Without doubt, the participation of civil society has been increasing with every new UN-sponsored world conference  violated regulations on environmental protection and involved allegations of corruption, non-accountability and violations of human rights.

The WSSD could have taken an unequivocal stand on self-determination for indigenous peoples, giving them right of control over their institutions, territories, resources, social orders and cultures without external domination or interference.

The degradation of the Bukit Sungai Putih Permanent Forest Reserve and Wild Life Reserve at Cheras has been continuing despite the Johannesburg Summit. The mainstream media now appear to be weary after the initial exposure of this scandal. Slopes designated as "high risk" areas and not supposed to be touched by the developers under the EIA are now being leveled using charges. The developers involved had initially tried to fob off protests by arguing that they were building low-cost houses for the needy. The houses on show now are priced above half-a-million ringgit, tantalising buyers with a "home in pristine forest highland".

One wonders: If the Department of Environment cannot monitor and enforce a case of flagrant forest degradation just 10 minutes from the capital city, how can they possibly monitor forests deep in the Main Range or in the interiors of Sarawak? The allegations of corruption involved in the degazetting of this forest reserve and the investigations by the Anti-Corruption Agency have been quietly forgotten.

In recent years, other marginalised groups in the plantation and urban settler sectors in Malaysia have borne the brunt of forced evictions as their land has been earmarked for commercial use by developers in the private and public sectors. Where the rule of law is wanting and there are restrictions on free speech, free association and the media, such development is unsustainable.

Democracy the best guarantee

Sustainable development is only possible if communities are empowered in their struggle against projects that are economically misconceived, environmentally destructive and socially disruptive. This was seen at Kampong Sungai Nipah, Selangor and also at Bukit Merah where the communities stood their ground against formidable state intimidation. These communities' defence of their human rights has shown us that direct action empowers and unites people.

The crisis in the environment shows not only that ecology is a social relationship but that ecology is essentially political. We oppose 'productivism', or production for the sake of producing with no care for the real needs of people or the sustainability of the project, the ecosystem or the needs of future generations.

One current example is the building of a highly polluting aluminium smelter which the developed countries would rather not have in their backyard. This voracious user of energy is then used to justify the 2400MW Bakun Dam project. In the process, 10,000 indigenous peoples are forcibly displaced.

The tycoons behind the aluminium smelter and the Bakun Dam are well-placed cronies of the state and central governments. One fails to spot any smart partnerships talked about at Johannesburg for the indigenous peoples of Bakun. On this and other issues, to struggle for sustainable development is to be on the side of the exploited and oppressed.

Ultimately, democracy is the best guarantee of sustainable development. Centralisation has removed responsibilities for local government to the central government. Local government leaders do not have to be accountable to local voters since they have been appointed through patronage within the ruling coalition.

The call to "enhance participation and effective involvement of civil society in implementing Local Agenda 21" is hollow when there is no elected local government and local plans are bulldozed through without transparency and broad public participation. The recent PJ Local Plan 1, the unfettered construction of highways in practically every city in Malaysia are prime examples of the corporate dominance of local and national governments.

The hopes for sustainable development and the struggle for human rights rest on civil society, especially the people directly affected in the process. Sustainable development must be planned and requires democratic forms of participation to be promoted within the workplace and in the wider society.

Dr KUA KIA SOONG is a director of Suaram. This paper was presented at the forum on the World Summit on Sustainable Development organised by Suaram at the Pearl International Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26, 2002.