Polda Riau (Riau Police Departement) to Dismissal Investigations (SP3) Case of 13 Illegal Looging Company

December 23, 2008
PEKANBARU - Investigations Case for nearly 2 years to 13 companies in Riau which indicated involved the illegal logging is stopped. This is caused Polda Riau and Riau Attorney (Kejati) issued a letter to Dismissal Investigation (SP3).

According to the Polda Riau, the decision to stop the investigation of 13 companies, because the government did not have enough evidence beside the document of investigatios has repeatedly to be the prosecutor, but they give back to the police.

Before, this case has dragged previous 14 woods companies which owned by two giant pulp companies, namely PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) and PT. Indah KIAT Pulp and Paper (IKPP). Stopped the investigation after consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Depertement if that’s all company does not violate of permits and environmental destructions.

All 13 company's group on PT. IKPP such as PT Arara Abadi, PT Bina Duta Laksana (BDL) PT Rimba Mandau Lestari (RML), PT Ruas Utama Jaya.

Meanwhile, mainstay of PT Riau Pulp and paper, such as PT Madukoro, PT Merbau Pelalawan Lestari (MPL), PT Nusa Prima Manunggal (NPM), PT Bukit Indah Batubuh Sei (BBSI), PT Citra Sumber Sejahtera (CSS), and PT Mitra Kembang Selaras (MKS),

"We do SP3 on 13 comapnies because thay has lees of evidence,and while the Ministry of the Environment stated there is no evidence of destructions, while 13 companies from the Forestry Departement has the legal permission. The two institutions are our expert witnesses in the case of 13 companies," said Head office of Police Departement of Riau (Kapolda) Brigjen Hadiatmoko.

Kapolda explained that one company joint company of PT IKPP which named PT Utama Jaya (RUJ) that does not have permission. "For this company we will continue the investigations," Kapolda said.

Meanwhile, at the same time, Attorney General Head of Riau, Suroso said that element of verification in the case 13 companies’s tools cases they has of weak evidence. "All Evidence is not strong, It can be stop (SP3)," said Suroso.

In 2007 when Sutjiptadi as Riau Kapolda at the time incentive to do combating of illegal logging, hundreds of suspects and thousands cubic of timber forest crime confiscated by the police. In fact, around February 2007 National Police Departement also took over the case of illegal logging in Riau and set 14 companies as suspicious.

Farmers Agrarian Conflict Riau Vs PT Arara Abadi, Causes the Victims of Life

One case involves a conflict of Agrarian Dispute with farmers and police in the other hand, occur again in the Bengkalis district Riau, with the only clear case to extend the list of Agrarian conflict in the country. The case occurred on December 18, 2008

An incident was the trigger when more than 500 troops Mobile Brigade of Riau Police Departement (Polda Riau) with Samapta troops and police armed of Bengkalis Resort using stick , fire Weapon and equipped with Water canon pushed enter the settlement residents. Association officials are directly Lead by Direskrim Polda Riau Kombes Alex Mandalika, perform operations in the form of action to ejectment Of Dusun Suluk Bongkal, as village residents are deemed to annexation of the area HPHTI (Rights control Plantation Forest Industry) of PT. Arara Abadi (APP Groups)

For that action all villager trying to defend themselves by blocking roads access into the village. Other efforts in the form of negotiations with the police who also served in the conducted by the local community leaders, Negotiations that led directly by the head of Dusun Suluk Bongkal, and the Khalifah Ismail and side by lead of STR (Riau Farmer Asociation) Riza Zuhelmi in the aim to ask the basic letter the operation in pursuit of the police action in this village. Because according to the source what we get from citizens, that Dusun Suluk Bongkal based on the administrative map of 4856 in the Ha sign by Regent of Bengkalis 12 March 2007 is legal as in a sheet Pemda Bengkalis by No. 0817-22-0817-31.0618-54 0616 63.

