Villagers vs Astra Agro Lestari
Astra Agro Lestari logo. Credit: AwasMifee
Update September 22, 2023
Human Rights and Environmental Activists Highlight PT's Allegations. Pasangkayu Manages Forest Areas, KPH Pasangkayu: I Will Follow Up
Media Indonesia Times | Human rights and environmental activists highlighted the alleged existence of PT. Pasangkayu is a subsidiary of PT. Astra Agro Lestari Tbk. operating within protected forest areas.
This finding further confirms that the practice of developing oil palm plantation companies in the Pasangkayu Regency, West Sulawesi Province has been carried out by clearing (deforestation) and occupying and taking the proceeds allegedly in protected forest areas for decades.
This is summarized in the demands of Community Organizations (Ormas) and Farmer Groups in several villages in Pasangkayu Regency which were investigated and it was found that the age of the oil palm plantations had reached 26-27 years. This means that the garden has been in a forest area since 1997. Media Indonesia Times
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Update on Astra Agro Lestari's conflicts with local villagers, September 18, 2023
The farmers group, Sinar Rio Jaya, from Rio Mukti village in Sulawesi, Indonesia, have issued a public statement in response to Kellogg's suspension of palm oil from Astra Agro Lestari
Palm Oil Smallholders Urge Buyer Support to Resolve Astra Agro Lestari Conflicts
Smallholders represented by Sinar Rio Jaya, a farmers group from Rio Mukti village in Sulawesi, applaud Kellogg’s move to suspend purchases from Astra Agro Lestari (AAL).
It has been reported that Kelloggs has joined foreign buyers from Pepsico, Hershey’s and Mondelez in suspending purchases of palm oil from AAL.
Sinar Rio Jaya, as a farmers group that is impacted directly by AAL, has two concerns over the suspension of AAL.
AAL has committed to resolving all agrarian conflicts six months after the appointment of EcoNusantara as a third party verification.
Sinar Rio Jaya expects conflict resolution process to start in October, 2023.
Our concerns have been noted by EcoNusantara. Land claims have also been mapped by EcoNusantara, copies of which are attached. Sinar Rio Jaya
Land claims as supported by images below
Human Rights and Environmental Activists Highlight PT's Allegations. Pasangkayu Manages Forest Areas, KPH Pasangkayu: I Will Follow Up
Media Indonesia Times | Human rights and environmental activists highlighted the alleged existence of PT. Pasangkayu is a subsidiary of PT. Astra Agro Lestari Tbk. operating within protected forest areas.
This finding further confirms that the practice of developing oil palm plantation companies in the Pasangkayu Regency, West Sulawesi Province has been carried out by clearing (deforestation) and occupying and taking the proceeds allegedly in protected forest areas for decades.
This is summarized in the demands of Community Organizations (Ormas) and Farmer Groups in several villages in Pasangkayu Regency which were investigated and it was found that the age of the oil palm plantations had reached 26-27 years. This means that the garden has been in a forest area since 1997. Media Indonesia Times
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Update on Astra Agro Lestari's conflicts with local villagers, September 18, 2023
The farmers group, Sinar Rio Jaya, from Rio Mukti village in Sulawesi, Indonesia, have issued a public statement in response to Kellogg's suspension of palm oil from Astra Agro Lestari
Palm Oil Smallholders Urge Buyer Support to Resolve Astra Agro Lestari Conflicts
Smallholders represented by Sinar Rio Jaya, a farmers group from Rio Mukti village in Sulawesi, applaud Kellogg’s move to suspend purchases from Astra Agro Lestari (AAL).
It has been reported that Kelloggs has joined foreign buyers from Pepsico, Hershey’s and Mondelez in suspending purchases of palm oil from AAL.
Sinar Rio Jaya, as a farmers group that is impacted directly by AAL, has two concerns over the suspension of AAL.
- AAL palm oil can still make its way into the supply chain of Kelloggs etc unless the Indonesian suppliers of palm oil to Kelloggs, including Wilmar, Golden Agri Resources, Musim Mas, Apical Group and others, implement supply verifications to exclude palm oil from AAL.
- While this may serve to clean up supply for Kelloggs, Sinar Rio Jaya farmers are concerned that the exclusion of AAL palm oil, may also exclude them from the more profitable markets that is provided by AAL customers like Kelloggs.
AAL has committed to resolving all agrarian conflicts six months after the appointment of EcoNusantara as a third party verification.
Sinar Rio Jaya expects conflict resolution process to start in October, 2023.
Our concerns have been noted by EcoNusantara. Land claims have also been mapped by EcoNusantara, copies of which are attached. Sinar Rio Jaya
Land claims as supported by images below
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Update on the problems at Astra Agro Lestari. September 15, 2023
Mongabay reported that Kellogg's has taken action against Astra Agro Lestari
JAKARTA — U.S. food giant Kellogg’s is the latest major consumer brand to suspend its purchases of palm oil from Indonesian plantation giant Astra Agro Lestari, following reports of environmental and social violations. The cereal maker joins the likes of Hershey’s, PepsiCo, and Oreo maker Mondelēz in distancing itself from AAL, the second-largest palm oil company in Indonesia.
The challenge for these multi-national corporations is not as simplistic as suspending purchases of palm oil from Astra Agro Lestari. Astra Agro Lestari palm oil could very likely be found in the certified supply chains of RSPO members. Therefore, consumer goods companies like Kellogg's would have to work with palm oil suppliers in its entire supply chain, to verify that Kellogg's has indeed, suspended palm oil purchases from Astra Agro Lestari.
Mongabay reported that Kellogg's has taken action against Astra Agro Lestari
JAKARTA — U.S. food giant Kellogg’s is the latest major consumer brand to suspend its purchases of palm oil from Indonesian plantation giant Astra Agro Lestari, following reports of environmental and social violations. The cereal maker joins the likes of Hershey’s, PepsiCo, and Oreo maker Mondelēz in distancing itself from AAL, the second-largest palm oil company in Indonesia.
The challenge for these multi-national corporations is not as simplistic as suspending purchases of palm oil from Astra Agro Lestari. Astra Agro Lestari palm oil could very likely be found in the certified supply chains of RSPO members. Therefore, consumer goods companies like Kellogg's would have to work with palm oil suppliers in its entire supply chain, to verify that Kellogg's has indeed, suspended palm oil purchases from Astra Agro Lestari.
Update Statement from the Communities against Astra Agro Lestari
August 12, 2023
1. Ako Village
2. Jono Village
3. Jengeng Raya Village
4. Rio Mukti Village
5. Polanto Jaya Village
6. Lariang Village
7. Kabuyu Village
From Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi Provinces in Indonesia
●Together with this letter we urge internal and external Stakeholders of PT Astra Agro Lestari's subsidiary to return people's management areas, build Plasma plantations, return enclaves of 200 hectares each and uphold human rights.
●The subsidiaries of PT Astra Agro Lestari that we mean are PT Pasangkayu, PT Mamuang and PT Letawa
●PT Pasangkayu has not built a Plasma Plantation, deforested a protected forest area and planted oil palm in the forest and has not returned the 748 hectare people's management area
●PT Mamuang does not control according to the concession, does not develop plasma plantations, seizes people's management areas around Kabuyu and Rio Mukti and there are no enclaves
●PT Letawa has not built a Plasma Plantation, has not returned the enclave for the Lariang Village Community of 200 hectares and has managed more than the concession that has been granted by the government
●The three subsidiaries of PT Astra Agro Lestari committed nearly the same violations and the main one was never establishing a Plasma Plantation. This is very detrimental to society and does not respect human rights
●Villagers have been in conflict for decades with a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari, whose oil palm plantation was built on disputed land, was built on an area that did not comply with government permits or did not comply with the concession, was not built with community approval and there was no information to the community (FPIC). And so far we have never built a Plasma Plantation or built a Garden on a Protected Forest Area
●We hope that everyone will be able to give influence to help us recover and restore the people's management area which is still under the control of a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari.
●PT Astra Agro Lestari must return community land taken without consent, provide compensation for loss of land and livelihoods and carry out environmental restoration and uphold human rights.
