UNITED NATIONS Economic and Social Council Distr. GENERAL E/CN.4/Sub.2/1990/NGO/22 17 August 1990 Original: ENGLISH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities Forty-second session Agend item 15 DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Written Statement submitted by Human Riqhts Advocates, a non-governmental orqanization in consultative status (Category II) The Secretary-General has received the followinq communication which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) . [15 August 1990] GE.90-17256/4251a E/CN.4/Sub.2/1990/NGO/22 paqe 2 DESTRUCTION OF THE RAIN FOREST IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA, AND THE PENAN, AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN PERIL I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Penan are a oeoDle in peril. This indiqenous oeople of Sarawak, Malaysia, in northern Borneo is riskinq its existence in an attempt to ©reserve its hereditarv lands from deforestation bv Malavsian and foreiqn loqqinq companies. It is currently losing the battle. Conseauentlv, it is estimated that within several months the nomadic Penan will exist no more: the Penan section of the Sarawak rain forest will be destroyed, its timber cut and sold for export, and the nomadic Penan will be forced to migrate to long houses in scattered roadside shanty towns. II. BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF FACTS 2. The Penan are among the last truly nomadic tain forest people, whose culture extends back thousands of vears. The Penan are master ecologists and the original inhabitants of the earth's oldest and richest forest. 3. Yet, the Malaysian Government is one of the world's most serious offenders with regard to the destruction of rain forest lands. Malaysia openly encourages the logging industry which exports heavily to the Japanese timber cartel. The Penan have been fighting to save their land and their way of life for the oast several years: their struggle has been non-violent and 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the destruction of the rainforest in Sarawak, Malaysia, and the impact it has on the indigenous Penan people. The focus is on the loss of their traditional way of life, culture, and habitat, which is being destroyed due to logging activities. The text highlights the non-violent struggle of the Penan people to save their land and way of life, and the involvement of the Malaysian government and foreign logging companies. This suggests that the category should be related to environmental issues, human rights, and cultural preservation.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Humanitarian aid and relief