However, police there answers, "We just do mandate.." Get answers that are less satisfactory that the residents called on police not to take repressive action against to the villager of Dusun Suluk Bongkal. Therefore, contrary to the law, First Command No official letter from the police departement and the second, there is no decision of the court issued the execution.

Finally hose around it and then at 11:30 the police try to cut back rows of the mother and mother-child who stand in the way of entry. The clash can not be avoided, in the incident that took Lead of STR Riza Zuhelmy enter by force to a police car. But Finally Riza successfully delivered later in the evacuation to the village.

Seeing that police repression is also more brutally with the beat, kick and shoot demontran by rubber bullet and tear gas towards citizens, the police also to arrest the mothers, so all villagers being mess, at least 2 people affected by stroke. Brutally action by officer, not just stop there until the police to send a helicopter to search people who get run to the forest. Police conducted a search with a helicopter taking action with arogan throw explosives at the top of the home residents are torn loud explosion and followed with fire going burn resident’s home. In the event that has also been the victim died 1 people (child girls, age 2 years)

Until this news we revealed on Monday 22 December 2008 the effort does not stop the struggle of farmers in demanding justice. Dusun Suluk Bongkal residents Riau also bring this case to the Komnas HAM (National Commission of Human Rights) in Jakarta. The response of the Komnas HAM represent by the Vice Chairman of the Komnas HAM Ridha Saleh says, "We will soon undertake in the field and will take steps to ask the Police Departement of RIAU especially in the handling of Agrarian cases not to do with repressive ways," he said.

Source in Indonesian text: http://www.kpa.or.id/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=202&Itemid=39

Projection Of National Land Use planning at 7 Province

U.S. firm to invest $4 bln in Indonesian pulp factory

JAKARTA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S.-based paper and pulp company International Paper plans to invest more than 4 billion U.S. dollars in a pulp factory and industrial forest in Indonesia, local press said Monday.

The pulp factory will have the capacity to produce 1.5 million tons of pulp per year, supported by a 500,000-hectare plantation forest, reported major newspaper The Jakarta Post.

Central Kalimantan and Papua provinces had been chosen as the investment locations despite a lack of supporting infrastructure because no similar businesses operated there, the newspaper said, quoting a senior official with the Forestry Ministry.

International Paper is currently rated among the three largest pulp and paper producers in the world. They operate two factories in Brazil and Canada.

The company chose Indonesia for its business expansion after conducting a six-month feasibility survey in a number of Asian countries, said Hadi S. Pasaribu, director general for forest product management.

Hadi said he had requested International Paper follow Indonesian investment regulations by establishing a local company here.

Indonesia has 84 integrated pulp and paper mills, with a total production capacity of 6.5 million tons.

Investor Burdened by Customary Rights for land and Bureaucracy

JAYAPURA- General Director of Badan Pengurus Daerah (BPD) Himpunan Pengusahan Muda Indonesia (HIPMI / Association Of Young Entrepreneur Indonesia) Papua, Andi Rukman Nurdin, sayd that if there is one big invesment enters Papua, thus its impact will become multieffects to other efforts which is able to move forward the economics to The New Papua.

"Bring investor in to an area is not easy to, but if there is 1 investor start to have masterpiece in an area, as the result will become consideration for the other investor step into its area,” he said to journalist before opened plenary meeting of BPD HIPMI Papua, in Swiss Papua belHotel, Sunday (27/1), evening.

According to him, 3 years ago, BPD HIPMI Papua invited 14 investors to Papua to give contribution for the economics development of Papua, but just about 6 months, they who among other things : Samporna Group and Bentol Group did not continue their invesment in Papua.

He said that, the obstacles that were faced by the investors at that moment so that didn’t continue their investment in Papua, isn’t far differ from some investors who will come into Papua in this time. "They have the same obstacles with the formerly.”

He pronounced that some investors’ obstacles come into Papua which the most difficult passed by is customary right for land and bureaucracy. Nevertheless, concerning customary rights for land, in this time is compiling about its perdasi and perdasus. so that will be expected have earned to be ratified soon. Thereby can give clarity and define which restriction must be conducted by the investors to have invesment in Papua.

Questioning plenary meeting of BDP HIPMI Papua, that the mentioned conducted to terminate his tenure after 3 years led BDP HIPMI Papua, by gives opportunity to the other cadres of BPD HIPMI Papua to continue in moving forward the real sector efforts in Papua, so that the economics in Papua will not depend on government projects.

He expressed, since his action in Papua, 1983 BPD HIPMI Papua until 2008 have owned 20 branches in Papua Province and have replaced their management until 8 times by turns, where 1 period takes place during 3 year. " Actually my tenure ended on November 24^th, 2007 but I was given 3 months’ grace until the new official member,” he explained.

For that, as have done by leaders of previous BPD HIPMI Papua, so candidates who have been specified verbally, that is Max R. Krey, Syahril Hasan, Lutfi Arisandi and of bahlil LHD, have to do road show to some regions before election started, because they who'll determine Head Leader of BPD HIPMI Papua are they who live in that regions.

However, it’s expected by Andi Rukman Nurdin, any person who will be chosen become Head Leader of BPD HIPMI Papua have to be supported, and specially to whom it may concern to remains cooperate with the others in the efforts of developing Papua through BPD HIPMI Papua which cooperate with other elements either they who lives in or outside Papua.(api)

LEI : JIKALAHARI EXCLAMATION TO CERTIFICATION OF PT RAPP AS POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS

Bogor, 18/1 (ANTARA) – Ecolable Indonesian Institute (Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia /LEI) assessed the exclamation from coalition of Riau NGOs to reconsider certification process PT RAPP Pelalawan sector extent of the plain 75.640 ha width as a positive suggestions.

"The exclamation coalition of Riau NGOs which was conveyed on January 15^th, 2008 is a positive thing to carried out certification process credibly and transparently in Indonesia.” Said Head of Majelis Perwalian Anggota (MPA) LEI, Dr. Ir. Hariadi Kartodihardjo. That statement was conveyed by Hariadi in Bogor, on Friday, as a official response of coalition of Riau NGOs’ press conference which united in Jikalahari (Jaringan Kerja Penyelamat Hutan Riau), that appealed on January 15^th, 2008 in Riau.

LEI is an accreditation certification independent organization which develops management sustainable forest plantations system (PTHL) in Indonesia.

Jikalahari consists of Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (Walhi) Riau, NGO Riau Mandiri, NGO Mitra Insani, Kelompok Advokasi Riau (KAR), NGO Kabut Riau, PPR (Partai Persyerikatan Rakyat) dan Perkumpulan Elang.

Susanto Kurniawan, coordinator of Jikalahari on the conference appealed LEI to reconsider the certification process PT RAPP Pelalawan Sector (SK Menhut No. 356/KPTS-II/ 1997) extent of the plain is 75.640 ha. Due to the legal aspects about land certainty which is still not clearly yet. Industrial Forest Plantations Areas (HTI) belongs to PT RAPP Sector of Pelalawan for the width of 75.640 hectare have been ratified definitively by Minister Forestry base on Ministrial Forestry Decree No. 356 / Menhut-II/ 2004. If previously width of HTI PT RAPP areas only 159.500 hectare, consequently this Decision letter, specified HTI PT RAPP for the width of 235.140 of hektar. Coalition of Riau NGOs assessed that condition is very impossible to keep executes the certification process, and if it remain to be executed through PT Mutu Agung Lestari ( MAL), is the same meaning with justified illegal act PT RAPP Pelalawan’s sector, so that credibility of LEI will be questioned.

According to this thing therefore Coalition of Riau NGOs urge LEI on discontinue cerification process of PT RAPP Pelalawan sector beforehand to ascertain problems of lands status and permits of PT RAPP Pelalawan sector‘s areas ( SK 356 / KPTS-II/ 2004).

Hariadi said, existences of certification process precisely open public chance to watch performance management of forests, and exclamation of Riau NGOs represented input to certification institute which certificated PT RAPP. He explained, PT RAPP Pelalawan sector is experiencing assessment to early stage of certification in phases PTHL LEI nowadays which has been being conducted by certification Institute which was accreditated by LEI is PT Mutu Agung Lestari (MAL). On this stage Certification Institute do the first survey and public consultancy to get information hit the condition of PT RAPP at this moment. He admitted that problem of PT RAPP Pelalawan sector ( SK Menhut No. 356/ KPTS-II/ 2004) was caused also by uncertainty of applicable law.

" Equal to certification FSC system (Forest Stewardship Council) Principal No. 1, system of LEI related at applicable law and regulations but when regulation and applicable law overlap, LEI system can open agreement room among related parties to realize the rule of law, so that isn’t tend to Local government side or Forestry Department," said the expert forestry from Agriculture Institute in Bogor (IPB).

FSC has founded by various delegation of organizations like environmental organization, entrepreneur circle dabbling in timber trade, professional expert of forestry, local society and certification institutes from 25 states in 1993.

FSC have a part as accreditation’s institute which has symbol that also used as lable to indicate that a forest’s products come from areal which have been managed well (well managed forest).

The same thing with FSC, Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia ( LEI) which is on 1998 officially stand up as institution, also have a part as accreditation institute since 2000.

After developed certification system, LEI had been developing and maintain relations among them with FSC, industry and commerce associations in importer states and Buyers Group of Certified Wood Products which sponsored by WWF in various states to obtain confession in international market.

The Effort to obtain international confession, especially in its connection with FSC, have yielded the signing a Memorandum of Understanding between LEI and of FSC on September 3^th 1999, where FSC agreed certification institutes which has accreditated by FSC operating in Indonesia will use standard of forest certification which have been developed by LEI.

Check permits’ authenticity

Meanwhile, Executive Director of LEI, Taufiq Alimi sees there are two important matter want to be submitted by Coalition of Riau NGOs and require to get serious attention by certification Institute, that is conversion to lands which ought to protected and activity of lands conversion although definitive permit has not been issued by Forestry Department yet.

"We goodly accepted exclamation from JIKALAHARI as suggestion. LEI convince of that land conversion of forest must not be done in protected areas, and at the same time have asked PT MAL to checking carefully existences and authenticity of permits which become the basis for operation of PT RAPP," he said. He explained that an area ought to protected for many reasons such as it residence at above 3000 metres height ( mdpl), own sloping land more than 40 degree, becoming endemic animal habitat, becoming cultural heritage (for example becoming custom dwelling area, or was expressed sakral by custom community), represents drainage river, own deep peat and because miscellaneous others which is condition become must be protected areas.

He asks all related parties to execute fair exploiting and everlasting in Indonesia to exploit LEI certification.

"If there any party which is feel that real management unit inappropriate to to get certificate from LEI, thus LEI open wide chance through the team who dropped by certification institute and through LEI observer which also go down to field in each process of certification. The LEI is all constituent properties, so that all parties can and have to give input in each certification process " he said.

Furthermore Accredit and LEI Certification Manager, Daru Asycarya enhance, in certification phases, an unit of forestry management assessed in some assessment step.

"certificate of Ecolable will only be given if management unit have passed all assessment steps and have expressed its passed at the final assessment of certification " he added.

According to him, before the passed statement issued, the result of each assessment phase, even can be exploited in business communications, it will not prove that pertinent management unit have managed its forest fairly and sustainable.

"To ascertain certification in phases processes have been executed well, we have sent observer to watch the certification process " he said.

Diposting oleh teddy di 14:58 0 PADA JAN 22 2008

Press Conferenced by Riau’s NGO

Press Conferenced by Riau’s NGO

JIKALAHARI (Jaringan Kerja Penyelamat Hutan Riau), Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (Walhi) Riau, Riau Mandiri NGO, Mitra Insani NGO, Kelompok Advokasi Riau (KAR), Kabut Riau NGO, PPR (Partai Persyerikatan Rakyat) dan Perkumpulan Elang appealed Certification Institute / LEI to cancelled in phase certification processes in Exploiting Everlasting Forest Plantations (PHTL) of PT RAPP Pelalawan sector (SK Menhut No.356/KPTS-II/2004).

