Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Fadhil Hasan said the smear campaign conducted by foreign NGOs, such as the Mighty, which mentions the occurrence of forest fires in Papua last year due to palm oil corporations are not based on facts and accurate data.

According to Fadhil, the smear campaign conducted by a foreign NGO in Papua against forest fires caused by palm oil corporations merely the perception and interests of their group only.

“The palm oil industry managed by the corporation in Indonesia never dare to start forest fires. There are rules and mechanisms that must be obeyed. Burning the forest is looking for risk,” said Fadhil who is also a member of the Committee of Economy and National Industry (KEIN), Friday (14 / 10/2016).

He can guarantee that the corporate action in the management of oil palm industry has awards for environmental protection.

Fadhil said there was a mistake viewpoint of foreign NGOs that do not understand the condition of the forests of Papua and throughout Indonesia.

“They (NGOs Mighty) also did not understand the standardization of the palm oil industry. There’s always the ISPO, there are also RSPO as a reference,” said Fadhil.

In order to overcome the problems which sometimes cast a black campaign by foreign NGOs, such as the Mighty, to the palm oil industry related to the issue of forest fires, Fadhil suggested countered with accurate data as well.

“Just face them. Data versus Data, counter the issue with existing data that is not proven to forest fires,” said Fadhil.

Associated with the production and export of national palm oil, Fadhil said, this year has decreased compared to the period last year.

The percentage of the production and export of palm oil this year will decrease by approximately 10% -15% compared to 2015.

Fadhil also believes that cross-sectoral cooperation between government and business is getting repaired and the implementation of efficiency in the palm oil industry to continuously improve the production and export of palm oil nationwide.

Based on information collected from social media accounts and official website NGOs Mighty sites, known to the organization set up by the Center for International Policy and cooperation with Waxman Strategies, a political consultant Henry Waxman made by former United States Senator.

 

Source: Tribun News (Tuesday, October 25, 2016)