april-watch

Indonesian Forest Ministry halts APRIL’s forest destruction on Kampar

2009-11-20T22:12:00.000-08:00

Indonesia suspends climate polluter's licence to destroy rainforest

2009-11-20T22:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

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'"

2009-11-16T20:10:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-02T08:47:00.000-08:00

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

2009-08-08T09:37:00.001-07:00

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/

District Head sentenced to 11-year imprisonment

2008-10-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

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)

Sumatra's forests at risk

2008-02-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Turning the forests and peat swamps of just one Sumatran province into pulpwood and palm oil plantations is generating more annual greenhouse gas emissions than the Netherlands and is rapidly driving the province's elephants into extinction, a new study by WWF and partners has found.

"We found that Sumatra's elephants and tigers are disappearing even faster than their forests are in Riau," said WWF International's Species Programme Director, Dr Susan Lieberman.
"This is happening because as wildlife search for new habitat and food sources, they increasingly come into conflict with people and are killed," she explained.

Key study analyses impact

The study found that in central Sumatra's Riau Province 4.2 million hectares of tropical forests and peat swamp have been cleared in the last 25 years.

Forest loss, degradation and, decomposition and fires are, on average, equivalent to 122% percent of the Netherlands total annual emissions, 58% of Australia's annual emissions, 39% of annual UK emissions and 26% of annual German emissions.

Riau was chosen for the study because it is home to vast peatlands estimated to hold Southeast Asia's largest store of carbon, and contains some of the most critical habitat for Sumatran elephants and tigers. It also has Indonesia's highest deforestation rate, substantially driven by the operations of global paper giants Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).
More

NGOs keep an eye on pulpwood certification

2008-02-09T20:48:00.001-08:00

NGOs keep an eye on pulpwood certification Tuesday, 29 January 2008 Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- Forestry certification assessment agency, LEI (Indonesia Ecolabel Agency), pledged to monitor tightly certification process in the controversial concession of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper’s (Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited/APRIL) in Kampar Peninsula, the rich peatland forest landscape.

Read more

Pelalawan District Head detained

2007-12-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

Monday, 17 December 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News)—Pelalawan District Head Tengku Azmun Jaafar was detained by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Jakarta on Friday (14/12/2007) in charging with alleged corruption by issuing logging licenses to 15 companies. Read more

The bog barons: Indonesia's carbon catastrophe

2007-12-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, 05 December 2007
By Fred Pearce, New Scientist -- 1 December 2007
I AM standing in the heart of the world's second largest tropical peat swamp, the Kampar bog in central Sumatra, watching the swamp's water drain away along a small canal. Across the western side of the bog there are dozens more drains. The peat bog is bleeding to death before me.
Read more

Newspaper accuses company of obstructing freedom of press

2007-11-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

Friday, 16 November 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News)--- PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), a subsidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), sued Koran Tempo daily over reports saying the company allegedly involved in illegal logging practices in Riau.
Read more

House’s Commission VII criticize APP, APRIL subsidiaries

2007-10-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 09 October 2007 Pekanbaru
(EoF News)—House of Representatives’ Environmental Commission dismissed a general hearing with PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) on Monday due to insufficient data provided by the company, Koran Tempo daily reported today (9/10/2007). Sonny Keraf, who led the hearing, concluded that the Commission VII would visit Riau to ensure whether PT IKPP and PT RAPP could be involved in illegal logging practice as the police probed currently, Riau Pos daily reported today. It is for the third time the hearing between Commission VII and PT RAPP (subsidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited /APRIL) was postponed following the company’s management no-show two weeks ago. Read more

Pulp executives no show, MPs blast

2007-10-05T21:58:00.001-07:00

Thursday, 27 September 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News)—House of Representatives’ Commission VII blasted both President Directors of PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP) and PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) who decline to attend a hearing that discussed Riau’s illegal logging issues on Monday (24/9/2007), official House website (dpr.or.id) reported Tuesday (25/9). More

MP: Riau forests logging moratorium needed

2007-10-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 02 October 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News)—A member of parliament who tackles forestry sector urges the Ministry of Forestry to stop issuing any logging license in Riau and review permits granted to companies, the official House of Representatives website (dpr.go.id) reported Monday (1/10/2007). More

Closure concerns for paper groups.

2007-08-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Financial Times (UK)
August 20, 2007

Closure concerns for paper groups.

By JOHN AGLIONBY and TAUFAN HIDAYAT

Two of Asia's biggest pulp and paper companies have warned they
could close within two months with the loss of up to 1m jobs
unless Indonesia's police and forestry department resolve a
dispute over alleged illegal logging.

Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper, a subsidiary of Asia Pulp and Paper,
and Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper, part of the Raja Garuda Mas
group, have been caught up in an eight-month police operation to
stamp out illegal logging in Riau province in Sumatra, where
they are both based.

The forestry department has accused the police of enforcing
out-of-date laws and punishing people operating legally.

More than 1m people could lose their jobs if the companies
close, and analysts warn the dispute is having a chilling effect
on Indonesia's cool investment climate.

