is bad and illegal loggers should be punished AFTER DUE PROCESS is followed.  Again, I should highlight that savagery has no place in civilized society and anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.  But then, I am just a simple environmental activist… not a lawyer.  And therefore please allow me to say: “To the people still engaged in nefarious activities such as illegal logging, please be warned that what happened in the Amazon basin could also happen to you… as a consequence of illegal logging.”

Just my little thoughts…

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