NGO-Exchange of information about the the ecological, social and economic record of Asia Pulp & Paper (APP)In Indonesia and elsewhere
posted by Robin Wood at 8:49 AM
PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Encroachment and forest fires threatened Bukit Tigapuluh landscape ecosystem and marginalized indigenous Orang Rimba who protested logging road built by Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) associated company.
Husin, a head family of Orang Rimba who inhabits in Suo-suo village of southern Bukit Tigapuluh, in Jambi, complained over 45-km logging road that constructed by PT Wira Karya Sakti (WKS), an APP/Sinar Mas Group associated company.
“Forest clearing by the company (WKS) has affected to our livelihood which is deteriorating now,” he told Eyes on the Forest early June. Husin and generally Orang Rimba are dependent upon natural resources such forest products to survive and make money for their livelihood.
posted by Robin Wood at 3:06 PM
| Wednesday, 24 December 2008 | |
| PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Environmental groups slammed the Riau Police and Prosecutors Office who closed the cases of 13 timber and pulp companies and pledged it would sue the police for the suspension. Jikalahari coordinator, Susanto Kurniawan, said yesterday (23/12/2008) that his environmental NGOs network would prepare lawyers to take action against the police’s decision, Tribun Pekanbaru daily reported Wednesday (24/12/2008). The Riau Police Chief Hadiatmoko announced in Riau Prosecutors Office, Pekanbaru, on Monday that the police halted the probe of illegal logging cases of 13 companies and proceeded another pulpwood plantation company to prosecution. Hadiatmoko said that the witnesses from two ministries explained that the companies had legal license and there is any damage done by the firms. Susanto said that his network who filed the cases to the police last year admitted that the companies had legal licenses of pulpwood development, but they had flaws as the licenses issued by District Head which against the Government Regulation Number 34/2002, Kompas daily reported (24/12/2008). In separate occasion, parliamentarian from Riau, Azlaini Agus, of House of Representatives’ Commission III, said she had met Indonesia Police Chief, General Bambang Hendarso Danuri, in Jakarta on Tuesday discussing the cases closure, Tribun Pekanbaru reported today (24/12/2008). Azlaini said that Bambang Hendarso told her that the decision is conducted by the Riau Police due to the Riau Prosecutors Office rejected the presence of two expert witnesses proposed by the police who come from Institute of Agriculture of Bogor (IPB) and University of Gadjah Mada (UGM). She said that the Prosecutors Office should accept the two witnesses as previously occurred in a North Sumatera’s District Court which prosecuted Adelin Lis, a businessman who charged with and penalized for illegal logging verdict. “It [the decision] is weird,” she said adding that the Prosecutors Office should had accepted the existence of two expert witnesses and proceeded the prosecution to the court. Azlaini suspected there might be a grand ‘scenario’ behind the termination of illegal logging cases involving the 13 companies by the police, Tribun daily reported. She said that Riau timber companies recently met Vice President Jusuf Kalla where PT RAPP (APRIL’s subsidiary) complained that it would lay off thousands of workers due to the company faced shortage of pulp raw material. Meanwhile, Johny Setiawan Mundung of Walhi Riau, urged the government to dismiss the Chief of Riau Police and Riau Prosecutors Office following the decision to close the environmental cases. “They harmed the sense of justice of Riau people,” Johny Mundung told Koran Tempo daily (24/12/2008). In Jakarta, Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban said his office respected the police decision to issue a Letter of Order to Stop Investigations (SP3) into the companies, The Jakarta Post reported (24/12/2008). "However, we hope the legal action taken against the businessmen (from the firms) continues," he said to Antara in Jakarta on Tuesday. President Yudhoyono Spokesperson of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, told the press yesterday in Jakarta that the President didn’t know that the police had closed the Riau illegal logging cases, Kompas.com reported (23/12/2008). In September 2007, President Yudhoyono had set up a joint inter-departmental team to tackle Riau illegal logging cases in mediating the discrepancies occurred between the police and the Ministry of Forestry. The team then recommended in November 2007 there should be legal action taken against the 14 companies. The 14 companies divided by the police into two groups of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP, a subsidiary of APRIL), and of PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP, a company associated to APP/Sinar Mas Forestry). From IKPP are: PT. Satria Perkasa Agung, PT. Bina Duta Laksana, PT. Arara Abadi, PT. Suntara Gajapati, PT. Inhil Hutan Pratama, PT. Anugrah Bumi Sentosa and PT. Ruas Utama Jaya. The latter’s case proceeded to the court. From RAPP are: PT. Madukoro, PT. RAPP, PT. Bukit Batabuh Sei Indah, PT. Nusa Prima Manunggal, PT. Citra Sumber Mandiri, PT. Mitra Kembang Selaras, and PT. Merbau Pelalawan Lestari. |
posted by J at 9:10 PM
posted by Robin Wood at 10:16 AM
Asia Pulp & Paper and associated companies threaten historic pact to save Sumatra’s ecosystems and tigers
EoF Press Release 20 October 2008
Pekanbaru, INDONESIA – Just 10 days after Indonesia announced a commitment to save Sumatra’s critical ecosystems at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, an investigation finds that companies associated with one of the world’s largest paper companies, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), have built a 45-kilometer, legally questionable logging highway through prime tiger habitat in Sumatra.
