Save the Peat Forests of Riau

Joint statement of Riau Forest Anti Destruction Coalition (KAPHuR), together with the National Farmers Union (STN), Riau Farmers Union (STR), Riau Peatland Community Network (JMGR) and People Democratic Party (PRD). Meranti, February 1^st, 2011.

On Wednesday (02/2/11), they held a demonstration in a number of institutions in Pekanbaru, as in the Riau Governor Office, the Riau Police Office and in Riau Parliament. Carrying one lawsuit, which is rejecting the existence of industrial forest (HTI) in Riau.

Here’s the full content of the joint statement:
One of the problems that caused the destruction of forests in Sumatra, especially in Riau Province, is the presence of pulp and paper factories. These industries that rely on raw materials of timber, in fact, have great potential and contribution of the “systematic framework” of natural forests destruction.

It is no secret that the pulp and paper industry meet their industrial capacity by chopping wood from natural forests. The statement that the industry supply will be provided from the industrial forests they manage, is just nonsense. This is because the pulp and paper factories always build industrial capacity exceeding the capacity of their industrial forest supply, the examples are PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (PT RAPP) whose operational areas are in Riau and North Sumatra.

In the effort to get wood supply, PT RAPP company owned by Taipan Sukanto Tanoto under the banner of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) does not not only do systematic framework of natural forests destruction in Sumatra which impacts on the decline of environmental quality and carrying capacity, but also leads to social conflict with the community, particularly with indigenous people. Pulp and paper company robs the livelihoods in the form of forest land or community tenure territory. The struggle of the community to defend their rights is likely to deal with the security forces who side with the companies which then even resulting to death of some people.

In Riau, PT. RAPP is currently conducting natural forests clearing in the deep peatland area and outer small islands. In Peninsula Kampar which covers 55,940 hectares area and Padang Island which covers 43,000 hectares area, while its partner PT. Sumatera Riang Lestari (SRL) in Rangsang Island which covers 18,890 hectares area, Tempuling whcih covers an area of 48,635 hectares and Rupat Island which covers 38.590 hectares area, in the Tebing Tinggi Island PT Lestari Unggul Makmur (LUM) with an area of 10,39 hectares. All these areas are spread across five (5) Districts, among others, Indragiri Hilir Regency, Pelalawan, Siak, Bengkalis and Meranti Islands Regency.

The addition of RAPP concession area on the Padang island as much as 43,00 hectares, is the trigger of conflict between the community and the company, which is very vulnerable to result in public land expropriation and annexation by the company, not to mention the negative impact on the Padang island that could lead to the sinking of the island, this puts the village community in Padang island Meranti Islands Regency in anxiety. In addition, on September 8^th 2010 the Governor of Riau has issued a koredor or cultivation permit to PT. RAPP for the Padang island without first assessing the impact that will happen.

Of the several cases above, on this day we declare a firm stance:

To the government of SBY – Boediono through the Ministry of Forestry Zulkifli Hassan to immediately stop the operation of natural forests destruction by revoking /canceling all permits that have been given to PT.Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) and Partners, among others, PT. Sumatera Riang Lestari (SRL), PT. Sumatera Silva Lestari (SSL) and PT. Lestari Unggul Makmur (LUM) in Riau Province.
Fully supports the Meranti Islands Local Government to re-urge the Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately revoke permission granted to PT. RAPP, LUM, and SRL.
In addition, the KAPHuR together with STN, STR, PRD, JMGR also urge law enforcement officials to immediately arrest and prosecute Sukanto Tanoto for corporate crimes which has been done by PT.Riau Andalan Pulp Paper.

Meranti, February 1^st, 2011
Riau Forest Anti Destruction Coalition (KAPHuR), with National Farmers Union (STN), Riau Farmers Union (STR), Riau Peatland Community Network (JMGR) and People Democratic Party (PRD). Sent by Riau Advocacy Group (KAR) to the mailing list.(Inal)