Indah Kiat, which exported pulp and paper products worth about
Dollars 3bn last year, and Riau Andalan, almost Dollars 2bn,
employ 540,000 workers directly.

Brigadier Suciptadi, Riau's police chief, said licensed
companies were free to operate. "The ban has only been imposed
on companies which are violating environmental regulations, such
as cutting trees in natural forests or conservation areas," he
said. "Based on our investigations, there is a network operating
that is committing corporate crimes."

He declined to say if Indah Kiat or Riau Andalan were involved
in illegal activities. Both companies insist they obtain all
their wood from legal sources.

Joice Budikusuma, an executive of Sinar Mas, which owns APP,
said Indah Kiat's supply rate was down by almost three-quarters
because the law enforcement operation was so harsh that even
contractors with all the correct licences were afraid to cut and
transport logs. "We only have one month's stock left," she said.

Rudy Fajar, chief executive of Riau Andalan, said his company's
supplies would probably last until October.

Sofyan Wanandi, the head of the country's employers'
association, said he was not surprised by the dispute. "This
fight between the police and the forestry ministry is creating
all sorts of problems and there's no end to the dispute in
sight."

He warned it could well hit inward investment. "How can you ask
for investment from overseas when you can't even settle disputes
with local companies?"

Logs felled by APRIL partner company confiscated

2007-08-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- Following his raid to an Asia Pulp Paper's subsidiary concession in Indragiri Hilir two weeks ago, Chief of Riau Police Brig.-Gen. Sutjiptadi pledged to conduct aerial observation as he believed the forestry companies clearcut the forests in remote area.

At a discussion held by Walhi Riau in Pekanbaru Tuesday, the Chief of Riau Police said that he and his team have confiscated felled logs from natural forest in the concession of PT Citra Sumber Sejahtera, a partner pulpwood company of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).

The police alleged the company conducted illegal logging as its pulpwood plantation license is flaws. "We have confiscated logs and heavy machineries operated by PT CSS in Indragiri Hulu district used to commit illegal logging," Sutjiptadi told the discussion on illegal logging.

The ongoing deforestation in Riau has caused the police to conduct surveillance on the ground as aerial observation found many pulp plantation sites clearcut wood from natural forests in remote areas.

The timber companies preferred to clearcut forest in remote areas where public accesss to reach them is difficult, the chief said.

Riau Police vowed to keep monitoring from the air to detect the forest clearcutting which not comply with existing laws and regulations. "We will do so hand by hand with all stakeholders," Sutjiptadi said.

Meanwhile, Susanto Kurniawan, coordinator of Jikalahari, the NGOs network for Riau forest rescue, said that a solution is needed to minimize deforestation in the province.

"The sustainable ecosystem will be extremely disconcerted due to severe deforestation occurs right now," Susanto said. Expansion by forestry companies to boost their production capacity played a role in deteriorating the deforestation, he added.

The workshop attended by Riau NGOs agreed to seek solution to reduce deforestation in the province by proposing logging moratorium. Despite this, it is needed thorough preparation to make it come true.

Industrial Forest Plantations in Kalimantan

2007-08-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

New CIFOR publication:
The Revival of Industrial Forest Plantations in Indonesia’s Kalimantan Provinces
Will they help eliminate fiber shortfalls at Sumatran pulp mills or feed the China market?
More

"Banks, Pulp and People" - new report on controversial projects in pulp industry
Urgewald targets pulp industry in new report and website
More

Probe into illegal logging cases on progress

2007-07-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News)--- The Indonesian National Police said that the probe of illegal logging cases in Riau would be finalized before September this year where all cases would be brought to the court.

The police would meet the Prosecutors Office in the end of month discussing the steps to take further actions to bring the illegal logging cases to the court.

The illegal logging probe is on progress as a team led by the Police Headquarters's Intelligence Unit held aerial observation to several HTI (industrial timber plantation) concessions in Riau that allegedly involved in illegal logging and environmental crime accusations.

In Jakarta General Sutanto, the Chief of National Police, said Monday that the legal action on Riau illegal logging that conducted by his personnel would complete within a month, Riau Mandiri daily reported Thursday.

Sutanto reaffirmed that the police would keep probing the illegal logging cases that occur in some provinces including Riau. "Whoever allegedly breach the laws would be detained and taken to the court," he said as quoted by Media Indonesia daily as saying.

"The Chief of National Police asked us to continue investigation, as those for years have been untouchable we will touch [soon]," said Head of Police Crime Intelligence Unit, Commissioner General Bambang Hendarso Danuri in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Bambang Hendarso said that the police would charge the perpetrators and other suspects of illegal logging cases with several verdicts including Foresty Law, Environmental Law, Money Laundering Law and Corruption Law, Riau Terkini reported Thursday.

The aerial observation over suspected companies started Tuesday when the police officers accompanied by representatives from Forestry Ministry, Environmental Ministry and NGOs, local media reported. There are six districts that observed by the team in six days covering Rokan Hilir, Rokan Hulu, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu, Indragiri Hilir and Bengkalis.