●PT Astra Agro Lestari must be committed to returning land to the community that has been taken without the community's consent. This is the necessary starting point to end the protracted conflicts that have been carried out by the Company for decades and to prevent disputes and enmity as well as things that are not desirable.
●Thus we convey it to be noticed, followed up and realized.
Signed :
Division of Human Rights and Environment Farmers Center, As Community Representative
Contact Person : +6281288968381 (WhatsApp,Telegram and Signal)
August 12, 2023
1. Ako Village
2. Jono Village
3. Jengeng Raya Village
4. Rio Mukti Village
5. Polanto Jaya Village
6. Lariang Village
7. Kabuyu Village
From Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi Provinces in Indonesia
●Together with this letter we urge internal and external Stakeholders of PT Astra Agro Lestari's subsidiary to return people's management areas, build Plasma plantations, return enclaves of 200 hectares each and uphold human rights.
●The subsidiaries of PT Astra Agro Lestari that we mean are PT Pasangkayu, PT Mamuang and PT Letawa
●PT Pasangkayu has not built a Plasma Plantation, deforested a protected forest area and planted oil palm in the forest and has not returned the 748 hectare people's management area
●PT Mamuang does not control according to the concession, does not develop plasma plantations, seizes people's management areas around Kabuyu and Rio Mukti and there are no enclaves
●PT Letawa has not built a Plasma Plantation, has not returned the enclave for the Lariang Village Community of 200 hectares and has managed more than the concession that has been granted by the government
●The three subsidiaries of PT Astra Agro Lestari committed nearly the same violations and the main one was never establishing a Plasma Plantation. This is very detrimental to society and does not respect human rights
●Villagers have been in conflict for decades with a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari, whose oil palm plantation was built on disputed land, was built on an area that did not comply with government permits or did not comply with the concession, was not built with community approval and there was no information to the community (FPIC). And so far we have never built a Plasma Plantation or built a Garden on a Protected Forest Area
●We hope that everyone will be able to give influence to help us recover and restore the people's management area which is still under the control of a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari.
●PT Astra Agro Lestari must return community land taken without consent, provide compensation for loss of land and livelihoods and carry out environmental restoration and uphold human rights.
●PT Astra Agro Lestari must be committed to returning land to the community that has been taken without the community's consent. This is the necessary starting point to end the protracted conflicts that have been carried out by the Company for decades and to prevent disputes and enmity as well as things that are not desirable.
●Thus we convey it to be noticed, followed up and realized.
Signed :
Division of Human Rights and Environment Farmers Center, As Community Representative
Contact Person : +6281288968381 (WhatsApp,Telegram and Signal)
Statement from the community of Rio Mukti, Sulawesi against Astra Agro Lestari
July 12, 2023
On the behalf of communities and farmers in Sulawesi, Indonesia, we urge global palm oil buyers who buy palm oil from Astra Agro Lestari, to use their influence, to force Astra Agro Lestari to recognise the land rights of communities.
As affected villagers, we do not understand why Astra Agro Lestari created a new subsidiary, PT Mamuang when its existing subsidiary, PT LTT, had a harmonious relationship with our communities since 2000.
As for the 172 hectares of community lands granted by Astra Agro Lestari to our community under its subsidiary PT LTT, the verification company hired by Astra Agro Lestari, EcoNusantara, took GPS coordinates of the area in a ground visit accompanied by community members on May 27, 2023.
The GPS coordinates as understood by participating community members, was accepted.
It was therefore seen as suspicious, when EcoNusantara asked to revisit our communities to re-measure the contested lands under the agrarian conflict with Astra Agro Lestari. GPS markers do not lie as community members have proven documented rights to land with an agreement signed by an authorised representative of Astra Agro Lestari, with appropriate markers to show historical cultivation of these lands under the rights granted by PT LTT.
We urge the global buyers of Astra Agro Lestari palm oil, Wilmar International, Golden Agri Resources, Musim Mas, Apical Group and their buyers in Unilever, Nestle, P&G and other multinational brands identified by Friends of the Earth report on our agrarian conflict, to support our claim to the 172 hectares granted by PT LTT, which has now been mapped by EcoNusantara.
We demand compensation for the crops destroyed by Astra Agro Lestari’s PT Mamuang, who created this controversy in an attempted land grab.
We further demand that Astra Agro Lestari, rectify the environmental damage caused by its subsidiaries which includes flooding of community farms and areas that has made our communities inhospitable to farming and basic living.
Should Astra Agro Lestari continue to deny us our rights and livelihoods, we strongly urge the above named global companies, to stop buying from Astra Agro Lestari until our rights and livelihoods are returned.
July 12, 2023
On the behalf of communities and farmers in Sulawesi, Indonesia, we urge global palm oil buyers who buy palm oil from Astra Agro Lestari, to use their influence, to force Astra Agro Lestari to recognise the land rights of communities.
As affected villagers, we do not understand why Astra Agro Lestari created a new subsidiary, PT Mamuang when its existing subsidiary, PT LTT, had a harmonious relationship with our communities since 2000.
As for the 172 hectares of community lands granted by Astra Agro Lestari to our community under its subsidiary PT LTT, the verification company hired by Astra Agro Lestari, EcoNusantara, took GPS coordinates of the area in a ground visit accompanied by community members on May 27, 2023.
The GPS coordinates as understood by participating community members, was accepted.
It was therefore seen as suspicious, when EcoNusantara asked to revisit our communities to re-measure the contested lands under the agrarian conflict with Astra Agro Lestari. GPS markers do not lie as community members have proven documented rights to land with an agreement signed by an authorised representative of Astra Agro Lestari, with appropriate markers to show historical cultivation of these lands under the rights granted by PT LTT.
We urge the global buyers of Astra Agro Lestari palm oil, Wilmar International, Golden Agri Resources, Musim Mas, Apical Group and their buyers in Unilever, Nestle, P&G and other multinational brands identified by Friends of the Earth report on our agrarian conflict, to support our claim to the 172 hectares granted by PT LTT, which has now been mapped by EcoNusantara.
We demand compensation for the crops destroyed by Astra Agro Lestari’s PT Mamuang, who created this controversy in an attempted land grab.
We further demand that Astra Agro Lestari, rectify the environmental damage caused by its subsidiaries which includes flooding of community farms and areas that has made our communities inhospitable to farming and basic living.
Should Astra Agro Lestari continue to deny us our rights and livelihoods, we strongly urge the above named global companies, to stop buying from Astra Agro Lestari until our rights and livelihoods are returned.
Update on Agrarian Conflict between Astra Agro Lestari and villagers in Sulawesi
July 10, 2023. Mongabay
Indonesia’s No. 2 palm oil firm faces global backlash over community conflict
A growing list of global household brands, from PepsiCo to L’Oréal to Hershey’s, have suspended their purchases from Astra Agro Lestari (AAL), Indonesia’s second- largest palm oil producer.
The move comes in the wake of reports of land grabbing, environmental degradation and criminal persecution of human rights defenders by AAL and its subsidiaries operating in Central Sulawesi province.
AAL has launched an independent investigation into the matter, but NGOs say the process is unnecessary as the evidence of violations is plain.
They say the company should instead focus on returning the land it claims to the farmers and communities who were there first.
CENTRAL SULAWESI, Indonesia — Karolus Kolong, a 62-year-old villager on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, has spent nearly two decades fighting to get his land back from palm oil giant Astra Agro Lestari.
AAL, as the company is known, is the second-largest plantation company in Indonesia, which in turn is the world’s largest producer of palm oil. AAL’s global reach means its palm oil could, until recently, be found in products made by household brands like PepsiCo and Nestlé.
In 1995, Karolus was part of a group of more than 50 families who migrated from their village in East Nusa Tenggara province to Rio Mukti village in Central Sulawesi in search of a better life. Mongabay
July 10, 2023. Mongabay
Indonesia’s No. 2 palm oil firm faces global backlash over community conflict
A growing list of global household brands, from PepsiCo to L’Oréal to Hershey’s, have suspended their purchases from Astra Agro Lestari (AAL), Indonesia’s second- largest palm oil producer.
