Friends of the Earth groups condemn new reports of violence and threats against communities by Astra Agro Lestari and Indonesian military police force

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Friends of the Earth groups condemn new reports of violence and threats against communities by Astra Agro Lestari and Indonesian military police force

November 12, 2024

JAKARTA/WASHINGTON/AMSTERDAM - Friends of the Earth (FOE) groups strongly condemn new reportsof violence and threats of criminalization against communities in Sulawesi, Indonesia, by Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) subsidiaries and the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), the militarized tactical unit of Indonesia's national police. The recent incidents continue a pattern of intimidation against community leaders and Human Rights Defenders opposed to AAL's controversial palm oil operations, as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) convenes its annual meeting.

According to community members, on two separate occasions in October, AAL subsidiary PT Agro Nusa Abadi forcibly harvested palm oil fruit on lands claimed by communities alongside Brimob. On October 8, community members reported that Brimob officers fired shots to suppress protests against PT ANA's actions. On October 22, Brimob threatened to confiscate palm oil fruit from farmers in Bungintimbe village, while PT ANA harvested on contested lands. On October 29, policenamed six community members from North Morowali as alleged perpetrators of palm oil fruit theft from PT ANA and issued a summons. These instances add to AAL's sordid history of intimidationand criminalization, which have been shared with global consumer brandsand financiers linked to the company and previously raised with Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.

"The situation in Sulawesi is dangerously deteriorating due to AAL's violent actions on lands to which local communities and farmers have legitimate rights," said Uli Arta Siagian, Forest and Plantation Campaign Manager at WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia). "In recent weeks, this rogue palm oil company has escalated its repression against villagers who are trying to make a living from their land. AAL's latest instances of intimidation and violence must be a wake-up call to global companies that continue to include AAL's conflict palm oil in their supply chains. This repression is happening on your watch."

While the situation in Sulawesi has deteriorated in recent months, AAL has attempted to obscure reality and paint a rosy picture of company-community relations. In September, AAL published a progress reporton its unilaterally dictated three-year action plan to address ongoing conflicts and community grievances in Sulawesi. Reportsfrom the ground reveal that community members critical of AAL's operations were excluded from the village meetings highlighted in the company's progress report, with roads being blocked off to prevent participation and discussions held behind closed doors. Multiple demonstrations have been held over the past two months against AAL's operations and the increased security presence, contradicting company claims of progress.

"By believing AAL's dubious assurances of progress and ignoring the repression communities are facing, companies are failing in their responsibilities to conduct independent due diligence," said Gaurav Madan, Senior Forest and Land Rights Campaigner at Friends of the Earth US."There is clear evidence of intimidation and threats against community leaders and Human Rights Defenders in Sulawesi. AAL has never received the consent of communities to operate on their lands. Companies and financiers must cut ties with AAL and its parent companies today to signal that they will not tolerate these flagrant abuses, otherwise they are complicit."

Communities have been engaged in protracted land conflicts with AAL and its subsidiaries operating in Central and West Sulawesi for many years. Civil society reports have documented land grabbing, environmental degradation, criminalization of Human Rights Defenders, and permitting irregularities and illegal operations by numerous AAL subsidiaries. In response, 10 consumer brandshave suspended palm oil sourcing from AAL in some capacity, while financiers including Norges Bankand BlackRockhave taken action against AAL and its parent companies Jardine Matheson and Astra International. Global consumer brands including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and General Mills continue to allow AAL's palm oil in their supply chains.

"All parties must work toward de-escalation now," said Danielle van Oijen, Forest Program Coordinator at Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands). "AAL has shown that it's not going to change its repressive practices on its own. The Indonesian government and National Human Rights Commission should ensure the protection of citizens under threat. Resolving these conflicts by ensuring the return of land to communities is as pressing as ever, before the situation gets even worse."

In July, AAL announced that it had applied for membership to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil - the sustainability certification body for the industry - which is currently meeting in Bangkok, Thailand for its annual roundtable conference. AAL's RSPO membership is actively opposed by communities and civil society groups until land conflicts between AAL and communities are resolved, remedy and redress is provided, the right to Free, Prior, Informed Consent respected, and AAL's permitting irregularities properly investigated and addressed by the Indonesian government.

Communications contact: Brittany Miller, [email protected], (202) 222-0746
Expert contact: Gaurav Madan, [email protected], +254112298749

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