On Tuesday they visited Senepis block where concessions of PT Ruas Utama Jaya and PT Suntara Gaja Pati, both subsidiaries of Asia Pulp & Paper (APP). On the following day the team observed concessions of PT Madukoro and PT Nusa Prima Manunggal, partners of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), located in Kampar Peninsula block or Pelalawan district.

The four companies are some of 22 firms that now probed by the police and accused of committing illegal logging and violating environmental crime.

The Chief of National Police would meet Attorney General Hendarman Supandji on 30 July to discuss further steps to bring the suspects to justice, said A.H. Harahap, the Prosecutor for General Crime of the Prosecutors Office.

Chief of Riau Police, Brig.-Gen. Sutjiptadi, said that the state inflicted the loss of trillions rupiah due to illegal loggings and environmental damage. He said HTI (industrial timber plantation) licenses granted by the government in Riau mostly located in protected area and natural forests.

Meanwhile, Golkar Party appointed Muladi, former Minister of Law, as the lawyer to defend the Governor of Riau and four district heads who would be summoned by the police over illegal logging cases.

Port blocked

2007-07-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

In Pelalawan district, residents of Lalang Kabut have blocked the access to the port of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), subsidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), demanding the company to provide electricity power to the villagers and other community developments as it has promised.

The blockade has caused the transportation activity on Tuesday to the port paralyzed. Latest reports said that villagers have reopened the blockade Wednesday following some agreements have been reached by both sides.

Indonesia's richest man plans RM13.6b pulp, palm oil expansion

2007-05-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

07-05-2007:
By Sara Webb
Sukanto Tanoto, Indonesia's richest man, said his unlisted group RGM International has begun a US$4 billion (RM13.6 billion) expansion of its pulp and paper, palm oil, energy, and other interests to increase its size by 70% by 2009.
Tanoto, whose fortune is estimated at US$2.8 billion by Forbes magazine, told Reuters that RGM's five key business units have embarked on new projects in China, Indonesia, and Brazil to build up capacity on the back on a global commodities boom.
"We have just over US$4 billion in expansion activity under way," Tanoto, 57, said in an interview, outlining projects at RGM's palm oil unit, oil and gas business, pulp and paper group, and specialty pulp operations.
Revenue at privately held RGM exceeded US$3 billion last year, Tanoto said. He declined to give profit figures or a breakdown of how much each new project would cost.
RGM's Asian Agri unit has production capacity of about one million tonnes of crude palm oil, the price of which has shot up to around an eight-year high in recent weeks.
Asian Agri's palm oil is used for food production currently, but thanks to a high crude oil price and growing interest in biofuels, Tanoto said he plans to build a biodiesel plant in Sumatra,
Indonesia, to process palm oil.
"Palm oil is like green gold now," he said. "This is a global issue, the balance between food production and fuel production. As long as the (crude) oil price is above US$60 and there
are concerns about global warming, it will be big."
Tanoto said that APRIL, RGM's pulp and paper firm, raised US$300 million in a trade financing deal last year and is expanding its operations in China and Indonesia.
APRIL started building a second paper mill in Sumatra last year, which will double its capacity to 800,000 tonnes a year by the end of 2007. In China, it bought a pulp mill in Shandong province and is adding one million tonnes of pulp production, bringing total capacity at the mill to 1.3 million tonnes a year.
Tanoto said APRIL is the biggest producer of market pulp -- sold to customers rather than used for its own paper production -- in Asia excluding Japan, and one of the region's biggest paper producers after Indonesian rival Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), which defaulted on US$14 billion of debt in 2001.
Tanoto's rayon and specialty pulp firm, Sateri International, is building a new plant in Brazil to produce viscose fibres used in cigarette filters and fire-retardant materials, while his energy
company, Pacific Oil & Gas, has started work on a 1,400-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Xiamen, China.
In October, RGM agreed to restructure some US$1.4 billion of loans from Bank Mandiri, Indonesia's biggest bank, and other creditors, increasing the principal to be paid back each year.
Bankers frequently pitch new ideas for funding, Tanoto said, but for now he prefers to finance expansion from cashflow and bank loans, rather than equity -- unlike some of the other big Indonesian family groups which have tapped the city-state's share and bond markets in the past year.
"The cashflow is good, the groups are doing well, so we are using self-funding, or a limited group of banks," said Tanoto.
"All projects have a very clear funding plan. Raising equity isn't good, it's expensive." - Reuters

Riau Police Chief: Companies tend to misuse license

2007-04-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News) -- Riau Police have insisted to probe all out illegal logging cases involving large forestry companies amid worries warned by the provincial legislators as the action would harm investment opportunity in the province. More

APP, APRIL, export illegal wood: Police

2007-03-05T12:45:00.000-08:00

APP, APRIL, export illegal wood: Police

Monday, 26 February 2007

Pekanbaru (EoF News) – The Indonesia Police Chief General Sutanto before a hearing with House’s Commission III early last week in Jakarta said PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP, belongs to Asia Pacific Resources International Limited/APRIL) and PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP, belongs to Asia Pulp & Paper/APP) allegedly involved in forest crimes such as illegally wood export and administrative document fraud.

