TEMPO.CO, Pekanbaru - The Riau People Coalition (KRR) reported 33 oil palm plantations to the Riau Police for illegally utilizing lands and forests. The companies also allegedly built oil palm plantations in forest areas causing Rp 2.5 trillion (US$187.9 million) in state losses.
"Two regulations are being violated, namely the law on Plantation and the law on environmental protection," RR coordinator Fachri Yasin at the Riau Police on Monday, January 16, 2017.
Fachri revealed that as many as 33 corporations built oil palm plantations on lands with a total size of 103,320 hectares, based on a report prepared by the Special Committee of Land Monitoring of the Riau Legislative Council. In addition, the team found illegal oil palm plantations on a 203,977-hectares land.
According to Fachri, the police report was an initial step to improve the land and forest governance in Riau. Fachri revealed that the KRR would file another police report against other companies for breaking the law.
"Based on our analysis, there are many corruption crimes sin the forestry and plantation sector," Fachri said.
Earlier, Riau Governor Arsyadujilandi Rachman said that he had received a report from the Special Committee of Land Monitoring of the Riau Legislative Council.
"The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has data on illegal plantations," Arsyad told Tempo.
Arsyad revealed that the issue would be addressed by the Riau administration, the Riau Regional Revenue Agency, the prosecutor's office, the Police and the KPK. Arsyad said that the the KPK has provided the Riau administration with assistances through the Coordination of Natural Resources Supervision to address the illegal plantation issues.
RIYAN NOFITRA