The move comes in the wake of reports of land grabbing, environmental degradation and criminal persecution of human rights defenders by AAL and its subsidiaries operating in Central Sulawesi province.
AAL has launched an independent investigation into the matter, but NGOs say the process is unnecessary as the evidence of violations is plain.
They say the company should instead focus on returning the land it claims to the farmers and communities who were there first.
CENTRAL SULAWESI, Indonesia — Karolus Kolong, a 62-year-old villager on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, has spent nearly two decades fighting to get his land back from palm oil giant Astra Agro Lestari.
AAL, as the company is known, is the second-largest plantation company in Indonesia, which in turn is the world’s largest producer of palm oil. AAL’s global reach means its palm oil could, until recently, be found in products made by household brands like PepsiCo and Nestlé.
In 1995, Karolus was part of a group of more than 50 families who migrated from their village in East Nusa Tenggara province to Rio Mukti village in Central Sulawesi in search of a better life. Mongabay
UPDATE on Agrarian Conflict between Astra Agro Lestari and villagers in Sulawesi
June 3, 2023. The farmers of Sulawesi whose livelihoods were impacted by Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) subsidiaries in Sulawesi are pleased to update the global stakeholders with an interest in AAL palm oil supply chains.
The agrarian conflicts started in 1997, when AAL was given licenses by the government to cultivate oil palm in Sulawesi. Despite multiple well documented protests that were published in Indonesia and in foreign press, the conflicts continued until 2023 when AAL appointed a third party, EcoNusantara, to verify all complaints and claims by Sulawesian villagers.
On May 28, 2023, the villagers and farmers met with field teams from EcoNusantara. The teams were warmly welcomed by villagers who seek a resolution to this old agrarian conflict.
During their visit to the affected villages, mapping work was conducted by EcoNusantara as well as other activities to verify villager complaints.
With the conclusion of EcoNusantara’s field visits in AAL’s Sulawesi operations, the villagers would like to share the following information.
June 3, 2023. The farmers of Sulawesi whose livelihoods were impacted by Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) subsidiaries in Sulawesi are pleased to update the global stakeholders with an interest in AAL palm oil supply chains.
The agrarian conflicts started in 1997, when AAL was given licenses by the government to cultivate oil palm in Sulawesi. Despite multiple well documented protests that were published in Indonesia and in foreign press, the conflicts continued until 2023 when AAL appointed a third party, EcoNusantara, to verify all complaints and claims by Sulawesian villagers.
On May 28, 2023, the villagers and farmers met with field teams from EcoNusantara. The teams were warmly welcomed by villagers who seek a resolution to this old agrarian conflict.
During their visit to the affected villages, mapping work was conducted by EcoNusantara as well as other activities to verify villager complaints.
With the conclusion of EcoNusantara’s field visits in AAL’s Sulawesi operations, the villagers would like to share the following information.
- Map work as conducted by EcoNusantara, will clearly show which lands are being managed by local villagers. We expect EcoNusantara to recommend that AAL recognize these lands as belonging to local farmers and villagers. We expect AAL to issue land certificates or their equivalent, to express AAL recognition of these lands as belonging to farmers. We further expect AAL to support villagers land claims should the government require this.
- Environmental problems as caused by AAL companies. Affected villagers within AAL operation areas demand that AAL companies in Sulawesi, should do land remedial actions to prevent the regularly flooding of villages and farm areas. Several landscape problems have been identified by villagers that lead to flooding due to poor water management by AAL companies.
- Fair Wages and human rights. We further demand that AAL companies pay their workers, especially those who live in affected villages, fair wages in return for their labor. We further demand that AAL provide training and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for the health and safety of their workers, especially those villagers who handle toxic agricultural chemicals or heavy machinery.
- Compensation for Lost Profits. Farmers whose fields were lost to AAL land grabs demand fair compensation for Lost Profits when their farms were seized by AAL companies.
Update May 26, 2023
In this case of Kabuyu village vs Astra Agro Lestari, a developing situation on the ground begs the question, are NGOs exploiting local villagers to keep their pet project burning?
Short summary: after months of pressure by local villagers for Astra Agro Lestari to resolve the decades old agrarian conflict in Sulawesi, AAL finally appointed EcoNusantara as an independent third party to verify the claims so that solutions can be sought. Private discussions held between CSPO Watch and villagers from Kabuyu and Rio Mukti showed a high level of anticipation for the arrival of EcoNusantara. This was seen as an opportunity for affected villagers, to finally prove, that their lands were wrongfully taken away when the government issued the licenses to Astra Agro Lestari.
WALHI and its foreign funder, Friends of the Earth, tried to derail the opportunity for resolutions by telling villagers to "reject EcoNusantara."
This mind-boggling call to reject solutions was repeated in a post on Friends of the Earth website "Friends of the Earth groups reject investigation into environmental and human rights violations by Indonesian palm oil company"
WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) refused to attend the kick-off meeting*, which was subsequently canceled.
The scheduled meeting comes after AAL published a “progress update” on its website stating that it is in communication with Friends of the Earth US and received buy-in from WAHLI on its investigation. In actuality, Friends of the Earth US has consistently stated that the substance and process of the investigation – unilaterally dictated by AAL and its consultants** – is insufficient and problematic, while WALHI has not agreed to the investigation’s terms or framing.
AAL and Eco Nusantara also incorrectly claimed that WALHI was participating in the investigation’s kick-off meeting on May 25. WALHI rejects this characterization and the current investigation, reiterating that AAL must return land back to communities taken without their consent, issue a public apology, provide compensation for loss of lands and livelihoods, and conduct environmental restoration based on facts of the case that have emerged over the past year.
“We continue to call on AAL to act on the evidence in the public domain to provide remedy to those that have lost their lands and livelihoods due to the company’s operations,” said Aulia Hakim, Lead Campaigner at WALHI Central Sulawesi.
“Communities have made it clear that they are not interested in endless, one-sided investigations,”*** said Uli Arta, Forest and Plantation Campaigner at WALHI. “AAL must commit to returning land back to farmers and communities that has been taken without their consent. This is a necessary starting point to end protracted conflicts that have plagued the company’s operations in Sulawesi for decades.”
*The kick-off meeting as Friends of the Earth called it, was actually seen as a courtesy extended since Friends of the Earth had complained publicly about Astra Agro Lestari. This call to include them made sense as the company meets with villagers through an independent third party. It is regrettable overall, that Walhi refused to witness the resolution of this decades old agrarian conflict.
** Regardless of the substance and process of the investigation as understood by Walhi, our position to affected villagers in Kabuyu and Rio Mukti has always been to present the basis of their complaints and have EcoNusantara review those complaints in the field. It did not matter what "substance or process" was being brought by EcoNusantara.
*** This is an exaggeration concocted by Walhi to persuade villagers to not meet with EcoNusantara. Astra Agro Lestari's appointment of EcoNusantara should be seen as an independent party to assess the complaints of villagers against the background of an industrial plantation accused of land grabs.
The RSPO was offered a chance to show its worth in late 2022, as Astra's palm oil supply impacts prominent RSPO member supplies. Unfortunately for the villagers of Sulawesi, the RSPO chose to "wash its hands of" the problem of Astra despite the fact that Astra's palm oil is in the 93% of RSPO certified palm oil making its way to the EU.
In the absence of credible verifications of villagers complaints, EcoNusantara should be seen as a valid apppointment by Astra Agro Lestari, to check all accusations against the company, before solutions can be achieved.
As of this writing on May 26, 2023, farmers in Sulawesi affected by Astra Agro Lestari, have chosen to reject Walhi's call to reject EcoNusantara. A meeting between farmers and EcoNusantara is scheduled for May 27, 2023 where farmers and affected villagers in Kabuyu and Rio Mukti will present their grievances as the first step towards resolving this decades old problem.
In this case of Kabuyu village vs Astra Agro Lestari, a developing situation on the ground begs the question, are NGOs exploiting local villagers to keep their pet project burning?