The National Police Chief said the involvement of these two pulp and paper giant companies in such crimes is strongly alleged, Riau Tribune, a local daily, reported Tuesday. The practice of forestry document falsification by IKPP and RAPP might bring about huge State loss in revenue, General Sutanto told a hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission III chaired by Trimedya Panjaitan.

The police suspected APP and APRIL companies commit document fraud in several administrative tasks such as in type and size of timber reporting, logging result reporting and, in paying provision fee (PSDH) and rehabilitation fee (DR).

Both companies committed illegal export to gain more profit. “Based upon our investigation on the ground, it is strongly alleged that both big companies export illegal timbers in the form of processed timber; because it will be a low profit gained if log is processed for pulp. Otherwise, if it is produced for processed timber, they will gain high profit,” General Sutanto said as quoted by Riau Tribune as saying.

“Inside PT IKPP mill [APP], we found moulding product and sawn mill that allegedly export processed wood to companies in Pekanbaru area. The mills also allegedly produced flooring and moulding products that exported to overseas through its own port. While, both mills allegedly have no license for processed timber export,” the Chief said.

The Indonesian police turn their attention now to illegal logging practices conducted by forest companies as last week its top officers in Riau disclosed a finding on such a crime allegedly perpetrated by PT RAPP.

Meanwhile, WALHI (Friends of Earth Indonesia) issued a press release friday saying the NGO supported the Indonesian Police’s action in seizing timber inside mills of PT RAPP (APRIL) and PT IKPP (APP) in Riau that allegedly illegal for having no export license.

“WALHI considers this step will amend the Indonesian Police’s reputation which have been regarded not serious in upholding law enforcement, particularly against companies allegedly committed illegal logging,” said Chalid Muhammad, WALHI’s national Executive Director.

General Sutanto said, “If in the past [we] uncover [forest crime] physically, today there is document fraud. If we let it happen, beside the forest wealth will be extinct, the ecosystem is troubled, and potential State loss is so huge in term of its revenue,”

The Chief ordered Riau Police Office to request an audit from BPKP, the Financial and Development Supervisory Board, due the estimation on State loss made by the companies’ document fraud practice “has not covered tax revenue that the companies should have paid in timber type difference.”

Both RAPP and IKPP spokespersons declined comment further on the police allegations. “We still learn the data and discuss them in details,” said Troy Pantouw, RAPP PR manager as quoted by Riau Tribune. While, IKPP PR manager Yan Partawijaya said, “We have not received the data yet. Besides, all [allegation] should be proved.”

Indonesian NGOs consider APRIL's forest operation illegal

2007-03-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News) – Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of three environmental NGOs in Riau, Sumatra releases its Investigative Report September & October 2006 today. The EoF Investigation found Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings (APRIL) to be involved in forest clearance operations in two concessions in the Kampar Peninsula forest block. EoF considers these operations illegal as well as destroying potential High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) despite APRIL’s own publicly announced policy to protect HCVFs.

EoF strongly calls all the concession holders involved and APRIL to immediately stop their logging and timber sourcing operations to prevent questionable clearing of natural forests which is/are(1) still in good condition, (2) on peat soil deeper than 3m, (3) designated as Protection Forest in the currently active Provincial Land Use Plan, (4) lack approval by the Ministry of Forestry of their invalid, locally issued conversion licenses, and (5) its industry timber plantation (HTI) developed on active selective logging concession (HPH). PT Triomas FDI belonging to APRIL fails to obtain valid logging license, even a dispensation from the Ministry of Forestry, therefore the timbers felled from its operation are illegal.

EoF also strongly calls APRIL live up to its public pledge to work with local NGOS to delineate all HCVFs prior to any logging of natural forests as in concessions of PT National Timber & Forest Product and PT Triomas FDI. The Kampar forest block has been identified as a global tiger priority level 2 landscape. Further conversion of natural forests is likely to cause disturbances that will increase human tiger conflict in the area and may lead to the extinction of the local Sumatra Tiger population.

APRIL has sent its response commenting on EoF Investigative Report September & October 2006 as Jouko Virta, President of APRIL Global Fiber Supply, said that the company and its partners are “in full legal compliance.” EoF does not agree with many points stated out on APRIL’s response letter as the coalition reaffirms to strongly call APRIL not to source timber from such illegal operations and not to destroy potential HCVFs as well as to conduct its FMU-level assessment in PT National Timber & Forest Product.

Read the September/October 2006 report

NGO appeal to UPM regarding supplying pulp from APRIL.

