Sorong/Jakarta– Greenpeace Indonesia welcomes the Jayapura State Administrative Court’s decision to uphold the revocation of two palm oil company permits by the South Sorong Regent. The companies, PT Anugerah Sakti Internusa and PT Persada Utama Agromulia had appealed against the regent’s decision, made in recognition of the land rights of Indigenous Papuan landholders and in the interests of forest protection.
“This judgement is great news for the Indigenous Peoples of Konda District and South Sorong. It protects the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and preserves Papua’s forests, in line with the commitment of the West Papua Provincial Government through special local regulations for recognition of Indigenous Communities. All relevant parties must comply with the court’s decision, and we will continue to monitor this,” said Nico Wamafma, Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner in Sorong, West Papua.
Oil palm plantations are increasingly expanding into Papua’s forests. The companies that were refused in this judgement, PT ASI and PT PUA, held permits covering 14,667 hectares and 12,101 hectares respectively, and both were owned by Indonusa Agromulia, according to the provincial oil palm permit review.
Destruction of Papua’s precious forests also threatens the survival of the Indigenous Peoples who live in it. Prior to the court cases against the South Sorong Regent, there was a similar case in Sorong, where three palm oil companies challenged the decision of the Regent Johny Kamuru, to revoke their permits covering Indigenous forest lands.
This decision should provide impetus for Indonesia’s House of Representatives to immediately discuss and ratify the Indigenous Peoples Bill, so that the rights of Indigenous Peoples over their customary lands can be protected under national law. In addition, this decision is testament to the Regent’s courage to evaluate and revoke palm oil plantation permits. This process must be assisted by the relevant Ministries, and stands as a lesson to other regional governments and bodies not to arbitrarily issue plantation permits to companies over Indigenous land. Prioritizing Indigenous Peoples’ rights is an absolute must, following the principle of ensuring free prior informed consent (FPIC), before issuing permits to companies.
Protection and recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples is not negotiable, and is an essential part of efforts to preserve the remaining natural forests in Tanah Papua. Indigenous Peoples must have complete freedom in managing their customary lands, so that they may enjoy economic independence without suffering the destruction of their customary forests.
Contacts:
Nico Wamafma, Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner, +62 821-9758-5110
Igor O’Neill, Greenpeace Indonesia, [email protected], +61 414 288 424