Short summary: after months of pressure by local villagers for Astra Agro Lestari to resolve the decades old agrarian conflict in Sulawesi, AAL finally appointed EcoNusantara as an independent third party to verify the claims so that solutions can be sought. Private discussions held between CSPO Watch and villagers from Kabuyu and Rio Mukti showed a high level of anticipation for the arrival of EcoNusantara. This was seen as an opportunity for affected villagers, to finally prove, that their lands were wrongfully taken away when the government issued the licenses to Astra Agro Lestari.
WALHI and its foreign funder, Friends of the Earth, tried to derail the opportunity for resolutions by telling villagers to "reject EcoNusantara."
This mind-boggling call to reject solutions was repeated in a post on Friends of the Earth website "Friends of the Earth groups reject investigation into environmental and human rights violations by Indonesian palm oil company"
WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) refused to attend the kick-off meeting*, which was subsequently canceled.
The scheduled meeting comes after AAL published a “progress update” on its website stating that it is in communication with Friends of the Earth US and received buy-in from WAHLI on its investigation. In actuality, Friends of the Earth US has consistently stated that the substance and process of the investigation – unilaterally dictated by AAL and its consultants** – is insufficient and problematic, while WALHI has not agreed to the investigation’s terms or framing.
AAL and Eco Nusantara also incorrectly claimed that WALHI was participating in the investigation’s kick-off meeting on May 25. WALHI rejects this characterization and the current investigation, reiterating that AAL must return land back to communities taken without their consent, issue a public apology, provide compensation for loss of lands and livelihoods, and conduct environmental restoration based on facts of the case that have emerged over the past year.
“We continue to call on AAL to act on the evidence in the public domain to provide remedy to those that have lost their lands and livelihoods due to the company’s operations,” said Aulia Hakim, Lead Campaigner at WALHI Central Sulawesi.
“Communities have made it clear that they are not interested in endless, one-sided investigations,”*** said Uli Arta, Forest and Plantation Campaigner at WALHI. “AAL must commit to returning land back to farmers and communities that has been taken without their consent. This is a necessary starting point to end protracted conflicts that have plagued the company’s operations in Sulawesi for decades.”
*The kick-off meeting as Friends of the Earth called it, was actually seen as a courtesy extended since Friends of the Earth had complained publicly about Astra Agro Lestari. This call to include them made sense as the company meets with villagers through an independent third party. It is regrettable overall, that Walhi refused to witness the resolution of this decades old agrarian conflict.
** Regardless of the substance and process of the investigation as understood by Walhi, our position to affected villagers in Kabuyu and Rio Mukti has always been to present the basis of their complaints and have EcoNusantara review those complaints in the field. It did not matter what "substance or process" was being brought by EcoNusantara.
*** This is an exaggeration concocted by Walhi to persuade villagers to not meet with EcoNusantara. Astra Agro Lestari's appointment of EcoNusantara should be seen as an independent party to assess the complaints of villagers against the background of an industrial plantation accused of land grabs.
The RSPO was offered a chance to show its worth in late 2022, as Astra's palm oil supply impacts prominent RSPO member supplies. Unfortunately for the villagers of Sulawesi, the RSPO chose to "wash its hands of" the problem of Astra despite the fact that Astra's palm oil is in the 93% of RSPO certified palm oil making its way to the EU.
In the absence of credible verifications of villagers complaints, EcoNusantara should be seen as a valid apppointment by Astra Agro Lestari, to check all accusations against the company, before solutions can be achieved.
As of this writing on May 26, 2023, farmers in Sulawesi affected by Astra Agro Lestari, have chosen to reject Walhi's call to reject EcoNusantara. A meeting between farmers and EcoNusantara is scheduled for May 27, 2023 where farmers and affected villagers in Kabuyu and Rio Mukti will present their grievances as the first step towards resolving this decades old problem.
Update May 19, 2023
Friends of the Earth, UK joins the fray in Kabuyu village vs Astra Agro Lestari.
Unilever’s palm oil is harming people and planet
From Magnum ice cream to PG Tips teabags, from Dove shampoo to Persil detergent, Unilever products are everywhere. But while this consumer goods company claims to be a leader in sustainability, many of its brands contain palm oil. The UK’s consumption of palm oil is a key driver of tropical deforestation. And we’re especially concerned about Unilever’s ties to the second largest palm oil company in Indonesia, Astra Agro Lestari (AAL).
AAL and its subsidiaries are responsible for numerous environmental and human rights violations on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. These include land conflicts with local communities, illegal deforestation, and soil, air and water pollution. Indigenous People have had their land taken. When they’ve protested, these communities have been met with paramilitary intimidation, and in several cases have been arrested and imprisoned.
Friends of the Earth, UK joins the fray in Kabuyu village vs Astra Agro Lestari.
Unilever’s palm oil is harming people and planet
From Magnum ice cream to PG Tips teabags, from Dove shampoo to Persil detergent, Unilever products are everywhere. But while this consumer goods company claims to be a leader in sustainability, many of its brands contain palm oil. The UK’s consumption of palm oil is a key driver of tropical deforestation. And we’re especially concerned about Unilever’s ties to the second largest palm oil company in Indonesia, Astra Agro Lestari (AAL).
AAL and its subsidiaries are responsible for numerous environmental and human rights violations on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. These include land conflicts with local communities, illegal deforestation, and soil, air and water pollution. Indigenous People have had their land taken. When they’ve protested, these communities have been met with paramilitary intimidation, and in several cases have been arrested and imprisoned.
Update May 06, 2023
Mongabay publishes a new report on the social conflicts between Astra Agro Lestari and villagers in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The new report covers more specific information from villagers which should be addressed when AAL appointed EcoNusantara goes to the field next week.
Read the report
Mongabay publishes a new report on the social conflicts between Astra Agro Lestari and villagers in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The new report covers more specific information from villagers which should be addressed when AAL appointed EcoNusantara goes to the field next week.
Read the report
Update April 07, 2023
Under-scrutiny Indonesian palm-oil supplier launches review into abuse of power claims
Friends of the Earth and its affiliates behind the allegations, said Astro Agro Lestari should be “held accountable for its abuses”.
ndonesia’s Astro Agro Lestari has hired a third-party consultant to investigate allegations around abuse of power at its palm-oil subsidiaries in Sulawesi.
Friends of the Earth, the international NGO that lodged the allegations alongside its peer The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Wahli), said action is required now rather than another drawn out investigation. Astro Agro Lestari (AAL) said in a statement on 31 March the review by EcoNusantara, launched in April, is likely to take six months to complete.
Since the accusations were made by Friends of the Earth and its affiliates against three Astro Agro Lestari (AAL) subsidiaries in a March 2022 report, global food companies such as PepsiCo and FrieslandCampina have urged suppliers to stop sourcing palm oil from the Indonesian businesses concerned.
US-headquartered Friends of the Earth reiterated claims last month that “AAL subsidiaries were operating on communities’ land without their consent and criminalising local farmers and environmental human rights defenders” in Central and West Sulawesi.
Indonesia-based EcoNusantara has “carried out an initial verification regarding the allegations in question and is therefore deemed best equipped to deliver a verification”, AAL said in its statement. “This will be done independently and in consultation with relevant stakeholders based on the jointly agreed term of reference as work guidelines”. Just Food
Under-scrutiny Indonesian palm-oil supplier launches review into abuse of power claims
Friends of the Earth and its affiliates behind the allegations, said Astro Agro Lestari should be “held accountable for its abuses”.
ndonesia’s Astro Agro Lestari has hired a third-party consultant to investigate allegations around abuse of power at its palm-oil subsidiaries in Sulawesi.
Friends of the Earth, the international NGO that lodged the allegations alongside its peer The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Wahli), said action is required now rather than another drawn out investigation. Astro Agro Lestari (AAL) said in a statement on 31 March the review by EcoNusantara, launched in April, is likely to take six months to complete.
Since the accusations were made by Friends of the Earth and its affiliates against three Astro Agro Lestari (AAL) subsidiaries in a March 2022 report, global food companies such as PepsiCo and FrieslandCampina have urged suppliers to stop sourcing palm oil from the Indonesian businesses concerned.