2007-02-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

Read the appeal

APRIL involved in natural forest clearance

2007-01-30T15:01:00.000-08:00

Investigative Report August 2006 released
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News) - Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of three environmental NGOs in Riau, Sumatra releases its Investigative Report August 2006 today. The EoF Investigation found Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings (APRIL) to be involved in natural forest clearance by its associated company, PT Bina Daya Bintara's concession inside the Libo forest block. EoF considers these operations illegal as well as destroying potential High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) despite APRIL's own publicly announced policy to protect HCVFs. Read more

Two arrested for money laundering

2006-12-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

Jakarta Post, Tuesday, December 12, 2006

JAKARTA: The city police said Monday they had made two arrests in connection to a US$3.1 million money-laundering case at pulp and paper maker group Raja Garuda Mas. The chief of the city police's monetary crime division, Sr. Adj. Comr. Aris Munandar, identified the two suspects as Hendri Susilo and Agustinus Feri Sutanto. "We arrested Hendri on Dec. 2 at a nightclub in Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta. Ferry was arrested two days later in Grogol, West Jakarta," Aris said. The two are believed to be accomplices of Raja Garuda Mas finance executive Vincent, who remains at large. Aris said police began investigating the case after receiving a report from the company on Nov. 16. Aris said that under orders from Vincent, Hendri had set up clearing accounts under fictional companies named PT Asian Agri Jaya and Asian Agro Utama at Bank Panin, Jakarta. On Nov. 16, US$ 3.1 million was transferred into the accounts from an account under the fictional companies' names at Singaporean Fortis Bank.
"We suspect Vincent of embezzling money from RGM (Raja Mas Group) and moving it through different bank accounts," Aris said. Ferry withdrew cash from the bank a few days before he was caught, but told journalists: "I don't know anything, I was only helping my brother". Hendri has confessed to his part in the crime. "I did set up fictional companies and clearing accounts under those companies under Vincent's orders," he said. --JP

EoF launches new Investigative Report

2006-10-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Investigative Report July 2006 released
Monday, 16 October 2006
Pekanbaru (EoF News) - Coalition of three environmental NGOs in Riau, Eyes on the Forest, releases Investigative Report July 2006 today. The EoF's investigation found violation allegedly perpetrated by both Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL) and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).

EoF launches Investigative Report

2006-09-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

September 15, 2006
Pekanbaru (EoF News) - Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of three NGOs in Riau, has published EoF Investigative Report May 2006 . The investigation was conducted in Kampar and Kerumutan forest blocks involving several timber companies including APP and APRIL associated operations.
More details :
http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/eofnew/150906.php
The latest photos on EoF Gallery
Check out Eyes on the Forest interactive map

Walhi blames 106 firms for causing forest fires

2006-08-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

Jakarta Post, August 30, 2006
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has accused 106 logging and plantation firms of causing the annual widespread forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Walhi listed Tuesday the names of logging, industrial timber estate and oil palm plantations firms - including giant pulp and paper producer Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (Riaupulp) and its partners -- that it said should be prosecuted for fires that destroyed 27 million hectares of forests over the last five years. "They should be held responsible because every year fires occur in their concessions," Walhi executive director Chalid Muhammad told a media gathering in his office.
Riaupulp's public relations manager Troy Pantouw commented the accusations may be untrue, and said Riaupulp urged its partners to conduct environmentally-friendly business operations.
He also denied that hot spots occurring in Riaupulp's concessions were from fires intentionally ignited by the company. "It's illogical for our business because burned peat soil would only degrade the quality of our raw material," he told The Jakarta Post. Walhi's investigation and "ground check" report showed that of about 40,000 hot spots annually detected by satellite from 2001 to August 2006, 81 percent were in areas belonging to the companies.
"They, of course, have consistently denied that they set the fires. But still they have to be held responsible for failing to prevent fires in their concessions and their spread," Chalid added.
"If they couldn't do that, they are obviously not qualified to earn concessions. They should return their rights to the government." He also said the findings proved that senior government officials were wrong when they accused nomadic farmers of setting the fires. "Only 19 percent of the fires occur on privately owned land, outside the firms' concessions. So the problem is how to get tough with the companies, not to arrest farmers." The Environment Ministry's 2005 report somewhat supports Walhi's allegations. For example, it stated that last year's forest fires in Sumatra mostly occurred in plantation firms' areas (31 percent), while in Kalimantan they were mostly found in areas under logging companies (37 percent). Walhi forest campaigner Rully Syumanda said legal action against the firms faced serious problems because the country's Criminal Code required the police to provide solid proof, such as matches, gasoline and witnesses. "Seeking such evidence is like searching for a needle in a haystack," he said, adding that the country's forestry and plantation laws actually mandated tough punishment for those responsible for burning forests. In Batam, State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said his office would issue a new regulation to seize land cleared through burning of forests.
"The regulation will be aimed at facilitating the arrest of the perpetrators," he told Antara newswire, vowing to effect punishment. Greenomics Indonesia estimates that rampant ground and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan would inflict direct and indirect losses to the
state, private sectors and the public worth of over Rp 227 billion (about US$25 million) per day.
The environmental group believed the fires would cause losses up to Rp 170.92 billion per day from various losses, such as the degradation of forest areas and biodiversity.

