Papua Forest Eye

Experienced “Jungle Clearers” Required for Prospective RSPO Plantation in West Papua

2011-04-07T21:57:00.001+09:00

Recent job adverts for an Estate Manager and an Assistant Estate Manager for PT Henrison Inti Persada (PT HIP) - a large oil palm plantation in West Papua Province - shine an illuminating light on what plantations involve on Indonesia’s half of the island of New Guinea - massive deforestation to produce “sustainable palm oil”.

The job adverts in question make clear the type of qualifications PT HIP is looking for in a successful candidate.

The Estate Manager applicant must have a university degree, and a "MINIMUM OF 6 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN JUNGLE CLEARING".

The Assistant Estate Manager needs a “minimum of 4 years experience as Assistant Manager in Jungle Clearing & Planting”.

Extensive “Jungle Clearing” experience is clearly an essential prerequisite to work for PT HIP, because they intend to utterly destroy tens of thousands of hectares of Papua’s valuable forests, while completely sidelining indigenous landowners.

“So who owns PT HIP?” I hear you ask.

The Kalia Agro Group, the Sutanto family, the Noble Group, and … Norway.

PT Henrison Inti Persada (PT HIP), which has a permit for 32,000 hectare oil palm plantation in Sorong, is one of three plantations companies set up under the Kalia Agro Group, a purpose vehicle plantations company owned by Michael Sutanto. Michael is a member of notorious Indonesian timber mafia clan - the Sutanto family, who have systematically (and often criminally) raped Indonesia’s forests for decades with complete impunity through the activities of their destructive and criminal Kayu Lapis Indonesia Group (KLI). (KLI owes over US$ 100 million to the Indonesian government, so it was a good idea to insulate the Sutanto family’s new oil palm venture from their logging debt liabilities.)

In June 2010 the plantation was effectively taken over by Hong Kong-based commodity traders the Noble Group, which purchased 51% of the shares in PT HIP. Norway’s Pension Fund has more than US$ 47 million of shares in the Noble Group, and so Norway will also profit from PT HIP’s planned jungle clearance in Papua. Analysts have estimated the plantation will be worth US$ 162 million once fully developed.

Not long after Noble Group took over the plantation, PT HIP applied for membership of the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), presumably in a bid to green-wash their planned forest destruction and land expropriation in order to generate high value sales for the “sustainable biofuels” in Western markets. Perhaps Norway's finance ministry asked the Noble Group to seek RSPO status for PT HIP so that the oil rich country’s multi-million dollar plantations investments across Indonesia don’t look like they are trashing the forests it's environment ministry is supposed to be saving under it’s US$ 1 billion REDD+ agreement with Indonesia. Who knows?

"Jungle clearing" applicants are asked to apply to the Chief Operating Officer at PT HIP.

PT HIP’s RSPO application indicates that the company’s Chief Operating Officer is one Rajah CA Padman – a man who seems to have extensive jungle clearing experience himself.

BusinessWeek’s profile of Mr Padman indicates he has held numerous oil palm plantations management positions in Indonesia and Malaysia, principally at subsidiaries of United Plantations Bhd (UP), one of Malaysia’s leading palm oil groups.

During his extensive career with UP, Mr Padman co-authored an academic paper entitled “Experiences on the cultivation and management of oil palms on deep peat in United Plantations Berhad.”

The development of plantations on peatlands deeper than 3 metres is illegal in Indonesia, and avoiding peatland drainage for such plantations is one of the clear aims of Norway’s REDD deal with Indonesia. Strange then, that Norway also owns US$ 11 million of shares in UP, the plantations of which seem to have been fairly peaty, if Mr Padman’s paper is anything to go by.

In the application for RSPO membership for PT HIP, Mr Padman provided information on how the company would “comply with the RSPO Code of Conduct”. Mr Padman suggested that the company “intends to set up in house department with qualified and trained personnel to interpret the principles and criteria of RSPO”.

That PT HIP’s new job adverts for senior managers stipulate “a minimum of 4 years of Jungle Clearance” as basic qualification requirements clearly raises serious concerns that either PT HIP has no intention of being sustainable, or that the RSPO itself thinks extensive jungle clearance is just fine for sustainability.

Worse still, PT HIP’s application to the RSPO states that 22,000 hectares of the plantation will be “Inti”, or Core plantation owned and operated by the company, while 4,400 hectares will be “plasma” estates to be owned an managed by locals communities.

Yet Indonesian law stipulates that a minimum of 20% of any oil palm plantation must be plasma estates, and only 80% can be owned by the company itself. Clearly, PT HIP intends to manage more than 80% of the plantation, apparently in contravention of the law. At least 5,280 hectares of their overall operation area of 26,400 hectares should be plasma, according to the law.

But PT HIP does not always care much for the law. NGOs have reported that it began its operations before receiving its permits in 2006, and that its managers have been forcing children as young as four years old to sign land rental contracts.

If these types of things are compliant with the RSPO “code of conduct”, then the RSPO itself is utterly flawed. Lets wait and see if the company gets it’s RSPO membership, and then a certificate, before judging.

Rogue Traders Bisnis Hitam Penyelundupan Kayu Merbau di Indonesia (EIA/Telapak) Versi Bahasa Indonesia

2010-08-24T21:02:00.000+09:00

SORPATOM Statement on MIFEE - August 2010

2010-08-19T01:40:00.000+09:00

This month, despite numerous reports of journalists receiving death threats for reporting on environmental problems in Indonesia, and the suspicious death of a journalist in Merauke, campaigners in Merauke, Papua province have been brave enough to publicly reject MIFEE. The statement below was issued by SORPATOM this month. While some of the data seems to be wrong, and some of the political analysis is difficult to qualify, the wider concerns raised are legitimate.