The forest destruction by APP and associated companies, under the umbrella of its holding group, Sinar Mas Group (SMG), is taking place in the Senepis peat forest of central Sumatra, according to a new investigative report released today by Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of Jikalahari, Walhi Riau and WWF-Indonesia. The forest clearing puts at risk local communities as well as one of the critically endangered Sumatran tiger’s last strongholds, as the shrinking forest brings tigers into increasing conflict with local communities.
Eyes on the Forest field investigations found that the logging highway passes through natural forest, a proposed protected area and a deep peat area with potential massive carbon stores. This is the third controversial and legally questionable logging road discovered being built by APP/SMG-associated companies in the last year.
“Unfortunately, this logging project is just the latest in a continuing pattern of wholesale natural forest destruction by APP/SMG and its associates in Sumatra,” said Johny Setiawan Mundung, Executive Director of Walhi Riau. “Our field investigators found that APP and partners have completed a 45-kilometer highway through the Senepis peat forest and paved nearly half of it already, even though we could find no permit for the road.”
The revelations come less than two weeks after the Indonesian government announced a historic commitment to protect the natural forests and ecosystems of Sumatra island, putting the company’s actions increasingly at odds with public and private efforts to protect Sumatra’s species-rich forests to slow climate change and protect biodiversity.
Senepis and other Sumatran peat forests are a globally significant carbon store; the carbon-rich peat soil is so deep that simply cutting the trees or disturbing the soil releases enough carbon emissions to impact global climate change.
The APP/SMG-associated companies appear to be preparing infrastructure for when Riau Province, where the Senepis forest is located, allows natural forest clearing again. There is a province-wide de facto logging moratorium in place as Riau Police conduct an illegal logging investigation involving APP/SMG associated companies and others.
The two APP/SMG-associated logging concession holders involved in the clearing, PT. Ruas Utama Jaya and PT. Suntara Gajapati, are among 14 timber and pulp companies implicated in the ongoing prosecution by provincial police for allegedly committing environmental and forest crimes. Since the Riau Police launched their investigation in 2007, Jikalahari and Walhi Riau have filed reports of such alleged criminal acts by the companies and pushed for the law enforcement on it.
“The building of this road has resulted in a massive, 50-meter-wide gash of opened forest along the 45 kilometers,” said Hariansyah Usman, deputy coordinator of Jikalahari. “The road splits the Senepis peat forest in two, releasing significant amounts of climate-altering carbon emissions from the clearing and from drainage canals on both sides.”
In addition, the clearing that has already taken place in Senepis by APP/SMG-associates -- mainly since about 1999 -- has considerably shrunk the size of the forest, which has led to an increase in human-tiger conflict in the area. Riau is a stronghold for the Sumatran tiger, of which fewer than 400 survive in the wild.
Legally questionable forest clearing by APP/SMG-affiliated companies has been well-documented in central Sumatra. Previous reports by NGOs this year found that APP/SMG- associated companies are threatening an additional two important natural forest areas in Sumatra by opening new logging roads and clearing natural forest along them: the Kampar peatland forest and Bukit Tigapuluh dry lowland forest block, which is critical for orangutans, tigers, elephants and the indigenous peoples, the Orang Rimba.
“Major paper customers all over the globe have cut ties with APP because of its involvement in unsustainable and likely illegal activities,” said Nazir Foead, director of corporate engagement at WWF-Indonesia. “We call on APP/SMG and their associates to stop this unsustainable clearing of our forests and to start behaving as a responsible corporate citizen. We urge current and future buyers and investors not to do any business with APP until that time.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
· *The complete report can be found on www.EyesontheForest.or.id. Photos and maps to accompany this story are also available.