US-headquartered Friends of the Earth reiterated claims last month that “AAL subsidiaries were operating on communities’ land without their consent and criminalising local farmers and environmental human rights defenders” in Central and West Sulawesi.
Indonesia-based EcoNusantara has “carried out an initial verification regarding the allegations in question and is therefore deemed best equipped to deliver a verification”, AAL said in its statement. “This will be done independently and in consultation with relevant stakeholders based on the jointly agreed term of reference as work guidelines”. Just Food
Update March 31, 2023
Astra Agro Lestari has appointed EcoNusantara as an independent third party, to review the allegations against its subsidiaries.
https://www.astra-agro.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Joint-Statement-AAL-EcoNusantara_Appointment-of-an-Independent-Third-Party.pdf
We would like to thank Astra Agro Lestari's timeline of 6 months and look forward to the progress reports.
Astra Agro Lestari has appointed EcoNusantara as an independent third party, to review the allegations against its subsidiaries.
https://www.astra-agro.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Joint-Statement-AAL-EcoNusantara_Appointment-of-an-Independent-Third-Party.pdf
We would like to thank Astra Agro Lestari's timeline of 6 months and look forward to the progress reports.
New Pleas from villagers asking for help against Astra Agro Lestari has been added to YouTube
https://youtu.be/-POqoUzzp9s
https://youtu.be/-POqoUzzp9s
Update March 25, 2023
Astra Agro Lestari's problems with communities in Sulawesi province, Indonesia, is gaining such notoriety, that even freight companies are telling their readers that canola is less problematic than palm oil.
The stench from Astra Agro Lestari's palm oil in RSPO certified sustainable palm oil supply chains can only be removed if buyers of Astra Agro Lestari's palm oil step in to clear the mess, independent of the RSPO which has said it does not have the capacity.
Astra Agro Lestari's problems with communities in Sulawesi province, Indonesia, is gaining such notoriety, that even freight companies are telling their readers that canola is less problematic than palm oil.
The stench from Astra Agro Lestari's palm oil in RSPO certified sustainable palm oil supply chains can only be removed if buyers of Astra Agro Lestari's palm oil step in to clear the mess, independent of the RSPO which has said it does not have the capacity.
Update March 22, 2023
Jeff Conant from Friends of the Earth issues a new statement on Astra Agro Lestari's agrarian conflicts in Indonesia
Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Escalating Conflict by Astra Agro Lestari in Sulawesi, Indonesia
by Jeff Conant, senior international forests program manager
fter more than two years of pressure from Friends of the Earth U.S., in close alliance with WALHI/Friends of the Earth Indonesia, corporations took notice of harmful and abusive practices carried out by Astra Agro Lestari (AAL), one of Indonesia’s largest suppliers of palm oil to the world market. Beginning in the fall of 2022, a number of AAL’s customers began suspending palm oil sourcing from the company altogether, or from its plantations in the provinces of Central and West Sulawesi, which was the primary focus of our concerns. The first companies to take such action were Danone, Nestlé, Hershey’s, Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, and L’Oreal. Earlier this month, Pepsico and FrieslandCampina followed suit.
For years, Friends of the Earth and WAHLI have drawn attention to decades of environmental and human rights abuses, illegal plantation permitting, and repression of community dissent, to restore local communities’ legally recognized land rights and end the criminalization that has destroyed the lives of the local indigenous communities. This criminalization — the use of state police and military forces — is best illustrated by the multiple arrests of one farmer who was finally awarded some of his land back after a 15 year resistance struggle. In March 2022, West Sulawesi police arrested five farmers who were involved in the struggle of the Kaili Tado Indigenous people seeking to restore their land rights.
Unfortunately, rather than pursuing a peaceful resolution following these recent business suspensions by Pepsico and FrieslandCampina, we are receiving reports that Astra Agro Lestari is fomenting further violence and intimidation, which is happening right now. In the words of one local land defender, “We were visited by a fully armed Mobile Brigade (the Indonesian military police) and other farmers. They forbade us from doing activities because they said the area belonged to the company. There have been no corrective actions from Astra Agro Lestari. Instead, the intimidation has become more massive.” Friends of the Earth US
Jeff Conant from Friends of the Earth issues a new statement on Astra Agro Lestari's agrarian conflicts in Indonesia
Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Escalating Conflict by Astra Agro Lestari in Sulawesi, Indonesia
by Jeff Conant, senior international forests program manager
fter more than two years of pressure from Friends of the Earth U.S., in close alliance with WALHI/Friends of the Earth Indonesia, corporations took notice of harmful and abusive practices carried out by Astra Agro Lestari (AAL), one of Indonesia’s largest suppliers of palm oil to the world market. Beginning in the fall of 2022, a number of AAL’s customers began suspending palm oil sourcing from the company altogether, or from its plantations in the provinces of Central and West Sulawesi, which was the primary focus of our concerns. The first companies to take such action were Danone, Nestlé, Hershey’s, Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, and L’Oreal. Earlier this month, Pepsico and FrieslandCampina followed suit.
For years, Friends of the Earth and WAHLI have drawn attention to decades of environmental and human rights abuses, illegal plantation permitting, and repression of community dissent, to restore local communities’ legally recognized land rights and end the criminalization that has destroyed the lives of the local indigenous communities. This criminalization — the use of state police and military forces — is best illustrated by the multiple arrests of one farmer who was finally awarded some of his land back after a 15 year resistance struggle. In March 2022, West Sulawesi police arrested five farmers who were involved in the struggle of the Kaili Tado Indigenous people seeking to restore their land rights.
Unfortunately, rather than pursuing a peaceful resolution following these recent business suspensions by Pepsico and FrieslandCampina, we are receiving reports that Astra Agro Lestari is fomenting further violence and intimidation, which is happening right now. In the words of one local land defender, “We were visited by a fully armed Mobile Brigade (the Indonesian military police) and other farmers. They forbade us from doing activities because they said the area belonged to the company. There have been no corrective actions from Astra Agro Lestari. Instead, the intimidation has become more massive.” Friends of the Earth US
Update March 19, 2023
Infosawit published a new report on PT Astra Agro Lestari's violations of FPIC
This is the reason why international companies refuse to absorb Astra Agro's palm oil
InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Previously, Forest and Garden Campaign Manager for the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) National, Uli Arta Siagian, said that several international companies' decision to stop buying palm oil from AAL was inseparable from WALHI's report with Friends of the Earth (FOE) US on March 2022 which documented how the three subsidiaries committed various violations.
The three AAL subsidiaries referred to by Uli are PT Mamuang, PT Lertari Tani Teladan and PT Agro Nusa Abadi (ANA). PT ANA in North Morowali, he said, had been operating for 15 years without having Cultivation Rights (HGU), and had criminalized eight smallholders who were accused of stealing palm oil there. Infosawit
Update March 17, 2023
Astra Agro Ready for Dialogue with PepsiCo and FrieslandCampina About Sustainability
Managing Director of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk, Santosa, during the Talk To The CEO event in Semarang plays coy with Infosawit
InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Following the invitation from PepsiCo and FrieslandCampina to their suppliers to no longer use palm oil sourced from PT Astra Agro Lestari TBk., PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk. is ready to invite PepsiCo and FrieslandCampina to have a dialogue and doing business while preserving nature. Not only caring for and protecting the earth, this national oil palm plantation company also invited the two companies to see first-hand the implementation of Astra Agro in upholding human rights (HAM).
"We don't want to argue about Astra Agro's commitment to the principles of sustainability, it's better if we show concrete actions that are truly beneficial," said President Director of Astra Agro, Santosa in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT,
Update March 16, 2023
Astra Agro Lestari responds to the latest round of public statements by Pepsico and Friesland Campina, asking their suppliers to stop buying from AAL
InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – After the publication of reports from non-profit organizations FoE and ENS, several palm oil buyers such as detergent manufacturers Tide, Procter & Gamble Co, and Nestle, the owner of Nescafe instant coffee, immediately took action against their suppliers not to use palm oil from PT Astra Agro. Lestari Tbk., which is suspected of being a subsidiary of the Astra Group, has committed human rights violations and seized community land.
