Palm Farmers Protests CPO Ban during 'Honey Moon' Period

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Association (Apkasindo) on May 17 demonstrated in front of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy's office in Jakarta. They demanded that the government revoke the CPO export ban which was implemented at a time when prices are high.

"When we were on our honeymoon due to the high price of palm oil, the government instead decided to ban exports. This is very unfair to the farmers," a representative for Apkasindo's East Kalimantan branch, Fitriansyah, said at the location, Tuesday.

The demonstration was attended by Apkasindo members and administrators from 146 districts and cities. They are joined by representatives from the organization's 22 provincial regional leadership councils (DPW). University students were also seen among protesters.

During the oration, Fitriansyah stated that the export ban since April 28 had caused the price of palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to drop by 58.87 percent. It puts palm oil farmers' household economy under great pressure.

"We came from far away. We will continue to voice our aspirations until the export ban is lifted," Fitriansyah said.

This demonstration is claimed to represent the interests of some ten million family members of palm oil farmers and 14 million family members of palm plantation workers.

Read: CPO Export Ban; Oil Palm Farmers to Stage Protest before Airlangga's Office

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI