Indonesian Forest Ministry halts APRIL’s forest destruction on Kampar

Indonesia suspends climate polluter's licence to destroy rainforest

Greenpeace calls on Indonesian President Yudhoyono to end deforestation

19 November 2009

Jakarta, Indonesia — Greenpeace welcomed today’s decision by Indonesia’s Forest Minister, Mr. Zulkifli Hasan, to temporarily stop paper giant Asia Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL) from destroying the carbon-rich forest peatlands of Indonesia’s Kampar Peninsula, Sumatra, pending a review of the company’s permits. More

Paper giant pulls out of Indonesia rainforest destruction

Signal to world leaders to end global deforestation

13 November 2009

Jakarta, Indonesia — While Greenpeace activists were detained by police overnight for taking direct action on Thursday to prevent Asia Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL) clearing Indonesia's rainforest, UPM-Kymmene announced that it will stop buying from the company (1), which is responsible for causing widespread rainforest and climate destruction. More

UPM statement
UPM has renewed its pulp sourcing strategy

Greenpeace sends President Obama an urgent call to action from heart of South East Asia's rainforests - "Indonesia is climate change's 'ground zero'"

12 November 2009

Jakarta, Indonesia — As Barack Obama arrives in Asia for his first visit to the region as President and while the United States continues to block progress ahead of the critical UN climate negotiations at Copenhagen next month, a 50-strong international team of Greenpeace activists issued him an urgent call to action from the heart of Indonesia’s threatened rainforests. More

Brandrodung auf Sumatra Ursünde im Urwald

In den Sümpfen der Insel Sumatra sollen riesige Wälder gerodet werden. Kurz vor der Kopenhagener Klimakonferenz würde damit einer der größten Kohlenstoff-Speicher Südostasiens in Flammen aufgehen. Umweltschützer kampieren im Urwald, um den Raubbau zu stoppen - ein aussichtsloser Kampf. Mehr

Paper Industry Uses Violence and Destroys Tropical Forests in Indonesia

Despite years of protests: Wholesaler Papier Union continues to sell paper gained from illegal logging in Indonesia

Indonesia’s paper industry does not mind using violence against people and destroying tropical forests. Three Indonesian villagers recently had to pay with their lives when resisting against the acacia plantation of an APRIL subsidiary, reports Dede Kunaifi from the Indonesian environmental organisation Kabut. Dede Kunaifi is currently travelling through Germany following an invitation by ROBIN WOOD. He has alerted us to the fact that APRIL is planning to destroy another 45,000 hectares of tropical forest on the Kampar peninsula in Sumatra to establish new plantations. This would have devastating consequences both locally for small farmers and the environment, and globally due to the climatic effects. Dede Kunaifi appeals to customers in Europe to stop buying paper from Indonesia. Copy paper made by APRIL is sold in Germany under the trademark “Paper One” by the wholesaler Papier Union.

Three fatalities, 16 wounded and seven imprisoned – this is the sad state of Tangun, a village in Sumatra. Its inhabitants have been fighting for 1000 hectares of agricultural land which was blatantly taken over by an APRIL subsidiary (Asian Pacific Resources International Limited). In response to the villagers’ resistance, the company had some villagers taken hostage by its security guards on 28 May 2009. Since the villagers were not prepared to accept such acts of intimidation, a conflict erupted the very same day, in which three people died and several were wounded. The APRIL Group claims these people died in an accident. The national Indonesian human rights commission does not believe in APRIL’s claim. According to Dede Kunaifi and other Indonesian environmentalists there is plenty of evidence that the villagers were killed. “Customers in Germany should be made aware of the violence the paper industry uses against people and the environment in our country,” says Dede Kunaifi and asks everyone to “please stop buying paper from Indonesia!”

APRIL is planning to also destroy large areas of rainforests in other parts of Sumatra. The Kampar peninsular is one of Sumatra’s few remaining areas covered in rainforest. To make matters worse, it is 45,000 hectares of peat forest APRIL wants to clear for paper plantations. The climatic consequences would be disastrous as the peat layers, which are several metres thick, store huge amounts of carbon dioxide. If the forest is logged, this harmful gas will escape into the atmosphere. This effect makes Indonesia the world’s third-largest producer of carbon dioxide today.

Based on the above methods of illegal logging, ROBIN WOOD has been appealing to Papier Union since 2002 to stop selling paper made by APRIL. Papier Union, who claims to be Germany’s largest paper wholesaler, has refused to do so until today, saying that the pulp for “Paper One” is exclusively sourced from plantations and not from destroying rainforests. “Given the violent practices used for paper plantations in Indonesia, such an argumentation seems somewhat cynical. We are asking Papier Union and all other traders or paper to stop selling paper from Indonesia,” says ROBIN WOOD’s Expert for Tropical Forests, Peter Gerhardt.

Contact:

Dede Kunaifi will be pleased to make himself available for interviews in English.

Peter Gerhardt, Expert for Tropical Forests, phone +49 1577 782 88 25, tropenwald(at)robinwood.de

Ute Bertrand, Press Spokesperson, phone +49 40 380 892 22, presse(at)robinwood.de

http://www.robinwood.de/tropenwald/

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District Head sentenced to 11-year imprisonment

District Head sentenced to 11-year imprisonment

Wednesday, 17 September 2008

PEKANBARU (EoF News) —Pelalawan District Head (inactive) Tengku Azmun Jaafar was penalized to 11-year imprisonment by Corruption Crime Court in Jakarta yesterday (16/9/2008) as he found guilty of committing corruption in issuing pulpwood plantation licenses for 15 companies, media reports said. 7 out of 15 pulpwood companies were genuinely established by Azmun and his relatives before being taken over by group of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), an APRIL subsidiary company in Riau, as well as being embraced in a joint operation with the group. The KPK judges said that Azmun found guilty in embezzling for himself and his corporate by issuing the licenses (IUPHHK-HT) where the district head received money of Rp 12.2 billion, Riau Pos reported (17/9/2008). The judges said that the loss suffered by the State is derived from the potential loss due to operation in clearing the natural forest by the companies and deduction by their tax or fee payment to the State’s account, Tribun Pekanbaru reported. Azmun told journalists after the trial that the punishment is quite hard to accept as he just conducted the duty by issuing the licenses. Previously, prosecutors of the trial charged the defendant with 12-year imprisonment and paying Rp19 billion for the loss suffered by the State. The defendant told the court that he is thinking over to respond the punishment decided by the judges. Azmun is also sentenced to pay Rp500 million fine or six-month imprisonment as well as to repay Rp 12 billion for the money he received from the corruption. Beside Azmun, there are other Riau officials that named suspects by KPK court. They are former Riau forestry service heads: Asral Rachman, Syuhada Tasman and Burhanudin Hussein (current Kampar District Head). EoF learns that the 15 companies which obtained licenses issued by Azmun and linked to corruption practices as follows: APP affiliated company: Putra Riau Perkasa (21,650 ha), and unidentified affiliation: PT. Sinar Deli Pratama (3,000 ha). APRIL: CV. Bhakti Praja Mulia (5,800 ha), CV. Mutiara Lestari (4,000 ha), CV. Tuah Negeri (1,500 ha), KUD Bina Jaya Langgam (1,887 ha), CV. Alam Lestari (3,330 ha), CV. Riau Bina Insani (4,300 ha), CV. Harapan Jaya (4,800 ha), PT. Nusa Prima Manunggal (4,412 ha), PT. Merbau Pelalawan Lestari (5,590 ha), PT. Putri Lindung Bulan (2,500 ha), PT. Selaras Abadi Utama (13,600 ha), PT. Bukit Raya Pelalawan (3,200 ha), and PT. Riau Bina Insani (7,275 ha).

