Legislator Daniel Johan Criticizes PT PPSP Palm Oil Mill Permit Amid Local Protests and Arrests

Palm Oil Magazine
Daniel Johan, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian Legislature, expressed concern over the permit issued for the palm oil mill. Photo by: Special

PALMOILMAGAZINE, LABUHANBATU – Daniel Johan, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian Legislature, expressed concern over the permit issued for the palm oil mill operated by PT Pulo Padang Sawit Permai (PPSP) in Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra Province. He raised alarms about potential local losses related to the mill’s operations, especially following recent protests that led to the arrest of several activists.

Johan emphasized that the government must rigorously verify mill permits, including thorough environmental impact assessments, to ensure compliance with regulations. “The government should ensure that mill permits meet all necessary environmental and impact criteria to prevent harm to local communities,” he stated on Monday.

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The controversy began when the mill’s construction caused unrest in Pulo Padang Village, Rantau Utara Subdistrict. Residents felt excluded from the decision-making process and were informed that the construction was intended for housing development. The mill’s proximity to a school exacerbated concerns, as its operations reportedly disrupted students and contributed to environmental pollution, including air pollution and contamination of local wells and rivers.

Also Read: Tina Boru Rambe Embraces Daughter Behind Bars After Protesting Palm Oil Mill in Labuhanbatu

On May 20, 2024, villagers and activists staged a protest against the mill’s operation. The demonstration ended with the arrest of several activists, including Tina Boru Rambe, a prominent protestor. While some activists have been temporarily released, Boru Rambe remains in custody, and her request for a pre-trial hearing has not yet been addressed.

Back to Daniel Johan, he said, it would need to evaluate the operation of the mill. If the mill is proven to damage the environment and threatens the life of the society, the government should firmly act, not arrest the local that protested it. “The legal enforcement should be neutral and transparent. Do not let the villagers be criminalized for they claimed their rights,” he said, as Palmoilmagazine.com quoted from Teropongsenayan.com, Tuesday (10/9/2024).

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The protests to the mill of PT PPSP have been running since 2017 but there is no solution. The villagers claimed the relocation of the mill as the solution but the company rejected it because it only derived from few people.

Daniel continued, the same issue always happens in others about conflict between the local and palm oil companies. “Legal enforcement should be transparent. The local should be fairly treated,” he said.

He also said that it would be significant to get restorative justice approach to solve the conflict by having dialogue and mediation that involved many parties. “This would be significant to create the balance between economic development and environmental conservation,” Daniel said. (P2)

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