For more information on SORPATOM, visit their website: Here is the Statement.

Reject the Papua People's Solidarity MIFEE
( SORPATOM )
Secretariat : Aspuri Maro , Complex - Mandobo Muyu , Padang Bulan - Abepura

___________________________________________________________________

Press Releases
No. 002-PR/SORPATOM/VIII/2010

"Save the Land and People of Papua Of Threats MIFEE Mega Projects "

Project MIFEE (Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate ( Barn Merauke Integrated Food and Energy ) has officially inaugurated by the Regents of Merauke , Jhon Gluba Gebze town of Merauke on the celebration of the 108th anniversary of the date of February 12, 2010 . Program MIFEE Agriculture includes Rice , Sugar Cane , Corn , Palm Oil , Cattle Farming , Fishing and other export -oriented , will involve 36 investors with an area of land to be cultivated area of 2.5 million hectares in almost all districts in the district . Merauke district and one each in the District . Mappi and Digoel . The number of companies that have operated actively until the year 2010 amounted to 13 Companies with an investment of Rp. 18,186,715,000,000 ; -. Of the 13 such entities, 10 wore lane Foreign Investment ( PMA ) , while the rest use the path of the Domestic Investment ( PMDN ) .

Mega Projects MIFEE itself is the answer to food and energy crisis that hit the imperialist countries , especially the United States (U.S. ) in 2008 . It was this crisis that resulted in the imperialist countries began to seek new areas to invest in the field of food and energy. of course you are looking for regions are: ( 1 ) of the available land area in large numbers , ( 2 ) the land, if owned by the owners of customary (adat ) , can be seized by the country concerned or may be provided to private investors as the manager , ( 3 ) states that government must be obedient to the U.S. imperialists and can provide a legal umbrella for the investment and the Armed Forces to maintain the stability and security of investment ; ( 4 ) areas of cheap labor available in large numbers by level of education , mastery and use of low technology ; ( 5 ) region is a potential market segment and its population is concentrated as the major consumer of goods produced in the imperialist .

Departing from this imperialist necessities of life , Regime SBY- SBY- JK and subsequently Boediono and The Great bourgeoisie compradors ( BBK = Tycoons ) as partners of imperialism, began to do everything necessary to meet the supply of food and energy to be supplied to the imperialist countries . Landlord SBY-JK/SBY-Boediono regime as the Great in the archipelago began to provide the legal instruments , PP , Presidential , Presidential Directive and Regulation on provincial and district level in Indonesia that serves as an umbrella law for the investment. This regime is also providing troops and police to guard and protect all his decision to run in accordance with the imperialist desires .

Investment projects in the field of food and energy, which tilled by SBY-JK/SBY-Boediono according to taste imperialist regime is then connect with similar projects , but focused only on rice plants , which was run by Regent John Gluba Gebze since 2000 . The project is named Mire or Merauke Integrated Rice Estated and many people involved in the work of planting rice in paddy fields in size , usually called Regent Land. Marriage between Regime project SBY / SBY - JK - Boediono nationally and Projects John Gluba Gebze local scale and then gave birth to what are known as MIFEE . MIFEE had entered in the Priority Program 100 Day of United Indonesia Cabinet ( SBY - Boediono Regime ) Volume 2 .

Some legal umbrella created by the regime of SBY - SBY- JK and subsequently as a basis Boediono MIFEE project implementation include: ( 1 ) Act (Act ) No. 27 year 2007 concerning Capital Investment , ( 2 ) Government Regulation ( PP ) No. 40 year 1996 on the Right to Exploit , Land Right and Right to Use of Land , ( 3 ) Government Regulation ( PP ) 26/2008 on National Spatial Plan ( RTRWN ) , ( 4 ) Government Regulation ( PP ) No. 2 of 2008 on Types and Tariffs for Non-Tax State Revenue from use of the Forest Area of Interest Outside Activities for Forestry , ( 5 ) Government Regulation ( PP ) No. 24/2010 on the Use of Forest Area , ( 6 ) Government Regulation ( PP ) No. 10/2010 on the Procedure How to Change Appropriation and Function of Forest Area , ( 7 ) Presidential Instruction No. 5 of 2008 on Focus Economic Program 2008-2009, and ( 8 ) Regulation Number 23 Year Merauke in 2010 About Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate made by Regency Merauke.

MIFEE next start was announced and propagated as something very beneficial for the Indonesian people in general and the People of Papua , Papua , especially the South in particular. Thus , in accordance with the objectives and methods of exclusion landowners and farmers by the imperialists , began the effort to grab land owned by indigenous communities Malind - Anim . On paper , MIFEE is a very promising project . However , the project was a disaster for the people of customary owners .

There has been land seizures by using a low level of public education , so that the land compensation is taken to be very cheap , USD . 8 , - / M² - a price that is unreasonable because it is more cheaper than the price of a fried banana . According to search some NGO activists - who has now stir slam support the project MIFEE - the amount of money received by the community billions of rupiah , but when divided by all the people who have customary rights , they only get about Rp . 200 000 to Rp . 500 000 per person .

From existing data , it is known that the total land to be confiscated is approximately 2.5 million hectares , comprising 0.6 million hectares of wetlands and 1.9 million hectares of dry land . Of the total , the land has been seized and utilized for the project is approximately 12 158 hectares MIFEE ( upland ) + 23 744 acres (wetlands ) = 35 902 hectares .

MIFEE negative impacts of the project are now starting to be felt the local community . In Kampong Boepe , District Kaptel Merauke district , indigenous communities have started trouble getting firewood , hunted animals , clean water and their staple food is sago . This is because the PT . Medco Papua Sustainable Industries , one of the Medco Group Subsidiary owned by Arifin Panigoro Warku Gebze 've cleared out the forest and food resources for local communities . In addition the results of Wood Processing shale waste dumped in the river thus polluting the water sources the only one in Kampong Boepe . In addition to the destruction of food sources , sacred places which became the center of indigenous cosmology Malind - Anim tribe had come uncovered because the boundaries of indigenous territories uncovered due to land clearing .

At least four million people will be brought in from outside of Papua to work as cheap farm labor in the project MIFEE . This means there will be a population of about four million peasant-worker + 4 million (husband / wife of peasant-worker ) + 8 million ( two of their children according to standards KB ) + 8 million ( two relatives of farm workers ) = 24 million people . With a total population of the indigenous population of only around Merauke 52 413 people or about 30 % of the total population of 174 710 Merauke ( Papua and Non- Papuan ) , it can be ascertained that genocide or extermination of the indigenous community will occur spontaneously.

In conclusion , it can be said that the most interest in the mega project is MIFEE Imperialist countries , especially the United States is experiencing a food crisis and energy. Furthermore , the imperialist countries began to provide capital to the regime and the BBK SBY-JK/SBY-Boediono as investment funds . Regime 's anti - imperialist people of this answer needs by issuing a number of umbrella legislation whose goal is nothing less than to seize lands owned by indigenous Papuans of South and gave it to BBK ( 36 investors ) to capitalize. Because it deprived the owners of communal land will surely protest and resistance. To anticipate this possibility , Regime SBY-JK/SBY-Boediono Soldiers and police have set up as a reactionary tool whose job is to fight the people whose land was seized. Based on this horrible reality MIFEE the project must be resisted because it is anti - people and oppressive , not only against the people of southern Papua , Papua and Indonesia , but also against the government of the Republic of Indonesia, which for years by the imperialist United States and its allies is always used as slaves and machinery murderer of his own people .

Order to save the Land and People of Papua from the threat of investment in Papua , especially mega projects MIFEE , then we declare that :

firmly reject the presence of Investing in Papua , especially the mega-project investments MIFEE in southern Papua .
Urging the government of SBY - Budiono regime immediately revoke the various agreements ( MoU ) and legal instruments relating to investments in Papua , especially MIFEE Investment .
Merauke District Government urged to immediately revoke the Regional Regulation No. 23 Year 2010 regarding Development Merauke Integreted Food and Energy Estate ( MIFEE ) Marauke District .
Proclaimed to all the People of the Universe, particularly the People's Solidarity With Papua to build in order to reject all good investment Foreign Direct Investment ( FDI ) and Domestic Investment ( PMDN ) which threatens the sources of life of Indigenous Peoples .

This statement is made with real attitude , and to act upon by the parties associated with investments in Papua , especially MIFEE Mega Project Investment .

Port Numbay , Wednesday, August 11, 2010

“Acting Together To Save the Land and People of Papua”

Diana Victoria Gebze ( Chairman SORPATOM ) Fr . Fredy Pawika , OFM ( SEMA KKRS Koord. STFT Fajar Timur)

Tales Timber Traders Tell about Papua's Log Controls

2010-08-13T20:03:00.000+09:00

The traders who admit (in EIA and Telapak's latest film and report, "Rogue Traders") smuggling large volumes of merbau wood out of Papua and Indonesia give some valuable insight into the realities of the timber trade in Papua. Three major lessons include:

Papua province's log shipment controls are not being implemented;
Criminal traders bribe the military to act as security when buying logs to be shipped out of Papua;
Forestry, customs and other officials in Makassar, including members of the security apparatus must be systematically bribed with $15,000 for each barge of logs arriving from Papua province.

The report details how Hengky Gosal of UD Menara Mas and PT Nessa Golden Wood, and his brother Alex Tungadi of PT Rajawali Makmur Sejahtera, who EIA/Telapak met as timber buyers in Makassar in May 2010, both said they regularly buy logs from the concession of PT Mamberamo Alasmandiri in Papua province. Tungadi also reportedly told the EIA/Telapak investigators that he had bought 8,000 M3 of logs from PT Mamberamo Alasmandiri in August 2009. Both Tungadi and Gosal claimed to pay soldiers and the police $300 a day to acts as security for them when selecting logs to be shipped out of the region, and Tungadi claimed he he paid officials in Makassar $15,000 for each shipment he receives at the port.

Yet under Governor Suebu's leadership, no logs from Papua province are supposed to be shipped out of the province. So how are they getting there? Is this what all those payments to officials, police and military are about?

Well, the report also highlights that, despite no official change of policy announced by Governor Suebu, officials in Papua have, since June 2009, issued transport permits to other provinces for over 100,000 M3 of logs (Rogue Traders, page 5). The report also highlights how Papua's log shipment controls are not respected in the timber industry raw material usage-planning process, citing analysis of RPBBI documents that indicate substantial expected supplies of logs from Papua to other provinces outside of Papua since 2008, when the log controls were supposed to have come into effect.

So what is going on? Have officials in Papua given up on the log shipment ban altogether? Apparently not.

The report also reveals that while round logs are clearly being shipped out of PT Mamberamo Alasmandiri - with military and official support having been purchased - they are not doing so within the law. EIA/Telapak cite a major log seizure by police in June 2010 at the logging concession of PT Mamberamo Alasmandiri's business partner, PT Sinar Wijaya Plywood Industry, in Yapen, Papua. This clearly indicates that logs that were getting out of the region to Hengky Gosal's and other mills, are not doing so within the terms of the law. Papua Forest Eye has since discovered that even Governor Suebu's spokesperson, Matthias Rafra, called for an investigation into PT Mamberamo Alasmandiri - indicating that the Governor is not impressed.

But wait a minute!

