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The land of sacred tree
FRIDAY 09 MAY 2008
In the heart of Mandinka territory in western Mali, people believe
that cutting down a tree is a sacrilege. And yet, over a two-month
period, a Chinese company lumbered 243 tonnes of wood. (Report: F.-X.
Freland)
FRIDAY 09 MAY 2008
By FRANCE 24
In the heart of the Mandinka territory in western Mali, the Mandinka
believe that cutting down a tree is a sacrilege.This is the land of
the sacred tree, the tree of life, the tree of words, the one that
protects from evil spirits.
So what has been going on here these past few weeks has left people
with a bitter taste and belief that the land of their ancestors is
being desecrated. In two months a Chinese company lumbered 243 tonnes
of wood, in what is one of the country=92s last forest natural reserves.
And it=92s not just any wood but Vene Wood, a precious wood which
resembles teak and whose leaves are used to feed livestock.
Mandinka hunters are firing guns into the air to show their anger. The
Minister of Environment had visited the region earlier that day to try
to calm things down. Around the negotiation table are angry residents
and two very ill-at-ease Chinese representatives of the logging
company.
People want to know more about this contract. The debate is fueled by
a rumour: Chinese authorities may have promised they would build a
modern hospital in the capital city of Bamako in exchange for a five-
year logging contract. The Malian government have temporarily
suspended the logging contract due to the anger of the locals. But
suspended doesn=92t mean terminated. The Mandinka people remain
determined to save their sacred forest.
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