Jayapura, 13 July 2022 – Greenpeace Indonesia investigators today presented fresh evidence that an oil palm company in Papua province is continuing forest clearing and other operations in defiance of orders by Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya and local investment officials. The oil palm company, PT Permata Nusa Mandiri, also faces vocal opposition from Indigenous People who demand it stop encroaching on their traditional lands.

On 5 July 2022 Greenpeace investigators filmed company operations and heavy equipment on site including six excavators along with other company vehicles.[1] Continuing company operations in July appear to include diggers clearing vegetation and undertaking earthworks and workers involved in oil palm propagation. Remote sensing imagery show extensive forest clearing around the beginning of the year [2] followed by a fresh round of clearing in the first week of July. [3]

On January 6, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced his government was revoking permits for a number of oil palm plantations; this was done the same day via a decree issued by Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya revoking the state forest release permit for PT PNM. Within days of the announcement, machinery began clearing 70 hectares of forest within the dormant PT PNM concession. The following month the Jayapura District Investment Agency also issued an order requiring the company to halt operations.

“Our video footage shows company excavators are still at work six months after President Jokowi’s announcement and Minister Nurbaya’s cancellation of the company’s forest estate release permit. The company’s owners are scoffing at the president, his minister, environmental law and Indigenous land rights,” said Sekar Banjaran Aji, Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaigner.

“The company’s continuing operations are destroying our forest. If the company is willing to ignore government orders, then how much attention is it going to pay to us as Indigenous owners? We have been going through hell since the company’s arrival, which threatens the whole of our traditional territory. We call on the minister, governor, district head and all the responsible officials to urgently uphold Indigneous rights, particularly the rights of Indigenous women, against the violations of this company,” said Rosita Tecuari, head of the Namblong Indigenous Womens’ Organisation (ORPA).

In regards to this, Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner Nico Wamafma said: “The district head must take firm action against this company which is in violation of Indigenous rights and is harming the district. Law enforcement agencies should also take action in this case. The company has been clearing forest illegally. It has shown bad faith, is bent on ignoring Indigenous rights and national law, and is creating horizontal conflict within the local community,” said Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner Nico Wamafma.

PT Permata Nusa Mandiri has management overlap with the Salim Group, a collection of enterprises including Singapore- and Frankfurt-listed Indofood Agri Resources (IndoAgri) and Indonesia-listed Indofood, the world’s largest instant noodle producer.[4] While IndoAgri does not list PT PNM among its assets, Greenpeace Indonesia believes it is only reasonable that all companies connected to the Salim Group should abide not only by Indonesian law but also by the Sustainable Palm Oil Policy published by IndoAgri, which includes a commitment to No Deforestation and Free Prior and Informed Consent.

Notes:

[1] Photos and droneG video footage of company equipment in July 2022. Example photo of the Nimbokrang rainforest (2011).

[2] Remote sensing images of clearing in early 2022.

[3] Remote sensing images of fresh clearing in July 2022.

[4] See p. 131-132 in Greenpeace International 2021 report Licence to Clear.

Contacts:

Igor O’Neill, Indonesia Forest Campaign, [email protected] +61 414 288 424

Rahma Shofiana, Media Campaigner Greenpeace Indonesia, [email protected] +62 8111-461-674