PT Mamberamo Alasmandiri, Indonesia's biggest logging concession, is certified as "Verified Legal Origin" by SGS, a company who's motto is "When You Need to BE Sure" - so how can there be criminal activity in the area? A good question indeed, and one that SGS will need to look at.

SGS is an international auditing company which runs forestry monitoring services under its TLTV (Timber Legality and Traceability Verification) program. SGS also has the contract to audit log exports from Papua New Guinea, where the government - unlike in Indonesia or Papua province - is still happy to ship its natural resource wealth to Chinese factories rather than use it to build the economy and employment base in PNG. SGS clearly likes getting contracts for rubber-stamping logs exports from New Guinea, the world's third most significant remaining forest area.

Rogue Traders: The Murky Business of Merbau Timber Smuggling in Indonesia (EIA/Telapak, August 2010) - English Version

2010-08-10T19:10:00.000+09:00

Tifa TV

2010-08-04T17:30:00.000+09:00

A film by Tifa TV: Bencana dan Harapan (Disaster and Hope) about exploitation of forests and local people by the logging company PT Wana Irian Perkasa, is available at this link http://www.tifatv.com/

Noble Savages Papua's Forests

2010-07-30T22:19:00.000+09:00

The Noble Group is to savage 32,000 hectares of forests on the Mooi people's land in Sorong, West Papua province, following its June 2010 purchase of 51% of shares in PT Henrison Inti Persada, an oil palm subsidiary of the notoriously criminal Kayu Lapis Indonesia Group (KLI). What made these Noble executives enter such an ignoble deal with such crooks?

Its the cash money, of course. Richard Elman, Founder and Chief Executive Chairman of Noble Group (pictured) has said that his Mooi lands acquisition "complements the company's global agricultural and energy business".

More importantly, analysts have estimated that PT Henrison Inti Persada will be worth $162 million once developed, so the smart executives in Noble Group's Hong Kong offices can keep themselves in expensive cars and caviar into the future. Very nice indeed.

But not so nice for the local landowners, who have been dealing with KLI Group and its military and police supporters for decades. Local Mooi tribe landowners within the area Noble Group now owns have told NGO investigators how they have received a pittance from KLI group for their forests - as little as $2.50 per hectare, and "promises" of riches beyond their wildest dreams. (well, actually, some decent houses and education for their kids was all they wanted, but that has not materialized.) At these prices, Papuan landowners will get roughly $80,000 in cash compensation for the 32,000 hectares of land released for Noble's business. They might get some schools and houses, but who knows?

It is unlikely that the Mooi landowners will be able to ask Mr Elman if they will get these benefits, as they do not even know that their lands are now owned by such Nobles.

To make the deal taste less disgusting, PT Henrison Inti Persada is reportedly planning to register itself as a member of the RSPO (Round-table on Sustainable Palm Oil). Papua Forest Eye is not sure if this development was an order from the Nobles in Hong Kong, but is confident that any RSPO membership will not reduce forest destruction or improve the lot of the locals.

Papua Forest Eye is also confident that KLI Group's other oil palm enterprise in South Sorong, that of PT Inti Kebun Sejahtera - will not join the RSPO. That is because, despite having already cleared hundreds of hectares in Modan, the plantation is completely illegal under Indonesian law. Although this has been publicly reported to the Indonesian authorities by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Telapak, last year, nothing has happened and the illegal clearance reportedly continues, still unlicensed.

Even SBY's commands to combat illegal logging, in lieu of his $ 1 billion REDD deal with Norway, seems to have missed this clear opportunity to stamp out forest crime. But with KLI Group owing millions of dollars to state run bank Mandiri, perhaps there is more easily acquired cash for Indonesia in allowing KLI's illegal forest destruction to continue than there is in Norway's REDD wallet. It will be the President himself who decides where the Norway REDD project is to be "piloted", with Papua being one of five possibilities, so we shall see where his priorities lie.

In the interim, Papua Forest Eye assumes that the Noble Group have done their "due diligence", and will not invest in illegal businesses associated with their partners, the KLI Group. Once PT Inti Kebun Sejahtera is legalized by the authorities - the likely outcome, if history is anything to go by - then perhaps the Nobles in Hong Kong will step in there too. Land "rental" prices for indigenous owners in this plantation are reportedly cheaper than in Henrison Inti Persada, at merely $1.50 per hectare, so any deal would be even more noble for Noble.

Polititians Plan to Pulp Papua

2010-07-21T19:01:00.000+09:00

Politicians and bureaucrats in Jakarta are planning to pulp Papua for paper because of the large area of forests available there, according to recent press reports. According to a Jakarta Post article, following a 20th July paper industry event in Riau, Industry minister MS Hidayat said: “In future, we plan to expand the development of the pulp and paper industry to eastern Indonesia." Papua was on his mind.

The plans were confirmed by Hadi Daryanto, Director General of Forestry Production Development at the Ministry of Forestry. Hadi told Tempo journalists “In future, we plan to expand the development of the pulp and paper industry to eastern Indonesia”, specifically referring to Papua. He added the policy of expanding industrial timber estates (HTI) to Papua "has always been promoted. Its just that nobody wanted to."

With all that Norway REDD cash now on the table, and with recent exposes of major deforestation by HTI plantations in Riau, both men obviously tried to argue that Papua's vital forests would not be damaged. Mr Hidayat reportedly said “The government will help all pulp and paper producers as long as they do not damage forests as foreign NGOs have claimed”. Mr Daryanto reportedly argued that "of course HTI license is given only in the lands that were damaged or degraded."

Yet the nice-sounding-logic is clearly not backed up by reality.