Put out fires by stopping conversion on peatlands

2006-08-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

August 7, 2006
Put out fires by stopping conversion on peatlands, An Eyes on the Forest Report on Forest Fires
July was the month worst hit by forest and land fires in Indonesia. According to MODIS Web Fire Mapper, 29.4% of the total hotspots in Indonesia in July occurred in Riau Province, with 1,419 hotspots in total. 26% of July fires was found inside APP associated concessions, 17% in APRIL associated concessions,The province was also responsible for causing 36.9% of the total hotspots in Indonesia between 1 January and 31 July 2006. 25 July alone saw the largest number of hotspots per day this year, with 445 hotspots. The haze in Riau has been forcing people to wear masks and turn on their vehicles' lights during the day due to low visibility, even to 50 meters. Several flights were delayed or cancelled. It is reported that the haze reached
Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Full report can be found at:
http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/eofnew/070806.pdf
Forest Fire Interactive Map has been uploaded. It can be found at: http://maps.eyesontheforest.or.id/Home/index.html
NGOs' joint statement on forest fires:
"Stop converting peatlands"
Jakarta, Pekanbaru, INDONESIA - Several NGOs are calling on the Government to stop granting concessions for conversion and land clearing on peatlands, citing data that shows the major factor inciting this year's forest fires is forest conversion, mainly on peat soil sites. Monitoring conducted by an NGO coalition in Riau, Eyes on the Forest, during the month of July found that 56% of hotspots detected in Riau Province were located on peatlands. In the same period, nearly 30% of hotspots detected in West Kalimantan were situated on peat soil.
Read More: http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/eofnew/070806release.php

Eleventh Hour for Riau’s Forests

2006-07-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Eleventh Hour for Riau’s Forests
Two global pulp and paper companies will decide their fate
WWF Indonesia
June 2006
Introduction
This background document provides an overview of the state of the forests in Sumatra's Riau province. It documents the province’s rapid rate of forest loss over the last two decades associated with the expansion of two industries – paper and palm oil. The report illustrates how Riau's pulp and paper industry, dominated by the two multi-national companies APP and APRIL, is the driving force behind this forest loss. More

More Photos of APRIL attack May 2006

2006-05-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

More Photos on Jikalahari´s website: http://www.jikalahari.org/

Read also about controversial forest destruction in peat swamp forest by APRIL and its partners in Jikalahari research (April 2006).

Violent and Anti-Human Acts of PT Riau Andalan Pulp Paper

2006-05-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Community Alliance for Pulp-Paper Advocacy (CAPPA)
To :
Director of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (PT RAPP)
Ph. +62-761-95529, Fax. +62-761-95681
CAPPA's Stance on
Violent and Anti-Human Acts of PT Riau Andalan Pulp Paper (PT RAPP) against the community of Hamlet III, Gading Village, Kampar Kiri Sub-District, Kampar District, Riau Province

"Civil violence takes toll again"

Violation of human rights and the taking of law into one's own hand recurred in full view of public. Civil society, whose socioeconomic political rights are protected and respected by international community and conventions, had to be victims of violent acts again. Similar cases have been occurring in Riau and other provinces of Sumatera and throughout Indonesia. Apparently, these violent acts have been the common practice of plantation and pulp-paper companies. The violence and vandalism by PT Riau Andalan Pulp Paper (PT RAPP) via its security guards took some tolls. The guards turned violent and destroyed the property of the villagers - houses, vehicles and even religious buildings. The violence did not end yet. Some villagers were taken hostage and knocked down by the company's cars, inducing a deep psychological trauma to the
others, who ran away for their lives. Although violent acts by private militia and security guards have been occurring in Riau and other provinces, the recent violent act by these 'foreign heroes' is, however, a real shock to us. Our concern and solidarity have driven us to express our stance, as follows:
· That the company has given way, directly or indirectly, to the suppression of the socioeconomic and political rights of
the local people by deliberately making use of the criminal actions to resolve conflicts;
· That the company with its security guards has deliberately demonstrated complete disrespect to the government and the
enforcers by excluding them in its conflict-resolution effort;
· That, by taking the law into its hand and organizing such an open and violent attack, the company has humiliated the Police as the official enforcers and put them in charge of crime by commission.
· That the violence and the vandalism by the company are cruel deeds and are against the Preamble and the Articles of the
Declaration of Human Rights, among others, Article 5 "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and Article 9 "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile";
· That the criminal act mentioned above itself is basically a violation of Articles, 5, 6, 9, 36, 71, 72 and 74 of Law No. 39
Year 1999 on Human Rights, and the violation should be used as the basis of legal processes against it;
· That the company has neglected part of its responsibility to uphold human rights, and other standards during the
incident, the responsibility of which is also acknowledged in and adopted by international principles on consent and ethical codes such as the International Labour Organizations, Tripartite Declaration of Principles for Multinational and Social Policy, The UN Global Compact on Corporate Responsibility, and the Joint U.S. State Department and U.K. Foreign Office
Voluntary Principles on Security and Humans Rights;
· That, ICESCR on VIOLATION requires the government should take strict measures against violation so as not to declare that the government cannot ensure its citizens' lives and safety in the framework of upholding human rights.
Based on the above viewpoints, we strictly condemn the violence and the vandalism by RAPP, and demand the government to:
1. Take strict measures against the perpetrators and bring them to court for all the violation of human rights they have perpetrated;
2. Take strict measures to force the company to give material and non-material compensation to the victims;
3. Make use of human rights instrument to take strict measures against the violence committed by foreign security guards, which has ruined the local social structure;
4. Force the company to express their apology orally as well as in ink in the local, national and international mass media;
5. Take any necessary action to uphold respect for human rights.

