Palembang, 20 March 2025 – Thirteen witnesses attended ready to testify today in Palembang District Court, detailing the devastating impacts of haze pollution caused by fires on peatlands within the concessions of PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, three timber suppliers under the control of Asia Pulp and Paper (part of the Sinar Mas Group).[1] The lawsuit, brought by eleven South Sumatra residents, aims to hold the companies accountable for the recurring fires and resulting toxic smoke that blanketed the region in recent years.
“The 2023 haze severely disrupted my work,” stated Mat Arif, a construction worker and one of the plaintiffs. “A roofing job that should have taken one week was delayed to three. This caused me significant financial losses due to lost work time and delayed wages.” Plaintiffs and witnesses, arriving from Ogan Komering Ilir Regency and Palembang City, wore masks emblazoned with the slogan “Not Yet Free from Haze,” underscoring the ongoing threat.
Twelve of the witnesses, all local residents, echoed the plaintiffs’ experiences, describing economic hardship and other harms caused by the haze. In previous court sessions, plaintiffs documented both material and immaterial damages that arose from emotional and health impacts and the violation of their right to clean air.
Sapta Ananda Proklamasi, who works as a Senior Data Strategist for Greenpeace Indonesia, an intervening party in the case, also attended, ready to testify that the three companies’ concessions lie within the Sugihan-Lumpur River Peat Hydrological Unit (KHG SSSL). Sapta’s research findings are that the construction of drainage canals within the defendants’ areas of business operations has dried out the peat, leading to repeated fires and damage to the landscape. Between 2001 and 2020, the burned area within the three concessions reached a staggering 473,000 hectares, representing 92% of the total burned area in the Sugihan-Lumpur River peat landscape. Of this, around half occurred in the latter five years between 2015 and 2020. Fires were recurring over at least 175,000 hectares.
However, Sapta was prevented from testifying because the companies’ lawyers objected to him appearing, and threatened to walk out of proceedings despite the judicial panel declining to uphold their objection.
“There was disagreement over whether this testimony should be allowed. But the final decision is in the hands of the judges. They were willing to allow it, but they were interrupted by the defendants’ lawyers who said they would walk out if the witness was allowed to continue. We consider this behaviour entirely inappropriate and unprofessional. It gives the impression that they do not respect the court proceedings,” said Caesar Aditya, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.
As an intervening plaintiff, Greenpeace Indonesia is demanding that the court order the three companies to restore the damaged peatlands within their concessions. It also seeks a court order compelling the companies to guarantee that peatland drainage, fires, and the spread of haze from within and around their licensed areas will not recur.
“We represent the interests of the impacted environment,” said Belgis Habiba, Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner. “The conversion of forests and peatlands into commercial plantations not only affects biodiversity and carbon stocks but also exacerbates global warming and the impacts of the climate crisis.”
Fribertson Parulian Samosir, a lawyer from the Palembang Legal Aid Institute (LBH Palembang) representing the plaintiffs, added that the companies must be held strictly liable for the haze caused by fires within their concessions. He noted that the companies’ own corporate vision statements include commitments to environmental protection.
“By allowing these fires and the resulting haze, the three companies have betrayed their own vision. We are therefore seeking strict liability,” Fribertson stated. “We hope the witnesses’ testimony will help the court clearly understand the devastating impact of the haze on the plaintiffs.”
Notes to editors
[1] PT BMH, PT BAP, and PT SBA Wood Industries are listed as part of the APP Business Group in documents submitted during the company’s application to re-associate with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
[2] Photos and videos are available for download.
Media Contacts
Belgis Habiba, Greenpeace Indonesia, +62 897 0005 629
Yolanda Pradinata, LBH Palembang, +62 821 7764 1251
Igor O’Neill, Greenpeace Indonesia – [email protected], +61 414 288 424
Press release from South Sumatra Smoke Suit Initiative (Inisiasi Sumatera Selatan Penggugat Asap – ISSPA):
Greenpeace Indonesia, Pantau Gambut, Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI), YLBHI-LBH Palembang, Indonesian Centre for Environmental Law (ICEL), Public Interest Lawyer Network (PIL-Net) Indonesia, Spora Institute, Perkumpulan Rawang, Perkumpulan Tanah Air, Dewan Pimpinan Wilayah Serikat Petani Indonesia Sumatera Selatan, Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria (KPA) Wilayah Sumatera Selatan, Solidaritas Perempuan Palembang, Sarekat Hijau Indonesia Sumatera Selatan, Spektakel Klab, Kontra Visual, Diskomik, Himpunan Mahasiswa Pertanian Universitas Sriwijaya (Himasperta UNSRI), Aksi Kamisan Sriwijaya, Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Fakultas Hukum Universitas Sriwijaya (BEM FH UNSRI), Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Sriwijaya (BEM FE UNSRI)
