GAPKI: Greenpeace bothers sovereignty

Jakarta, (Antaranews Kalsel) - The unilateral action of Greenpeace activists occupying the palm oil tanker from Indonesia as well as the series of actions taken in the country continues to trigger condemnation.


GAPKI (Indonesian Palm Oil Association) Executive Director Mukti Sardjono, in Jakarta Wednesday (21/11) said Greenpeace with these actions has been bothering the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia as a nation, and they ignore the rule of law in Indonesia.

"Greenpeace's unilateral actions threaten 17 million farmers and workers who depend on the oil palm sector and are they, the foreign NGOs under the guise of environmentalists thinking about the fate of oil palm farmers? If the oil palm industry dies, are they ready to provide replacement employment opportunities," he said.

He explained the management of oil palm plantations by companies is carried out by following the applicable laws and regulations, both in the process of licensing, plantation management, and oil palm production.

All oil palm plantation companies must obtain a Plantation Business License (IUP. Without an IUP, the company cannot conduct a plantation business.

The land given in the IUP is Other Utilization Area (APL) and or convertible production forest (HPK). The utilization of HPK must have a permit from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK).

"Every IUP is also equipped with an EIA document (amdal), which ensures that the plantation business really does not cause environmental damage," he said when giving GAPKI's press statement.

According to him, in conducting the opening and construction of plantations, the company is subject to regulations set by the government, including having to follow the principles and criteria in the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). That means land clearing without burning, protecting areas that have high conservation value for the community, such as ancestral tombs, water sources and others.

At present, GAPKI member companies are more advanced in the management of land fire prevention and control. 413 companies have received ISPO certificates and it is planned that 2019 all members of GAPKI have already processed ISPO certification.

"The allegations addressed to oil palm companies that they produce dirty palm oil is not true, we also do not agree with the use of the term dirty palm oil, because now the government and the business world accelerate the achievement of a sustainable palm oil industry," he said.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B Panjaitan asked Greenpeace to be more civilized in expressing its actions and criticisms of the Indonesian palm oil industry, moreover the oil palm sector is the backbone of the national economy and became a livelihood for 17 million Indonesians.