In late 2008, the Ministry of Forestry intentionally revoked a decree that banned HTI companies from harvesting natural forests, which was supposed to come into effect in January 2009. In one decree Indonesia granted HTI companies a 6 year extension on forest destruction, allowing conversion of natural forests for timber estates until 2014. None of these rights will be affected by Norway's $1 Billion.

More to the point, news articles covering the recent comments on pulping Papua clearly link the desire to locate HTI plantations in Papua with the forest and timber available there. The Jakarta Post states:

"The Industry Ministry said Tuesday that the government planned to expand the pulp and paper industry to eastern Indonesia, including Papua, because of its vast tracts of forest."

Tempo's coverage states "Hadi said the actual condition of forests in Papua are suitable for pulp and paper industry. Because if you want to build pulp industries you must be able to supply raw materials."

Hadi also admitted that;

"many investors are asking permission [for] plantations in Papua. Viewing these circumstances, the Ministry of Forestry will encourage the development of timber plantations in Papua in order to create equality."

Ah, that's nice Hadi - "equality".

Perhaps Mr Daryanto should explain to the Papuans that their forests will soon be sold to the highest bidder with the biggest pulp mill. Surely that will calm down Papuans' legitimate and growing anger at the failure of Special Autonomy to bring any equality to Papua at all. With the "equality" Hadi is promising, Papuans will now be able to sign away more of their land and resources for decades for as little as $ 1.5 per hectare, as is happening in the oil palm sector in Papua.

Returning the Forests to the Corporates – Boardrooms Carve up Papua

2010-06-21T05:53:00.001+09:00

Corporate news in recent weeks demonstrates the extent to which Papua’s forests have not been “returned to the people” as Governor Suebu’s pronouncements have promised. Instead, very rich investors, including Wilmar International, Rajawali Group, and the Noble Group, are carving it up.

One June 14^th, news broke that the Hong Kong headquartered Noble Group, which describes itself as “Asia’s largest diversified commodities trading company”, had "moved in on the palm oil boom" and purchased a majority 51% stake in PT Henrison Inti Persada (PT HIP) and its 32,500 hectare oil palm plantation license in Klamono, Sorong, West Papua, for an undisclosed sum.

This is the Noble Group’s first investment in oil palm – and it seems they could make millions of dollars. Analysts have suggested that PT HIP’s plantation in Sorong could be worth US$ 162 million once developed – not that the people who own the land are going to see much of that. EIA and Telapak reportedly visited landowners in PT HIP’s plantation last year, and found that 4-year-old children had been forced to sign contracts giving rights over their land to PT HIP for decades, and that landowners were paid virtually nothing to hand over their land to the company.

PT HIP is a subsidiary of the Kayu Lapis Indonesia Group, which is currently clearing forests via other subsidiaries for another plantation in the Sorong area – despite not having permits to do so.

Again, biofuels seem to be driving this deforestation (PT HIP’s plantation is not fully cleared yet – despite it already being visible from space as a scar across the Malamooi tribe’s land, as seen in the image above). Noble Group Executive Chairman Richard Elman explained the thinking: “With increasing convergence between agriculture and energy, this investment is a clean fit for the Group’s diversified portfolio.” That's nice Richard - you go and save the world.

Other corporate news featured the Rajawali Group, owned by billionaire Peter Sondakh, which already owns a 26,000 hectare plantation in Keerom, Papua. On June 11, Reuters reported that Rajawali “has … bought 70,000 hectares in the planned Merauke food estate in Indonesia's eastern Papua province, in which it will invest $400 million to plant sugar”, and that it plans to list its 200,000 hectares of plantations in Indonesia through a public offering in order to “unlock” capital with which to acquire a string of coal mining assets.

Papua Forest Eye was initially surprised to learn Rajawali had “bought” 70,000 hectares in the MIFEE project – give that in the same week the government announced they had still not agreed the land use spatial plan for Merauke… Yet, as Rajawali’s Managing Director, Darjoto Setyawan, told Reuters, “cash is king”, and Peter Sondakh has friends in high places, which can help in

Indonesia

On the 31 May 2007, Andreas Harsono of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reported that Peter Sondakh may have played a significant role in financing a successful US$1,044,147 Washington lobbying effort to re-establish Indonesia’s military relations with and IMET military aid from the U.S government. IMET (International Military Education and Training funds) contributions to

Indonesia

had been suspended following the TNI coordinated massacres in East Timor. They aren’t anymore. Well done Peter.

Then there is Wilmar International. On the 18^th June, TradingMarkets announced that PT Wilmar Nabati

Indonesia

, a Wilmar International subsidiary, plans to invest US$2 billion in Papua’s MIFEE project, principally for a sugar plantation and a refinery. The company is reportedly conducting a feasibility study over 100,000 hectares in Merauke. Sweet. Especially if the government stumps up the “incentives” for infrastructure it is negotiating with Industry Minister M. S. Hidayat, and if the Merauke Spatial plan can be made to fit (sorry, I mean, if Wilmar's plans fit with the Merauke spatial plan).

But is it sweet for Papuans, the environment, or the Indonesian tax payer?

The human rights and demographic implications of the MIFEE project have been flagged up at the UN by AMAN,

Indonesia

’s main indigenous people’s association, and are expected to result in massive deforestation of the Merauke region’s important eucalyptus forests and savannas.

That an Indonesian parliamentarian has recently accused Wilmar International of suspected multi-million dollar tax fraud (Rp 3.6 trillion (US$385 million)) in Indonesia, it seems strange that the government is seriously considering offering the company a further 100,000 hectares of land and government financed "incentives" when the case has not been completed. Yet then again,

Indonesia

’s brave tax-reformer, Sri Mulyani has now retreated to the World Bank following political harassment from Golkar parliamentarians, and with Golkar's leader and Indonesia's most powerful business man, Bakrie, now running the President's government coalition Secretariat, perhaps tax reform will no longer be a focus of SBY’s government. Lets hope it is, eh…

Norway's $ 1 Billion REDD Cash Must Prioritize Preservation of Papua's Forests

2010-05-27T21:48:00.000+09:00

Norway has just pledged $ 1 billion to Indonesia to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) in the country, under a new climate change Partnership announced today. The partnership is part of the Government of Norway's International Climate and Forests Initiative.