Jambi, 16 May 2006
Community Alliance for Pulp Paper Advocacy (CAPPA)
Rivani Noor (Facilitator; rivani@cappa.or.id)
Kasmadi Kasyim (Sumatera Program Officer ; cak_kas@cappa.or.id)
On Behalf of :
Zulfhami, Coordinator, Jikalahari, Riau
Helmi, Sekreatris, Pusat Studi Hukum & Kebijakan Otonomi Daerah (PSHK ODA),
Jambi, Indonesia
Edi Zuhdi, Director, Yayasan Keadilan Rakyat (YKR), Jambi, Indonesia
Danielle van Oijen, Forest Campaigner, Milieudefensie/FOE Netherlands,
Netherlands
Peter Gerhardt, Robin Wood, Germany
Fatra Budianto, Director, Hakiki, Riau
Isal Wardhana, Deputy Director, WALHI East Kalimantan, East Kalimantan
AW Boyce, Wahana Liar Foundation, West Sumatera
Berry N Forqan, Director, WALHI South Kalimantan, South Kalimantan
Feri Irawan, Director, WALHI Jambi, Jambi
Frances Carr, Campaigner, Down to Earth: the International Campaign for
Ecological Justice in Indonesia, United Kingdom
Mickael B Hoelman, Jakarta, Indonesia
For Furthure Contact :
Rivani Noor (rivani@cappa.or.id)
Kasmadi Kasyim
Zulfahmi
CC :
Presiden RI
Kapolri
Menteri Kehutanan
Gubernur Riau
Komnas HAM
Human Right Watch (HRW)
Amnesty International (AI)
International Paper Buyer
International Creditor (Bank, ECA)
International NGO network
Media Network

PT RAPP COMMITS MORE CORPORATE CRIME

2006-05-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Less than a hundred days after it received certification of its plantations from the independent Indonesian forestry certification agency Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia, the giant paper pulp company Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) created another criminal record. The company, whose LEI certificate was condemned by many groups, is accused of a series of violent actions against the people of Desa Gading Permai in the Kampar Kiri Sub District, Kampar Regency, Riau Province, Sumatra.
After the Chairman of Gading Permai Small Farmers Business Group, Haji Usman Maun, reported to the Kampar police by RAPP at the forefront of the development of illegal palm oil plantations in the area which claimed by PT RAPP, the management of PT RAPP agreed to meet the Gading Permai community on May 1, 2006. However, instead of sending company officials to attend the meeting, PT RAPP mobilized 300 people in black uniforms to attack, destroy and burn down the people’s houses.
The result of the attack caused great hardship and material loss to the Permai Gading community, as the only things that they could save from the fire was the clothes on their backs. Their houses, householdequipment, clothes, money, documents and valuables were burned by the fire. The local mosque was also damaged, and its loud speakers, carpets, and copies of the Holy Quran were destroyed. The attack also injured a number of people. One of them, Rinto Harefa, a 50-year-old man needed 14 stitches in his head after he was attacked by RAPP thugs.
The attack was well planned, considering that RAPP had arranged an ambulance to be present, to assist victims of the violence.
This attack follows a similar incident on November 3, 2005, when the management of RAPP mobilized 500 people to conduct attacks on the people of Desa Koto Baru, Singingi Hilir Sub District, at the Kuansing Regency. The material losses caused to the community of Koto Baru was estimated to be thousands of dollars, considering that television sets, refrigerators, satellite dishes and other electronic equipment were destroyed or stolen by the attackers. Some of the RAPP mob ate their lunch in one of the houses which they had just looted.

This violent approach to resolving conflict over land tenure has been used many times by RAPP over the last decade. Nevertheless, not once have the police taken serious actions to investigate these incidents. (See appendix 1). The same goes for environmental violations by RAPP, which have never led to serious action by the state government (See appendix 2 and 3). These results indicate how this particular company is treated as a golden boy by the government as if it is above the law.

Relating to the conflict mentioned above, WALHI:
1. Condemns the actions of RAPP Management and their use of violence to resolve conflicts by instigating attacks on the people of Gading Permai village.
2. Asks the police to investigate this incident to its roots and prosecute the instigators of the violence. RAPP should be held responsible for criminal actions by a corporation (corporate crime).
3. Urges the government of Indonesia and the Provincial Government of Riau to perform a thorough investigation and commission a comprehensive independent audit of two major issues: the destruction of environment by RAPP and its violation of human rights especially the economic, social and cultural rights of communities affected by its operations.
4. Urges the Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia to annul the certificate which it gave to RAPP, considering that the location of the attacks is inside the area for which RAPP received LEI’s certificate.
5. Requests all RAPP’s industrial consumers and financial backers to place a moratorium on further purchases and investments in RAPP/APRIL until the police investigation and independent audit have led to the prosecution of those responsible for the violence against the Gading Permai community, and RAPP/APRIL have stopped destroying natural forests, have renounced the use of violence against local communities, and have amicably resolved all outstanding conflicts over land with local communities.