Pekanbaru, Coalition NGOs’ of Riau exclaimed Certification Institute /LEI to reconsider certification process of PT RAPP Pelalawan sector (SK Menhut No. 356/KPTS-II/1997) extent of the plain 75.640 ha width in as much as the legal aspects about land certainty which is still not clearly yet. Industrial Forest Plantations Areas (HTI) belongs to PT RAPP Sector of Pelalawan for the width of 75.640 hectare have been ratified definitively by Minister Forestry base on Ministrial Forestry Decree No. 356 / Menhut-II/ 2004. If previously width of HTI PT RAPP areas only 159.500 hectare, consequently this Decision letter, specified HTI PT RAPP for the width of 235.140 of hektar.

Based on Image of Landsat 2007, area of HTI PT. RAPP Pelalawan Sector have been converted till 65.218 ha or about 80% from totalizeing areas. Where conversion begun since 2000 about 6.458 ha, mounting sharply year 2001-2002 for the width of 54,218 ha, 2003-2007 for the width of 3.924 hectare. "Permits was issued by Minister of Forestry at 2004, while according to field finding fact that conversion have been executed long beforehand" explained Susanto Kurniawan, Coordinator of Jikalahari.

Johny S. Mundung, The Director of WALHI Riau mentioned, " Concession of PT RAPP in sector of Pelalawan almost entirety (38.877 hectare of its areas) are inside protected area according to plan of Riau Planology /RTRWP 1994" furthermore Raflis, Yayasan Kabut Riau, added that " the overall condition of HTI PT RAPP areal are deep peatlands which is more than 3 metres and according to Precidential Decree (Kepres) No. 32 / 1990 must be protected.”

According to Technical Document of LEI-04 Assessed (Scale Intensity) Indicators of PHTL , Lands Certainty as forest Plantations is areal status of management unit to Utilization of Land (Utilization Forest / TGH, Plan of Province’s Regional Planology /RTRWP. On the other hand HTI PT. RAPP Sector of Pelalawan inside Covert Area pursuant to RTRWP Riau 1994, though according to Ministrial Decree Forestry No : 21/Kpts-II/2001 About Criterion And Standard Permission about Utilizing Effort Result of Forest Plantations from Production Forest, January 31^th, 2001, Criterion and Standard Permission to Utilizing Effort Result of Forest Plantations at Production Forest according to Utilization Forest (RTRWP).

Furthermore in Technical Document of LEI-04 Assessed (in Intensity Scale) the Indicators of PHTL mentioned , Lands Certainty as forest Plantations is the Existence of certainty guarantee for areal juridically and also minimize conflicts usage of areal in the future, because of that, every distorting of forest functions either because of arrangement changes and lands utilization have to immediately confirmed / to be re-specified. Boundary is one of the signals which giving a message that areal exsisted inside have been encumbered by certain function and rights. Coalition of Riau NGO compromised about Condition that has happened as HTI PT. RAPP Sector of Pelalawan, definitely specified as HTI on October 1^st, 2004 trough Minister Forestry Decree No. 356/Menhut-II/2004 and PT RAPP sector of Pelalawan have conducted conversions to natural forest at HTI areas before owning definitely permits.

The Coalition assessed that the condition is very impossible to keep executes the certification process to PT RAPP sector of Pelalawan and if it remains to be executed through PT Mutu Agung Lestari ( MAL), is the same meaning with justified illegal act PT RAPP Pelalawan’s sector. Moreover that LEI’s credibility will be questioned. According to this things, the Riau Coalition urge institute of to ekolabel discontinue process of serifikasi PT RAPP sector of Pelalawan beforehand to ascertain problems of farm status and permit of area of PT RAPP sector of Pelalawan ( SK 356/KPTS-II/2004).