Papua and West Papua must be prioritized under the implementation phase if REDD, and this partnership, are to prevent

Indonesia

's deforestation emissions crisis shifting from the West to the East of the country in the coming years.

Indonesia

needs to allow that to happen, despite its reticence to open Papua up to outside scrutiny of any kind (as highlighted again by the recent arrest of French Journalists working in Jayapura).

It's not just Papua Forest Eye that is worried Papua will be left out in favour of already degraded lands in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) has also flagged up the danger that Papua is sidelined. In a set of recommendations to Norway on the use of it’s REDD funds in

Indonesia

, RFN's Director, Lars Løvold, wrote:

“There is a danger that Indonesia will implement REDD measures in already degraded and deforested areas such as Sumatra and Central Kalimantan, while massive expansion of tree and oil palm plantations in remaining natural forest of Papua will continue unabated.”

He added:

"The second province should be Papua, where the largest remaining intact tracts of natural forest remain. Unless Papua is targeted as one of the first provinces to implement REDD, it is highly likely that much of this forest will disappear before a national REDD structure is in place."

This mirrors recommendations to the international community from EIA and Telapak in their 2009 report on plantations in Papua – Up for Grabs. These included:

“Ensure Papua is prioritised in development assistance to address poverty, secure sustainable livelihoods, and reduce carbon emissions from deforestation in Indonesia.”

The dangers facing Papua's forests are already clear from reports and films on logging and the expansionist plantations sector there. What is not clear is whether the two countries can put aside politically sticky issues that threaten to exclude Papua's people from a more sustainable development path in the decades to come.

It is this nexus of economic development and environmental integrity that President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono has highlighted as the central challenge for

Indonesia

in the coming years. Speaking after the signing of the Partnership with Norway on Wednesday, the President said:

"Working with our developed country partners, we will protect Indonesia’s globally significant carbon- and biodiversity-rich tropical rainforests while helping local populations become more prosperous"

Thankfully, the ever progressive and reformist Mr Yudhoyono pledged that Indonesia will:

“conduct a moratorium for two years where we stop the conversion of peat land and of forests".

Yet with this moratorium not due to begin till 2011, the danger is clearly that a load of dodgy logging, forest conversion and mining permits (like those being investigated by the KPK - Indonesia's ever busy anti-corruption watchdog - right now) are rushed through in the next 6 months. With the world now watching, for the sake of Indonesia’s global reputation and the people and forests of Papua, let’s hope they are not.

Life is No Good in Medco's and LG's Merauke Biofuel Plantation

2010-05-17T18:18:00.000+09:00

Medco Group's 170,000 hectare industrial timber plantation (HTI) in Muting, Merauke, Papua province, is already doing what it was always going to do - destroying the environment and livelihoods of local Papuans in the name of "green energy" and "development".

A recent article on Tabloid Jubi - Papua's independent media outlet - covers complaints about Medco's activities from Mr Albertus Gebze Moiwend, deputy head of the Merauke Indigenous People's Institute (LMA Merauke).

In the article, Mr Moiwend explains that Medco's forest clearance is already restricting access to hunting areas, firewood, and other resources that underpin the livelihoods of local Malind tribe members in Boepe village, which has been moved from its original location to a site three kilometers from the river.

"So when the new area is opened, then there is no forest cover that protects the soil which caused misery for residents around the area of Papua PT.Medco operation."

He also says Medco has dumped pulp factory waste into local rivers without processing it first, resulting in pollution of the waters.

In late 2009, Korean conglomerate LG International Corp. announced its entry into a partnership with the Medco Group to acquire 1 million hectares of Papua's forests for wood pellets. To enable this, LG spent US$ 25 million on a 25% of PT Metra Duta Lestari, with another 66% held by Medco. LG reports that this gave it a stake in Medco's 170,000 hectare plantation in Muting.

Medco Group have claimed repeatedly that their plantation - which will produce wood pulp and pellets for paper and energy - will not result in deforestation. Yet the company is already processing large volumes of timber from natural forests, and has already shipped several barges of chips from the area.

More telling is LG's admission that if it gets the other 830,000 hectares the venture will result in the harvesting of "1.4 million tons of wood chips and 360,000 tons of wood pellets annually". While describing its investment with Medco as a "forestation" project, LG gave away the fact that it is actually deforestation they will be doing first.

"The Merauke forestry concession area, where Eucalyptus and Acacia trees grow abundantly, will be divided into 6 zones. Mature trees will be logged on yearly basis and the seedlings will be planted in the cleared forest."

This, it is claimed, will produce "clean energy fuel replacing fossil fuels".

LG International is an affiliate of the global electronics brand - LG Group - who's marketing slogan is "life's good". However, according to Mr Moiwend, who also warned that Medco's operations could result in the "slow extermination" of local Papuans, life is not all that good after all.

Deforestation for MIFEE would generate $13.1 billion of timber for powerful companies

2010-05-11T20:14:00.000+09:00

It seems the allocation of forest land for the MIFEE project is going to involve massive deforestation and billions of dollars of timber revenues for those lucky companies likely to get the concessions.

The recent article from the Jakarta Post, below, cited Greenpomics data that suggested the MIFEE project will result in 1.45 million hectares being declassified form the forest estate and released for conversion, resulting in a harvestable volume of 410 million cubic metres of timber worth US$ 13 billion. Nice work if you can get it. But who is getting it?

