TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Singapore palm oil company First Resources failed to obtain consent from East Kalimantan villagers before clearing their forests, a violation of its commitments under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, an indigenous rights group reported.
The Dayak Benauq people in Muara Tae village, East Kutai district, have been protesting the activities of First Resources unit PT Borneo Surya Mining Jaya for more than a year, the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) stated in a press release on April 19.
The findings are the result of an investigation by Moody International commissioned by RSPO as part of an ongoing inquiry regarding the case, AMAN said. RSPO promotes sustainable palm oil by certifying companies it deems have met certain standards.
RSPO ordered First Resources on April 17 to stop all activities in Muara Tae until the conflict could be resolved, AMAN said.
PHIL JACOBSON