*Among the companies that have stopped buying from APP because of its business practices in Sumatra are Staples Inc., the largest office retailer in the United States; Richoh and Fuji Xerox Groups, both headquartered in Japan; Metro Group in Germany and Woolworths of Australia. In addition, Forest Stewardship Council formally dissociated itself from APP in 2007, as did Rainforest Alliance.
posted by J at 9:58 AM
| Tuesday, 08 July 2008 | |
| PEKANBARU (EoF News)—A former Riau Forestry Service head insisted on a corruption trial in Corruption Crime Court in Jakarta last week that he just signed logging license of Annual Working Plan (RKT) for companies and handed over the responsibility to his subordinates. Media reports said that Burhanuddin Husin, former Riau Forestry Service Head and now Kampar District Head, told a corruption court in Jakarta last week (4/7/2008) that he had nothing to do with verdict of misusing of logging licenses to clear natural forests which prosecute the Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar. “I just signed [them]. Beyond this I have no idea since the technical matter is my staff’s job,” Burhanuddin told judges led by Krisna Menon on the court, Riau Terkini website reported Friday. The district head named suspect and requested for testimony as a witness on the case of misusing logging licenses for 15 companies that charged district head Azmun Jaafar. Riau Terkini reported that Burhanuddin was questioned for 60 minutes where he mostly said he did not know on the authority of his position as Forestry Service head. On its headline last weekend (5/7/2008), Tribun Pekanbaru daily said that the judges of corruption case got upset with answers uttered by Burhanuddin due to dubious statements. “I just legalize [RKT, annual working plan]. On technical matter it is done by my staff,” he said as quoted by Tribun Pekanbaru as saying (5/7/2008). The former forestry service head said that his subordinates should be responsible for technical matters in legalizing RKT plan. The RKT permit issued by the Provincial Government would allow companies to clear natural forest for conversion into pulpwood plantation. When asked by presiding judge if the official has knowledge of forestry, Burhanuddin said: “To be honest I don’t understand forestry, I am just an economic graduate,” Tribun Pekanbaru reported. “You are just Head of Forestry Service, please don’t make any excuses. After being appointed Head of Forestry Service, you should adapt to such a new job,” blasted judge Made Hendra Kusuma following doubtful answers expressed by Burhanuddin. Prosecutor Sriyono asked the suspect of RKT issuance. “So you issued RKT licenses without legality basis, didn’t you?” Then Burhanuddin said yes. “So, it’s messed up, isn’t it?” the prosecutor asked back. Azmun detained by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in December 2007 and has been prosecuted since May this year. KPK accused Azmun of causing the State’s loss by Rp1.2 trillion by issuing logging licenses to convert natural forests to pulpwood plantation. Reports said that incumbent Riau Governor Rusli Zainal was scheduled to be questioned by KPK on Azmun’s case last week, but he failed to attend it due to his medical check-up as his preparation to run for upcoming gubernatorial election in September this year. Azmun on Rusli Zainal Azmun told Koran Tempo daily (3/7/2008) on an interview that the officials who issued RKT licenses to be responsible. “Out of 15 companies that their licenses I issued have gained RKT legalization released by Riau Forestry Service heads, they are Syuhada Tasman, Asral Rachman, Sudirno, and Burhanuddin Husein. Then there are also RKTs that legalized by Riau Governor Rusli Zainal. By those RKTs, the companies have conducted wood clearing in the forests. According to me, all sides who involved in legalizing RKTs should be asked for their responsibility, including Rusli Zainal,” Azmun told Koran Tempo daily. EoF learns that the 15 companies Azmun mentioned are affiliated to Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and another one is unidentified. EoF learns that the 15 companies which obtained licenses issued by Azmun and linked to corruption practices as probed currently by KPK as follows: APRIL: CV. Bhakti Praja Mulia 5,800 hectares, CV. Mutiara Lestari 4,000 ha, CV. Tuah Negeri 1,500 ha, KUD Bina Jaya Langgam 1,887 ha, CV. Alam Lestari 3,330 ha, CV. Riau Bina Insani 4,300 ha, CV. Harapan Jaya 4,800 ha, PT. Nusa Prima Manunggal 4,412 ha, PT. Merbau Pelalawan Lestari 5,590 ha, PT. Putri Lindung Bulan 2,500 ha, PT. Selaras Abadi Utama 13,600 ha, PT. Bukit Raya Pelalawan 3,200 ha, and PT. Riau Bina Insani 7,275 ha; APP: Putra Riau Perkasa 21,650 ha, and unidentified affiliation: PT. Sinar Deli Pratama 3,000 ha. |
posted by J at 3:02 PM
posted by Robin Wood at 9:13 AM