Sumatra´s peat swamp forest threatened with collapse

2006-04-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Environmental organizations Jikalahari, CAPPA, ROBIN WOOD and Friends of the Earth from Indonesia, Finland and UK warn today that one of the largest tropical peat swamp forests in the world might collapse if logging operations and conversion of peat swamp forests into plantations by the paper companies APRIL and APP continue. More

UPM & Indonesia - 9 years of rainforest destruction

2006-04-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

Friends of the Earth Finland, 11 April 2006
The Finnish-based forest giant UPM continues co-operation with APRIL, the notorious Singapore-based pulp & paper company. The operations of APRIL's pulp & paper mill in the state of Riau (Sumatra, Indonesia) are based on raw material from the Sumatran rainforests. More

Kampar Peninsula and APRIL operations

2006-03-21T23:51:00.000-08:00

Research report of Jikalahari, an NGO network for forest conservation in Riau, regarding the expansion of APRIL in Kampar Peninsula and Pulau Padang areas of Riau, March 2005 can be found here

Logging in Kerumutan Forest Block

2006-02-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

Eyes on the Forest investigation confirmed that Asia Pulp and Paper's partners logged in Giam Siak Kecil Forest Block; Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings/ APRIL's partner logged in Kerumutan Forest Block; and PT. Sumatera Timber Utama Damai's partners logged in the buffer zone of Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Riau Province of Sumatra, Indonesia.

The full reports can be found here

Logging in natural forest of Pulau Padang

2005-10-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Eyes on the Forest's Investigative
Report, July edition is now available on the website.

In July investigation, Eyes on the Forest found that CV. Tessa Indah, a contractor of PT. Rokan Era Subur is logging in natural forest in Sontang village, District of Rokan Hulu. The timber from this logging operation is supplied to PT. Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). Eyes on the Forest also found PT. Jasa Karya a contractor of PT. Riau Andalan Pulp And Paper (PT RAPP), a pulp subsidiary of APRIL in Riau, is logging in natural forest of Pulau Padang in Kuantan Singingi District. The timber from this logging operation is supplied to APRIL.

Complete report can be downloaded here

WWF, Walhi, Jikalahari: “Logging Moratorium for Companies with Questionable Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses”

2005-08-16T00:59:00.000-07:00

27 July, 2005

JAKARTA— Today Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of Sumatran environmental NGOs, called on all companies who are clearcutting natural forests based on Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses (IUPHHK-HT) issued by Governors or Heads of Districts to immediately issue a moratorium on all such operations. The coalition also called on all companies sourcing timber from such activities to immediately stop all deliveries. The Ministry of Forestry (MoF) is currently reviewing the validity of these licenses. Eyes on the Forest supports the legal review as a very significant step towards the conservation of some of the country’s remaining natural forests. Locally issued licenses have been used to clear large areas of natural forests in disregard of MoF regulations that protected them. More

Sateri to boost pulp capacity

2005-06-12T02:22:00.000-07:00

Pulp and Paper International

May 2005 Vol. 47 No. 5, page 9

Sateri to boost pulp capacity

Sateri International has unveiled further details of its plans to install a new dissolving pulp line at its Bahia Pulp mill in the camacard Petrochemical complex, Bahia state.

The company plans to pick suppliers for the 250,000 tonne/yr line between July and December. Teh investment will enable the firm to produce high-grade dissolving pulp for specialized market segments. The project is scheduled for completion on July 1, 2007. Jaakko Pöyry wrapped upa feasibility study on the scheme in July last year.

Sateri International is an affiliate of Singapore-based RGM International, the parent company of Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL).

APRIL's New Road Threatens Natural Forest in Kampar Peninsula

2005-06-03T03:36:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 27, 2005
APRIL's New Road Threatens Natural Forest in Kampar Peninsula.

New investigations by Eyes on the Forest reveal continued forest destruction in APRIL's concession area. At least 216 hectare of natural peat swamp forest have recently been opened and have brought illegal loggers and squatters to the area... Read more >>

Unique Peat Forests on Sumatra under Threat

2004-12-08T04:01:00.000-08:00

6th December 2004

Unique Peat Forests on Sumatra under Threat

The company APRIL wants to clear another area of rainforest for paper / ROBIN WOOD warns that this will cause massive damage to environment and climate

The pulp and paper company APRIL, whose headquarter is in Singapore, has applied for a new concession in one of Sumatra's last areas of tropical lowland forest. The company is planning to eliminate the rainforest on the site and use the removed timber to produce paper. ROBIN WOOD supports the Indonesian environmental movement in preventing this concession from being granted. ROBIN WOOD also urges the company´s German trade partner PAPIER UNION to immediately cease trading in APRIL products.

http://www.umwelt.org/robin-wood/german/presse/041206en.htm

New concession fact sheet by Friends of the Earth http://www.maanystavat.fi/april

APRIL and the End of the Rainforest in Sumatra's Riau Province

2004-10-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

Indonesia: APP, APRIL and the End of the Rainforest in Sumatra's Riau Province

A new report by ROBIN WOOD sheds light on the continuing destruction of the last remaining lowland rainforest of Sumatra caused by the pulp and paper producers APP and APRIL and their baseless efforts to present themselves as nature conservationists.

The report "Clearcut Paper" is available here: www.robinwood.de/sumatrarecherche