Well, so far, comanies such as Medco Group (Arifin Panigoro), and companies linked to senior political actors under the Suharto regime are getting permits for MIFEE. These include:

Comexindo Group: owned by Hashim Djoyohadikoesoemo, the brother of Prabowo Subianto (Suharto’s ex-son in law, ex head of Kopassus and Kostrad Special Forces units, and failed Presidential Candidate)

Bangun Tjipta Sarana: Siswono Yudo Husodo is commissioner, having been Director from 1969 – 1988. During this time Husodo was Minister of Home Affairs (1988 – 1993), Minister for Transmigration (1993 – 1998), and a deputy presidential candidate (2004).

Sumber Alam Sutra / Artha Graha Group: Controlled by Tommy Winata (alias "Oe Suat Hong"). Winata's close links to the military were forged when he won lucrative contracts to construct military facilities in Papua and West Papua, Ambon, and Makassar, and when he reportedly ran Yayasan Kartika Eka Paksi, a retirement welfare fund for the military. Winata has been involved in the timber trade since setting up Artha Graha Group.

No wonder the central government is pushing MIFEE so hard...

Battle Brewing Over Forests And Plantations in Papua
by Artie Ekawati& Fidelis E Satriastanti, Jakarta Post, May 09, 2010

Environmentalists are up in arms over the latest design for the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate in Papua, which they say will see more than 1.1 million hectares of forests converted into agricultural estates.
Jakarta-based Greenomics Indonesia said on Sunday that the latest proposal from the National Spatial Planning Coordination Agency, under the Ministry of Public Works, allocated 1.157 million hectares of primary or natural forests — areas that have not been logged before — to the planned Merauke food estate. This is 90.2 percent of the total 1.28 million hectares to be devoted to the estate.
“President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has encouraged world leaders to inject new economic logic into the development concept, where he underlined that keeping forests is much more beneficial than cutting them down,” said Elfian Effendi, executive director of Greenomics Indonesia. “It would be strange if the person who said that would eventually allow the large-scale conversion of natural forests into plantation areas.”

The Merauke project, which spans three districts in Papua, is part of the government’s plan to develop agricultural estates in remote areas such as Papua and Kalimantan so they can become self-sufficient in food production and eventually major food exporters. Merauke has been touted as a major destination of foreign investment and a source of jobs in impoverished Papua, and the government has predicted the population of the district could soar from about 175,000 to 800,000 as a result of the project. It was scheduled for inauguration in February but has been delayed by land-zoning problems, specifically over which kind of land would be used.

Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan has said the delay was because the government was still mapping the forest area in Papua to avoid protected forests being converted into plantations for the estate. Zulkifli said the government had yet to determine zoning for the food estate and how much forested land could be used.

But according to Elfian, the Ministry of Forestry has now signed an agreement to classify 1.45 million hectares of primary forest within Merauke district alone as Convertible Production Forests (HPK), meaning they can be used for other activities, such as plantations. The conversion still has to be approved by the Ministry of Forestry. “Of 1.45 million hectares of HPK in Merauke district, about 366,000 hectares have no forests anymore, and 1.06 million hectares are still forested areas,” he said.

“If they continue with their plans, they will break their own promise not to open natural forests for this project.” Greenomics estimated that the allocated forest areas have about 410.9 million cubic meters of timber worth about Rp 120.87 trillion ($13.1 billion) on the domestic market. On the black market, it could fetch as much as Rp 375.5 trillion.

Masyhud, a spokesman for the Ministry of Forestry, did not deny the classification of forest areas in Merauke into HPK, but said the ministry had not yet agreed to the conversion of these areas into agricultural or energy estates for the Merauke project. He said more detailed surveys were needed to determine which forest areas could be released.

Statement to UN on Human Rights and Merauke MIFEE Project

2010-05-11T18:54:00.000+09:00

On the 29th April 2010, AMAN, (Alliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara - the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago) - Indoneisna's main indigenous peoples organisation, delivered a statement of concern about human rights in Merauke's MIFEE project to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, in New York.

The statement, endorsed by 24 indigenous peoples organisations around the world, raised serious concerns over the demographic consequences of the MIFEE (Merauke Integrated Food and Energey Estate), as projected migration for the project indicate local Papuans will become a tiny minority in their ownland. AMAN's statement categorised the MIFEE project as "structural and systematic genocide".

AMAN Statement on Agenda Item 4: Human Rights (9th UNPFii)
Delivered by- Mr. Arifin Saleh:

Thank you Chairperson,
Chairperson, there are significant current and imminent threats of violations of indigenous peoples land rights taking place throughout Indonesia including in Borneo, in Sulawesi, in West Papua and in Sumatra where I came from.

Chairperson, I would like to use this opportunity to draw your attention to the situation of Indigenous Peoples in my homeland North Sumatera and in Merauke, West Papua.

In my homeland North Sumatera, there was an arrest last year and there has been a continued threat of arrest of indigenous leaders for defending our land and territory by police and the State Plantation II.

In West Papua, especially Merauke, related to the development of Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE). MIFEE is a project designed to develop an integrated food production covering agriculture, horticulture and livestock in 1.6 million hectares of lowland, forest and swamp.

This program falls under Law No. 41/2009 on the Protection of Areas for Sustainable Food Agriculture (Perlindungan Lahan Pertanian Pangan Berkelanjutan – PLP2B), adopted in September 2009. Based on Presidential Instruction No. 01/2010, on the Acceleration of the Development Corridor of Merauke, this project will soon be implemented. There have been 30 private companies investing in this program, including Bangun Tjipta, Medco Grup, Comexindo Internasional, Digul Agro Lestari, Buana Agro Tama, and Wolo Agro Makmur.