Now the US-based food and soda producer PepsiCo Inc and Dutch milk producer FrieslandCampina are also pushing their suppliers not to accept palm oil from Astra Agro. Infosawit
Infosawit published a new report on PT Astra Agro Lestari's violations of FPIC
This is the reason why international companies refuse to absorb Astra Agro's palm oil
InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Previously, Forest and Garden Campaign Manager for the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) National, Uli Arta Siagian, said that several international companies' decision to stop buying palm oil from AAL was inseparable from WALHI's report with Friends of the Earth (FOE) US on March 2022 which documented how the three subsidiaries committed various violations.
The three AAL subsidiaries referred to by Uli are PT Mamuang, PT Lertari Tani Teladan and PT Agro Nusa Abadi (ANA). PT ANA in North Morowali, he said, had been operating for 15 years without having Cultivation Rights (HGU), and had criminalized eight smallholders who were accused of stealing palm oil there. Infosawit
Update March 17, 2023
Astra Agro Ready for Dialogue with PepsiCo and FrieslandCampina About Sustainability
Managing Director of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk, Santosa, during the Talk To The CEO event in Semarang plays coy with Infosawit
InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Following the invitation from PepsiCo and FrieslandCampina to their suppliers to no longer use palm oil sourced from PT Astra Agro Lestari TBk., PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk. is ready to invite PepsiCo and FrieslandCampina to have a dialogue and doing business while preserving nature. Not only caring for and protecting the earth, this national oil palm plantation company also invited the two companies to see first-hand the implementation of Astra Agro in upholding human rights (HAM).
"We don't want to argue about Astra Agro's commitment to the principles of sustainability, it's better if we show concrete actions that are truly beneficial," said President Director of Astra Agro, Santosa in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT,
Update March 16, 2023
Astra Agro Lestari responds to the latest round of public statements by Pepsico and Friesland Campina, asking their suppliers to stop buying from AAL
InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – After the publication of reports from non-profit organizations FoE and ENS, several palm oil buyers such as detergent manufacturers Tide, Procter & Gamble Co, and Nestle, the owner of Nescafe instant coffee, immediately took action against their suppliers not to use palm oil from PT Astra Agro. Lestari Tbk., which is suspected of being a subsidiary of the Astra Group, has committed human rights violations and seized community land.
Now the US-based food and soda producer PepsiCo Inc and Dutch milk producer FrieslandCampina are also pushing their suppliers not to accept palm oil from Astra Agro. Infosawit
Update March 11, 2023
PepsiCo, FrieslandCampina Halt Business With Astra Agro Lestari
US soda and food maker PepsiCo and Dutch dairy producer FrieslandCampina have asked their suppliers to cease buying palm oil from plantation owner Astra Agro Lestari, accused by environmental groups of land and human-rights abuses.
Corporate supply chains are under scrutiny as regulators and investors increasingly consider environmental and social impacts, and as consumers worry about climate change and biodiversity loss.
Environmental groups last year found that Jakarta-based palm oil producer Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) did not obtain consent from local communities before claiming land, improperly disposed of waste and cleared areas leading to flooding in Indonesia. ESM/ Bloomberg
PepsiCo, FrieslandCampina Halt Business With Astra Agro Lestari
US soda and food maker PepsiCo and Dutch dairy producer FrieslandCampina have asked their suppliers to cease buying palm oil from plantation owner Astra Agro Lestari, accused by environmental groups of land and human-rights abuses.
Corporate supply chains are under scrutiny as regulators and investors increasingly consider environmental and social impacts, and as consumers worry about climate change and biodiversity loss.
Environmental groups last year found that Jakarta-based palm oil producer Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) did not obtain consent from local communities before claiming land, improperly disposed of waste and cleared areas leading to flooding in Indonesia. ESM/ Bloomberg
Update March 02, 2023
"We've seen many cases [in Indonesia] where community members were attacked by either police or company security personnel. It's a very common strategy to silence protesting communities." Professor Ward Berenschot from the University of Amsterdam.
This report discusses the political dynamics shaping natural resource management in Indonesia. Synthesizing a wide range of studies on the competitive struggle over control of land, timber and other natural resources in Indonesia’s forest zones, the report provides an accessible guide to the practices and incentives generated by Indonesia’s ‘forest politics’, and offers broad guidelines on how to design interventions that better engage with how the sector really operates. UVA NL
"We've seen many cases [in Indonesia] where community members were attacked by either police or company security personnel. It's a very common strategy to silence protesting communities." Professor Ward Berenschot from the University of Amsterdam.
This report discusses the political dynamics shaping natural resource management in Indonesia. Synthesizing a wide range of studies on the competitive struggle over control of land, timber and other natural resources in Indonesia’s forest zones, the report provides an accessible guide to the practices and incentives generated by Indonesia’s ‘forest politics’, and offers broad guidelines on how to design interventions that better engage with how the sector really operates. UVA NL
Communities in Sulawesi land conflict with Astra Agro Lestari
Update February 25, 2023
Villagers protesting against Astra Agro Lestari's palm oil plantations in Sulawesi, have sent CSPO Watch, a list of their demands.
Translated below. Text in bracketed italics to clarify the accusations. Original in Bahasa can be downloaded here.
1. CRIME OF PT. Mamuang ( Communities accuse PT Mamuang of having committed these "crimes" against them)
*. PT. Mamuang destroyed a public grave ( which served ) as a sign of the civilization of the Kailli topo Tado tribe in the SOULOKA area.
*. PT. Mamuang destroyed the gardens belonging to the Topo Tado Kabuyu community, between the Bayu river and the Kasonjo river.
*. PT Mamuang destroyed the community's oil palm plantation in the Paninggio area, totaling 931 palm trees.
*. PT Mamuang destroyed the GAMPIRI paddy house belonging to the Topo Tado Kabuyu community (harassment of adat).
*. The oil palm planting was carried out by PT Mamuang which was too close to the river. So that there is a decrease in surface water and river abrasion (erosion) occurs. Because the watershed and the Boundary are damaged.
*. PT Mamuang made arrests of women and children who were discarded scavengers. ( arrested for picking up loose fruits )
*. Making articles in the law a scourge that scares the public, by removing verses that are in favor of the community.
2.Public demand for consumer brands.
*. Stop buying CPO from PT Mamuang/AAL.
*. Put pressure on PT Mamuang/AAL to return the land cultivated by the Tado Kabuyu topo.
*. Support the demands of the Kabuyu community on PT Mamuang/AAL.
3. THE DEMAND of the people of Kabuyu to PT Mamuang/AAL.
*. Return agricultural land and arable land to the Kabuyu community.
*. Stabilize the watersheds and riverbanks in KABUYU.
*. Be responsible for the destruction of public graves and the destruction of GAMPIRI.
*. Be responsible for the destruction of gardens belonging to the Kabuyu community, from 1990 to the last in 2020.
*. Give compensation to the Kabuyu people who are victims of the destruction. Since 1990.
4. Forms of economic recovery.
*. Provide proper residential land for the Kabuyu people. Not a watershed nor a border.
*. Give agricultural and plantation land as a substitute for land that has been damaged. Not DAS and Boundary.
*. Follow the customary settlement provisions for burning GAMPIRI, as a tribute and honor to the Kailli topo Tado custom.
*. Resolve and provide compensation for the destruction of oil palm plantations belonging to the Kabuyu community.
*. PT Mamuang returned to its usufructuary rights in Martajaya village.
Villagers protesting against Astra Agro Lestari's palm oil plantations in Sulawesi, have sent CSPO Watch, a list of their demands.
Translated below. Text in bracketed italics to clarify the accusations. Original in Bahasa can be downloaded here.
1. CRIME OF PT. Mamuang ( Communities accuse PT Mamuang of having committed these "crimes" against them)
*. PT. Mamuang destroyed a public grave ( which served ) as a sign of the civilization of the Kailli topo Tado tribe in the SOULOKA area.
*. PT. Mamuang destroyed the gardens belonging to the Topo Tado Kabuyu community, between the Bayu river and the Kasonjo river.
*. PT Mamuang destroyed the community's oil palm plantation in the Paninggio area, totaling 931 palm trees.
