Pulp Firm Blamed for Destroying North Sumatra Tribal Forests

Fidelis E. Satriastanti Jakarta Globe 22 Mar 10;

After being shocked to see bulldozers destroying tribal forest areas that they call home, indigenous peoples of North Sumatra on Monday called on forestry officials to shut down pulp companies operating in their area.

Eight villagers from Pandumaan and Sipitu Huta, Humbang Hasundutan district, North Sumatra, came to Jakarta to meet with officials of the National Forestry Council of Indonesia to complain about the operations of PT Toba Pulp Lestari, formerly PT Inti Indorayon Utama, a known pulp and paper company that they claim had razed their forests without their consent.

“Forests are supposed to be the world’s lungs, to help us breathe. Destroying our forests means that they have destroyed our lungs, too,” said Dime Boru Lumbangaol, a 50-year-old woman from Sipitu Huta.

“The forests sit on our ancestors’ land and we’ve lived there for hundreds of years. We love that land, so no people from Jakarta could make us move out.”

The villagers have claimed ownership of the 4,100-hectare forest, locally known as Tombak Haminjon, for about 250 years, or 11 generations.

Toba Pulp Lestari arrived in 2009 claiming to have obtained concessionaire rights from the Ministry of Forestry.

Mangasal Lumbangaol, a 60-year-old man from Sipitu Huta, said the trees helped the villagers to define their territory, and without trees their tribes would not know how big their land was.

The villagers have referred their complaints to local officials, Mangasal added, but none of them have responded to their pleas.

“They all said that the matter was under the central government’s responsibility,” Mangasal said. “That’s why we are here. We want the government to shut down the company’s operations because they are destroying our forests. They not only cut down our trees, they also dry up our rivers. We just want our land back.”

Agus Setyarso, executive chairman of the National Forestry Council, said time was needed to solve the issue.

“There are a lots of parties involved in this case starting from local officials, the central government, the company and then you have the people. It is impossible to expect an immediate solution to all of this,” Agus said.

Agus also advised the villagers to sit down with Toba Pulp Lestari officials to find a solution to the issue.

“These kinds of conflicts come and go. To come up with a solution, you need to be patient and you need to be objective.

“Being too emotional, holding rallies, that could negatively affect the cause that they are fighting for,” Agus said.