Ex-service head: I have no knowledge of forestry

PEKANBARU (EoF News)—A former Riau Forestry Service head insisted on a corruption trial in Corruption Crime Court in Jakarta last week that he just signed logging license of Annual Working Plan (RKT) for companies and handed over the responsibility to his subordinates. Media reports said that Burhanuddin Husin, former Riau Forestry Service Head and now Kampar District Head, told a corruption court in Jakarta last week (4/7/2008) that he had nothing to do with verdict of misusing of logging licenses to clear natural forests which prosecute the Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar. “I just signed [them]. Beyond this I have no idea since the technical matter is my staff’s job,” Burhanuddin told judges led by Krisna Menon on the court, Riau Terkini website reported Friday. The district head named suspect and requested for testimony as a witness on the case of misusing logging licenses for 15 companies that charged district head Azmun Jaafar. Riau Terkini reported that Burhanuddin was questioned for 60 minutes where he mostly said he did not know on the authority of his position as Forestry Service head. On its headline last weekend (5/7/2008), Tribun Pekanbaru daily said that the judges of corruption case got upset with answers uttered by Burhanuddin due to dubious statements. “I just legalize [RKT, annual working plan]. On technical matter it is done by my staff,” he said as quoted by Tribun Pekanbaru as saying (5/7/2008). The former forestry service head said that his subordinates should be responsible for technical matters in legalizing RKT plan. The RKT permit issued by the Provincial Government would allow companies to clear natural forest for conversion into pulpwood plantation. When asked by presiding judge if the official has knowledge of forestry, Burhanuddin said: “To be honest I don’t understand forestry, I am just an economic graduate,” Tribun Pekanbaru reported. “You are just Head of Forestry Service, please don’t make any excuses. After being appointed Head of Forestry Service, you should adapt to such a new job,” blasted judge Made Hendra Kusuma following doubtful answers expressed by Burhanuddin. Prosecutor Sriyono asked the suspect of RKT issuance. “So you issued RKT licenses without legality basis, didn’t you?” Then Burhanuddin said yes. “So, it’s messed up, isn’t it?” the prosecutor asked back. Azmun detained by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in December 2007 and has been prosecuted since May this year. KPK accused Azmun of causing the State’s loss by Rp1.2 trillion by issuing logging licenses to convert natural forests to pulpwood plantation. Reports said that incumbent Riau Governor Rusli Zainal was scheduled to be questioned by KPK on Azmun’s case last week, but he failed to attend it due to his medical check-up as his preparation to run for upcoming gubernatorial election in September this year. Azmun on Rusli Zainal Azmun told Koran Tempo daily (3/7/2008) on an interview that the officials who issued RKT licenses to be responsible. “Out of 15 companies that their licenses I issued have gained RKT legalization released by Riau Forestry Service heads, they are Syuhada Tasman, Asral Rachman, Sudirno, and Burhanuddin Husein. Then there are also RKTs that legalized by Riau Governor Rusli Zainal. By those RKTs, the companies have conducted wood clearing in the forests. According to me, all sides who involved in legalizing RKTs should be asked for their responsibility, including Rusli Zainal,” Azmun told Koran Tempo daily. EoF learns that the 15 companies Azmun mentioned are affiliated to Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and another one is unidentified. EoF learns that the 15 companies which obtained licenses issued by Azmun and linked to corruption practices as probed currently by KPK as follows: APRIL: CV. Bhakti Praja Mulia 5,800 hectares, CV. Mutiara Lestari 4,000 ha, CV. Tuah Negeri 1,500 ha, KUD Bina Jaya Langgam 1,887 ha, CV. Alam Lestari 3,330 ha, CV. Riau Bina Insani 4,300 ha, CV. Harapan Jaya 4,800 ha, PT. Nusa Prima Manunggal 4,412 ha, PT. Merbau Pelalawan Lestari 5,590 ha, PT. Putri Lindung Bulan 2,500 ha, PT. Selaras Abadi Utama 13,600 ha, PT. Bukit Raya Pelalawan 3,200 ha, and PT. Riau Bina Insani 7,275 ha; APP: Putra Riau Perkasa 21,650 ha, and unidentified affiliation: PT. Sinar Deli Pratama 3,000 ha.

Firm paid billions for illegal logs: Witness

JakartaPost:

Firm paid billions for illegal logs: Witness

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 06/14/2008 11:07 AM | Headlines

PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) paid at least Rp 6.4 billion (US$684,800) to exploit forests using illegal permits issued by Pelalawan Regent Tengku Azmun Jaafar, a court heard Friday.

Hambali, a former official of the Pelalawan forestry office, testified that he and his partner had received money from PT Persada Karya Sejati (PKS), a subsidiary of RAPP that allegedly took over two plots of forest land illegally allocated for their two companies in 2005.

"One of the companies, PT Harapan Jaya, is mine. The regent told me to use the company's name in applying for a forest resource utilization permit he was to issue later," Hambali told the Corruption Court in Jakarta in a trial against the regent.

"RAPP then took over the companies through PKS. We agreed because we didn't have any capital or equipment to cut down the trees. They later paid us with some of the money gained from the exploitation," he said.

Hambali told the court that he and his partner, Budi Surlani, had received a total of Rp 2.8 billion in early installments from Rosman, a general manager at RAPP who is at large, after the takeovers in July 2005.

Hambali said at least Rp 1.5 billion went to Azmun and Rp 600 million to Asral Rahman, head of the Riau forestry office.

Azmun has been suspended as Palelawang regent as he stands trial for illegally issuing authorization letters to 15 companies for the utilization of more than 120,000 hectares of forest in Pelalawan, Riau, in 2002 and 2003.

The authorization letters, which gave permission to utilize planted forest resources, were later used to exploit natural forest by the companies.

Prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said the exploitation of the forest resources by the companies caused a total of Rp 1.2 trillion (US$128 million) in losses to the state.

Seven of the companies were established by Azmun's relatives and acquaintances, and none of them met the criteria necessary for forestry enterprises in terms of financial and technical qualifications.

Six of the seven companies belonging to Azmun's relatives and cronies were taken over by PKS/RAPP soon after their authorization letters were issued.

Prosecutors said RAPP gained more than Rp 930 billion from the exploitation of forest resources.

Azmun received more than Rp 19 billion from the companies since he issued the letters; while Azmun's brother, Tengku Lukman Jaafar, who was involved in establishing some of the companies in 2001, earned more than Rp 8 billion, the indictment says.

A total of Rp 240 million also went to Fredrik Suli and Sudirno, both senior officials with the Riau forestry office, it says.

Presiding judge Kresna Menon adjourned the trial until next Friday to hear testimony from more witnesses. (dre)