*. PT Mamuang destroyed the GAMPIRI paddy house belonging to the Topo Tado Kabuyu community (harassment of adat).
*. The oil palm planting was carried out by PT Mamuang which was too close to the river. So that there is a decrease in surface water and river abrasion (erosion) occurs. Because the watershed and the Boundary are damaged.
*. PT Mamuang made arrests of women and children who were discarded scavengers. ( arrested for picking up loose fruits )
*. Making articles in the law a scourge that scares the public, by removing verses that are in favor of the community.
2.Public demand for consumer brands.
*. Stop buying CPO from PT Mamuang/AAL.
*. Put pressure on PT Mamuang/AAL to return the land cultivated by the Tado Kabuyu topo.
*. Support the demands of the Kabuyu community on PT Mamuang/AAL.
3. THE DEMAND of the people of Kabuyu to PT Mamuang/AAL.
*. Return agricultural land and arable land to the Kabuyu community.
*. Stabilize the watersheds and riverbanks in KABUYU.
*. Be responsible for the destruction of public graves and the destruction of GAMPIRI.
*. Be responsible for the destruction of gardens belonging to the Kabuyu community, from 1990 to the last in 2020.
*. Give compensation to the Kabuyu people who are victims of the destruction. Since 1990.
4. Forms of economic recovery.
*. Provide proper residential land for the Kabuyu people. Not a watershed nor a border.
*. Give agricultural and plantation land as a substitute for land that has been damaged. Not DAS and Boundary.
*. Follow the customary settlement provisions for burning GAMPIRI, as a tribute and honor to the Kailli topo Tado custom.
*. Resolve and provide compensation for the destruction of oil palm plantations belonging to the Kabuyu community.
*. PT Mamuang returned to its usufructuary rights in Martajaya village.
Update February 20, 2023
The RSPO Complaints Panel rejected a complaint co-filed by a villager from Kabuyu and CSPO Watch
"Upon reviewing the allegations made and following the due diligence conducted
by the Secretariat, this Complaint is rejected on the following grounds:-
a. The Complainant lodged this Complaint against the Respondent for the sole
reason that the Respondent are allegedly sourcing from PT Mamuang (a
subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari) (PT AAL).
b. The Secretariat’s Membership Unit have confirmed that PT Mamuang and
PT Astra Agro Lestari are not members of the RSPO.
c. It is evident from the Complaint that the Complainant wishes to have actions
taken against the non-members and not against the Respondent.
d. It is not within the power of the Secretariat and/or the Complaints Panel to
influence or direct a Respondent on its business decisions, so long as it
complies with the relevant Key Documents and are not in breach of the
same. To note, the Complainant made no allegation against the
Respondent of any breach.
e. The Complainant has failed to show any nexus between its grievances and
the Respondent to which the complaint is made against.
As such, this Complaint is misplaced, and the Complaints Panel has no
jurisdiction over this Complaint."
Specifically, the complaint filed against Unilever, as a founding member of the RSPO and the world's biggest corporate buyer of palm oil, was based on RSPO requirement of FPIC
The primary requirement of FPIC as found in Criteria 4.4 of the 2018 RSPO P&C. Annex 2 states: “FPIC is a guiding principle and should be applied to all RSPO members throughout the supply chain”. The failure of the RSPO Complaints Panel to see the obvious connection between the villagers in Sulawesi, Astra Agro Lestari and Unilever is a weak excuse to not get its hands dirty in this controversial case.
The admittance of the RSPO that it has no influence over members supply chains, makes certified sustainable palm oil look bad overall. FPIC problems also plague RSPO members in Cameroon and Liberia also.
CSPO Watch will be reaching out to Astra Agro Lestari in an effort to resolve FPIC problems in direct engagement with the villagers in Sulawesi.
The RSPO Complaints Panel rejected a complaint co-filed by a villager from Kabuyu and CSPO Watch
"Upon reviewing the allegations made and following the due diligence conducted
by the Secretariat, this Complaint is rejected on the following grounds:-
a. The Complainant lodged this Complaint against the Respondent for the sole
reason that the Respondent are allegedly sourcing from PT Mamuang (a
subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari) (PT AAL).
b. The Secretariat’s Membership Unit have confirmed that PT Mamuang and
PT Astra Agro Lestari are not members of the RSPO.
c. It is evident from the Complaint that the Complainant wishes to have actions
taken against the non-members and not against the Respondent.
d. It is not within the power of the Secretariat and/or the Complaints Panel to
influence or direct a Respondent on its business decisions, so long as it
complies with the relevant Key Documents and are not in breach of the
same. To note, the Complainant made no allegation against the
Respondent of any breach.
e. The Complainant has failed to show any nexus between its grievances and
the Respondent to which the complaint is made against.
As such, this Complaint is misplaced, and the Complaints Panel has no
jurisdiction over this Complaint."
Specifically, the complaint filed against Unilever, as a founding member of the RSPO and the world's biggest corporate buyer of palm oil, was based on RSPO requirement of FPIC
The primary requirement of FPIC as found in Criteria 4.4 of the 2018 RSPO P&C. Annex 2 states: “FPIC is a guiding principle and should be applied to all RSPO members throughout the supply chain”. The failure of the RSPO Complaints Panel to see the obvious connection between the villagers in Sulawesi, Astra Agro Lestari and Unilever is a weak excuse to not get its hands dirty in this controversial case.
The admittance of the RSPO that it has no influence over members supply chains, makes certified sustainable palm oil look bad overall. FPIC problems also plague RSPO members in Cameroon and Liberia also.
CSPO Watch will be reaching out to Astra Agro Lestari in an effort to resolve FPIC problems in direct engagement with the villagers in Sulawesi.
Update February 11, 2023
Mongabay covers the land conflicts in a new report that looked at how PT Astra Agro Lestari has impacted children in its concessions.
Mongabay covers the land conflicts in a new report that looked at how PT Astra Agro Lestari has impacted children in its concessions.
- Kabuyu Village, located in Pasangkayu Regency, West Sulawesi , is walking around an oil palm plantation . Its subsidiary companies, PT Astra Agro Lestari (AAL), operate in this area. When the company came, land conflicts with residents ensued, for years. The lives of residents are affected, including children.
- Long before the palm oil industry changed the landscape and logging companies operated, the people of Kabuyu depended on the blessings of forests, rivers and swamps . They cultivate rice—plant sago, durian, jackfruit, bananas, catch fish in the river, or go hunting.
- People who used to live from nature, changed after the company came. The lands became oil palm plantations, some residents became company workers. When the people's land is minimal, they work odd jobs, including looking for palm kernels. Children also sometimes participate in order to seek additional income.
- In agrarian conflicts, such as in this oil palm company, children often receive impacts that will stick with them until they become adults. Ari Moch Arif, Director of the Climate Change and Circular Economy Program, Save the Children Indonesia , said that environmental conflicts always place children as forgotten actors. Given their position as children, they are considered a group that has no voice . Mongabay ID
Update Jan 24, 2023
WALHI Central Sulawesi Suggests State Legalized Land Areas Managed by the People
PALU- Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi) Forum for the Environment (WALHI) proposes that a people's governance area be legalized by the state, through several schemes. The scheme is like social forestry and land as objects of agrarian reform (TORA). This is in light of allegations that oil palm plantation companies by ASTRA Group annexed land managed by local communities.
In addition, he urged the government to carry out evaluations and stop granting permits for companies to carry out bad practices that are not in accordance with the law.
The head of the WALHI Central Sulawesi Advocacy and Law Department, Aulia Hakim, made this suggestion after a meeting with several farmer representatives from West Sulawesi, Poso Regency and Morowali Regency during a press conference at the Central Sulawesi WALHI secretariat office on Jalan Tanjung Manimbaya, Palu City, Tuesday (24/24). 1). Media Alkhairaat
Original Post below:
WALHI Central Sulawesi Suggests State Legalized Land Areas Managed by the People
PALU- Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi) Forum for the Environment (WALHI) proposes that a people's governance area be legalized by the state, through several schemes. The scheme is like social forestry and land as objects of agrarian reform (TORA). This is in light of allegations that oil palm plantation companies by ASTRA Group annexed land managed by local communities.
