Violence Rife in Palm Oil Plantation Expansion: Research

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – A study by the Institute for Ecosoc Rights found that expansion of oil palm plantations have evicted people from their lands. Sri Palupi, the institute’s activist, said this eviction occurs in Central Kalimantan. 

“The impacts are the lost of forests, indigenous lands, swamps, fields and farms,” she said on Tuesday.

In practice, palm oil companies acquire lands using multiple approaches, from the soft ones such as persuasion, promises and partnership scheme to violent ones such as bribery, land burning, paying thugs, and provoking and prohibiting people from entering plantations.

According to Palupi, lost of lands is the most common fact faced by residents and communities around palm oil plantations. Moreover, data from the Central Kalimantan Land Agency show that 57.43 percent of people have no land certificates, putting the majority of Central Kalimantan people in a weak position against palm oil companies.

Wanto, 50, a resident of Katingan, Central Kalimantan, said he faced a land dispute where he lives. He said he was sad and hurt by how palm oil companies took over their lands. “Just imagine, one hectare of land is priced at Rp1.5 million. The price is decided by the company. Sellers should be the ones who decide,” said Wanto.

AMIRULLAH