Book on Bruno Manser tries to unveil mystery of his disappearance

Two years of research by a Swiss journalist still could not find a shred of evidence to show if his famous countryman, environmentalist Bruno Manser who disappeared in the Sarawak jungle in 2000, had died. Ruedi Suter, the author of 'Rainforest Hero: The life and death of Bruno Manser', said at the book launch in Kuching today that there are a lot of theories about Manser's purported death, but no proof to show it. "Some say he was murdered by loggers, some say (he was killed by) the police. "Some suspect he might have had an accident," Suter said, referring to the suspicion Manser might have fallen to his death during a climb up his favourite hill, the sacred but steep limestone peak of Batu Lawi. He said there was even talk that he could have died from a snake bite, when asked on Manser's mysterious disappearance. "His Penan friends don't even know he's dead or alive. Until now, there's not one sign of his disappearance. "So its still a mystery," he said. Manser, who stayed with the Penans deep in Baram for six years between 1984 and 1990, and organised a passive campaign to stop logging operations that reportedly were destroying forests the Penans natives were dependent for their livelihood, was last seen at Batu Lawi in May 2000. His activism for rainforest preservation and protecting the rights of the Penans brought him in conflict with the Sarawak government. Numerous search expeditions, officially and unofficially failed to find Manser's body. In the book, Suter also wrote that Masner's fate "inspired clairvoyants, pendulum swingers, card readers as well as star, voice and handwriting analysts". Manser was declared dead by a Swiss court on March 10, 2005. – November 14, 2015.]]>