Red Rivers and Death: Natives Fight Against Iron Mining in Deep Rainforest

In 2012, Malaysiakini traveled to the remote Indigenous village of Kampung Kelaik, located within the dense primary rainforest of Kelantan, Malaysia, to report on an iron ore mine which was polluting the village's water source.

The pollution was so severe that the river ran red and food cooked with the water adopted a similar shade.

In subsequent years, things have worsened. It also led to the death of village elder Angah Alang, killed in debris downstream when the mine released water from a settling pond into the river.

Shaken by the tragedy, the community rallied to continue the fight, this time taking the government and 10 firms who they believe encroached their land, to court.