In addition, he urged the government to carry out evaluations and stop granting permits for companies to carry out bad practices that are not in accordance with the law.
The head of the WALHI Central Sulawesi Advocacy and Law Department, Aulia Hakim, made this suggestion after a meeting with several farmer representatives from West Sulawesi, Poso Regency and Morowali Regency during a press conference at the Central Sulawesi WALHI secretariat office on Jalan Tanjung Manimbaya, Palu City, Tuesday (24/24). 1). Media Alkhairaat
Original Post below:
- There is no shortage of news reports on transgressions of certified sustainable palm oil principles by PT Astra Agro Lestari (PT AAL), one of Indonesia’s biggest palm oil producers
- The International Federation for Human Rights published a letter from its members addressed to PT AAL’s buyers under “Astra Agro Lestari in Indonesia: Ongoing criminalisation, human rights abuses and land grabbing”
- Reuters reported that Nestle will stop sourcing from Indonesian palm oil producer AAL over the accusations of land and human rights abuses
- Unilever has decided to take a different approach and not remove Astra Agro Lestari from its supply chain
- This prompted Milieudefensie, associated with Friends of the Earth, to issue a petition demanding that Unilever cut off ties with Astra Agro Lestari.
- Astra Agro Lestari, in its defense against the accusations, has published its own statement.
AAL’s corporate response to the accusations seems to be been taken at face value by its buyers including Apical Group, Wilmar International, ADM etc.
False claims?
Indonesian media coverage of the accusations of human and land rights abuses suggest the claims made against Astra Agro Lestari are without basis.
Gatra published a report where a local resident, Wayan Sucana, said he was the head of Martasari village and proceeded to rubbish the claims.
“In Kabuyu, there are also residents who claim to own 250 hectares of land. The land was later released by the company. But unfortunately, after being released, the land was sold. Later there were those who sued again on the grounds that their land was not in the area that had been released, but in another place.
"They sued all the way to the South Sulawesi Regional Police, the High Court. I was often summoned as a witness. I answered as it was, that there was no basis for them to seize the company's land. Often I gave them views on real rights, there had to be evidence, but that's it.
Wayan himself confirmed that it was less than 15% of the residents who made demands. Most of them were outsiders who had nothing to do with land in the village.”
Kontan published its report based on the opinions of Public Relations spokesperson for PT Mamuang, Hermanto Rudi who gave a more reasonable explanation for the agrarian conflicts.
“In the past, there were only seven to ten people in Kabuyu. The land provider team did not include 250 hectares in the HGU application because they thought that in the next 30 years, the population of Kabuyu would increase. So, the 8,000 hectare HGU is net owned by the company. The boundaries between our land and the community are also clear, there are roads, ditches and other things,"
This mess is quite typical of palm oil development in Indonesia in the early years.
Overlapping licensed areas, lack of FPIC was rampant. It was indeed, problems like these, which led to the creation of the Roundtable On Sustainable Oil (RSPO) in 2004, to try and clean up the supply chain for palm oil.
Unfortunately for the residents of Kabuyu village with a grievance against Astra Agro Lestari, the company is not a member of the RSPO and therefore, not bound to operate according to the principles of the RSPO.
This explains why, the numerous NGOs that have worked on the case, sought to target buyers of PT AAL including Unilever, Nestle, Apical Group etc.
Fortunately for the residents of Kabuyu village, all these buyers of PT AAL palm oil, are members of the RSPO.
Can the influence of the RSPO be brought to bear in a situation where the accused is not a member but its goods are bought by RSPO members? This should be done as it taints the supplies of palm oil from Wilmar, Apical Group and all the companies named in the Friends of the Earth report on Astra Agro Lestari.
There is no doubt that Astra Agro Lestari has contributed to local development in Sulawesi, which makes this case of Kabuyu village such an unfortunate one. The community is only asking for the return of 250 hectares of land they claim as theirs. It goes without saying that resolving the complaints from Kabuyu village may open up a whole bunch of claims from other villages, which Mongabay ID has covered in a series of reports.
The only way forward is to ignore findings prior to 2015, which is when Astra Agro Lestari made its corporate commitment towards NDPE and re-examine all the complaints that are still boiling over in 2022. This should in no way, affect whatever happens with the mining activities of Astra International as it is a sector that has not committed to NDPE.
As communicated to CSPO Watch by Kabuyu village, "we are only asking the return of village lands. If the claims are not clear, we are prepared to work with PT Mamuang. Let's go down to the field together."
This should be done as AAL in its public statement has said that "AAL takes all allegations seriously and will work towards mutually agreeable solutions. We have no tolerance for any violation of land or human rights and will work to assure stakeholders of our compliance with company policies."
Stay tuned to this page as we monitor the developments of Kabuyu village vs Astra Agro Lestari
Published November 2022. CSPO Watch
Update Jan 24, 2023
WALHI Central Sulawesi Suggests State Legalized Land Areas Managed by the People
PALU- Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi) Forum for the Environment (WALHI) proposes that a people's governance area be legalized by the state, through several schemes. The scheme is like social forestry and land as objects of agrarian reform (TORA). This is in light of allegations that oil palm plantation companies by ASTRA Group annexed land managed by local communities.
In addition, he urged the government to carry out evaluations and stop granting permits for companies to carry out bad practices that are not in accordance with the law.
The head of the WALHI Central Sulawesi Advocacy and Law Department, Aulia Hakim, made this suggestion after a meeting with several farmer representatives from West Sulawesi, Poso Regency and Morowali Regency during a press conference at the Central Sulawesi WALHI secretariat office on Jalan Tanjung Manimbaya, Palu City, Tuesday (24/24). 1). Media Alkhairaat
WALHI Central Sulawesi Suggests State Legalized Land Areas Managed by the People
PALU- Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi) Forum for the Environment (WALHI) proposes that a people's governance area be legalized by the state, through several schemes. The scheme is like social forestry and land as objects of agrarian reform (TORA). This is in light of allegations that oil palm plantation companies by ASTRA Group annexed land managed by local communities.
In addition, he urged the government to carry out evaluations and stop granting permits for companies to carry out bad practices that are not in accordance with the law.
The head of the WALHI Central Sulawesi Advocacy and Law Department, Aulia Hakim, made this suggestion after a meeting with several farmer representatives from West Sulawesi, Poso Regency and Morowali Regency during a press conference at the Central Sulawesi WALHI secretariat office on Jalan Tanjung Manimbaya, Palu City, Tuesday (24/24). 1). Media Alkhairaat
Sulawesi villagers urge Unilever and RSPO to help their case with Astra Agro Lestari
Update December 12, 2022
Villagers from Sulawesi, Indonesia, with grievances against Astra Agro Lestari, have ramped up their campaign with an email to stakeholders in AAL's supply chain.
The email which was addressed to Unilever, was sent to Astra Agro Lestari and various corporate accounts as well as NGOs.
CC's in the email from the villagers included Wilmar, Nestle, Apical Group etc. A full copy of the email can be downloaded here
Villagers from Sulawesi, Indonesia, with grievances against Astra Agro Lestari, have ramped up their campaign with an email to stakeholders in AAL's supply chain.
The email which was addressed to Unilever, was sent to Astra Agro Lestari and various corporate accounts as well as NGOs.
CC's in the email from the villagers included Wilmar, Nestle, Apical Group etc. A full copy of the email can be downloaded here
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Two villagers from Sulawesi, Indonesia, have issued public statements asking for help in their fight for land rights against PT Astra Agro Lestari and its subsidiary, PT Mamuang who is being accused of land grabs.
Video quality is poor as these villagers use older smart phones to tape the video statements. Regardless, their message to buyers of Astra Agro Lestari is clear. They need help to recover their ancestral lands and farm lands. |
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Update November 28, 2022 Residents from the villages of Kabuyu, Rio Mukti and Polanto Jaya, which have on-going disputes with Astra Agro Lestari, have sent us some videos for distribution. We have uploaded their videos on YouTube to give them a voice on social media. Please watch, Like or leave a comment on YouTube |
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