Ministry Of Environment And Forestry: Greenpeace Videos On Forest And Land Fires And Oil Palm Concessions In Papua Are Old Videos

ILLUSTRATION / Forest fires (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) confirmed that the video of forest and land fires (karhutla) in oil palm concessions in Papua that was exposed by Greenpeace is a 2013 video.

"Investigations exposed by Greenpeace stated that the video it used was a 2013 video," said Director General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Rasio Ridho Sani, in a written statement, Friday, November 13.

Ridho questioned the reason why Greenpeace had just uploaded an old video at this time. This is because when this non-governmental organization receives a report on forest and land fires, it should immediately report it to the related parties.

"Greenpeace should have immediately reported the 2013 video evidence to related parties at that time," he said.

Greenpeace, continued Ridho, should be honest in disclosing the results of their investigations. Including, the issue of releasing forest areas for oil palm concessions was granted in the 2009-2014 period or not by the current government.

"For example, the decree on the release of forest areas for plantations that was given by the former Minister of Forestry to PT Dongin Prabhawa, is the 2009 decree," he said.

Ridho added that almost all of the release of forest areas for oil palm plantations in Papua and West Papua was given in the era of the previous administration period

Furthermore, he asked Greenpeace, if they had any evidence of forest and land fires like the events he is currently exposed to, it would be better to report them immediately.

This is so that events like this can be immediately followed up. Ridho also guaranteed that companies from any country that violate, especially those related to forest and land fires, are proven to have been prosecuted according to statutory procedures.

"Several companies under the Korindo group have given sanctions due to forest and land fires that have occurred in their concessions, and their permits have even been frozen. Also several Malaysian and Singaporean companies, including Indonesian companies, "he concluded.