Chairperson, the areas allocated for MIFEE program is indigenous territory called Anim-ha belongs to the Indigenous Peoples of Malind. West Papua has a long story of human rights abuses, many of which have not been solved until now. This kind of large-scale business in Indigenous Territories, without their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) will only exacerbate the human rights situation, leading to forced evictions and other human rights violations. Indigenous Peoples’ living in this area depend on hunting and collecting sago as their main food. This industry will have major impacts on their livelihoods by changing the ecosystem and threatening Indigenous Peoples’ food sovereignty. It should also be noted that the project is designated as export oriented. The project also has the potential to increase and create social conflicts and to result in loss of cultural traditions and values.

Meanwhile, this food industry is estimated to bring 6.4 million workers to Merauke and West Papua in general. The total population of West Papua is only 4.6 million people, where 2.2 million of this population are indigenous and 70% lives in remote areas. With a population of only 174,710 in Merauke, these plans will acutely threaten the existence of Indigenous Peoples within these areas, turning them into a minority in number, even leading to extinction in the future. This is, as we may say, structural and systematic genocide. It is unacceptable.

Chairperson, we are aware of the international and national combined efforts to adapt and mitigate climate change, and Indigenous Peoples around the world, have committed to take part and join forces on the effort through our own unique contributions. However, this has triggered the expansion of businesses and capitalism into Indigenous Territories, like what has started in Merauke.

Therefore, we request the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, to:

Urge the government of Indonesia and other relevant UN State Members, not to relocate indigenous peoples in the establishment of public or private business-interest projects on indigenous land and territories.

Conduct an independent study on the impact of MIFEE and other similar businesses to Indigenous Peoples in Merauke and around the world.

We request the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples to conduct a thematic study on development projects including MIFEE and their impacts on cultural integrity and the human rights situations of indigenous peoples.

We also urge the Government of Indonesia to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Food, to visit and to make a report concerning the situation of Indigenous Peoples in Merauke and West Papua in general, affected by MIFEE and other business development.

Thank you Chairperson.

Endorsed by:
1. Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP);
2. Asia Indigenous Women Network (AIWN);
3. Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN);
4. Chin Human Rights Organization;
5. Dewan Adat Papua;
6. Indigenous Peoples Foundation for Education and Environment, Thailand;
7. Kapaeeng Foundation, Bangladeh;
8. Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN);
9. Magar Studies Center, Nepal;
10. Forum for Rural Women Ardency Development, Nepal;
11. TEBTEBBA Foundation, Philippines;
12. Saptakoshi Sahara Kendra, Nepal;
13. Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, Northeast India;
14. Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Preservation Association, Nepal;
15. Bahing Kirat Mulukhim, Nepal;
16. Adivasi Vijaya Samajic Sanstha, India;
17. Greater Sylhet Indigenous Peoples Forum, Bangladesh;
18. Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association, Cambodia;
19. Indigenous Rights Activist Member;
20. Inter-mountain Peoples Education and Culture in Thailand Association; 21. Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Philippines;
22. Jaringan Orang Asal se-Malaysia, Malaysia;
23. Building Initiative in Indigenous Heritage, Malaysia;
24. Borneo Resource Institute, Malaysia; 25. JOANGOhutan, Malaysia

Saving 70% of Papua's Forests - when 25% are already lost

2010-05-11T08:06:00.000+09:00

In late March, Governor Suebu of Papua province told local journalists that he had pledged to save 70% of Papua's forests from the scourge of plantations, destructive and illegal logging, and the other drivers of deforestation threatening Papua's forests.

"Recently I spoke in a seminar in London on climate change. I made it clear we in Papua will protect 70% of the existing forest area for the future of humanity," he said. (Source: Antara, 16 March 2010)

Mr Suebu was referring to a presentation he gave to high level government representatives, investors, decision makers and other stakeholders from numerous countries at Wilton Park, in England. In his Wilton Park presentation, entitled "Building a Low Carbon Economy for Papua Province", Mr Suebu gave "Papua's Commitment":

"Conserve at least 70% of Papua as forest, by:
20% increase of protected forest area

Ceasing unsustainable logging in production forests.
Reassigning at least 50% of forests now designated for conversion and other uses, to sustainable forest management by local communities.
Preventing conversion of primary forest or high conservation value land.I
ncreasing the productivity of plantation and cash crops, and directing any expansion to degraded areas."

Mr Suebu said:

"Papua’s vast forest wealth has a vital role to play in mitigatingenvironmental
degradation and climatic instability, both locally andglobally."

And he is right. However, a month later new figures on deforestation rates
upped the stakes significantly.According to an article in Suara
Pembaruan on 29th April, quoting the Director for Forestry Protection and
Conservation at the Department of Forestry, 25% of Papua's forests have already
been lost.

"This is because of the large-scale illegal logging that has occurred as
well as the felling of forests to make way for roads, housing, food production,
and the rapid creation of new districts and sub-districts in both provinces. The
area under forests has fallen from 31.5 million hectares to 23 million
hectares."

So there is only 75% of Papua's forests left...
The pressure is on if
Mr Suebu is to succeed in his bid to declassify large areas of conversion
forest, establish legal mechanisms to resist companies facilitated by Jakarta,
and head off the deforestation associated with the establishment of new
districts and provinces, and from new migration to the province.

The world will need to help him achieve this. The international community can
assist by urging Indonesia to ensure implementing regulations under Special
Autonomy give flesh to the bones of Papua's regional autonomy status, and by
supporting Papua in having its pro-people and conservation provincial land use
plans recognised and respected by the central government.

Papua Forest Eye is on YouTube

2010-05-11T02:02:00.000+09:00

For Videos about Papua's forests, see Papua Forest Eye's YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/PFeye