Data released by NGOs Mighty from the United States that accuse oil palm plantations as the cause of forest fires in Indonesia is full of foreign state’s interests.

As stated by Deputy Chairman of Commission IV Viva Yoga Mauladi when talking with reporters on Tuesday (18/10). According to Yoga, non-palm oil plantation industries from foreign countries are disturbed due to rising palm oil trade Indonesia at global level.

“So the issue is actually more nuanced interests on competition in trade at the global level,” Yoga said.

He mentioned, as in the issue of the year 2014-2015, NGOs Mighty has said that the management of palm oil plantations in Papua causes of forest fires are not based on accurate data. NGOs Mighty even campaigned to boycott the use of palm oil in Indonesia.

“The data carelessly. In fact, it is clear based on the data released by The Ministry of Environment and Forestry that the burning status is not the Land-Use Areas (APL),” Yoga explained.

Yoga also denied the issue made by NGOs Mighty about forest fire in Papua due to palm oil plantations. According to him, based on the observation of the Parliament, management of national palm oil plantations have appreciated the preservation of the environment.

Yoga said, in a business scheme, there are no entrepreneurs who want to disadvantage its own location. Palm oil industry companies certainly do not want to burn the land that became the source of production and revenue.

“So, where’s the logic of the foreign NGOs (Mighty)? Let’s think only about business logic,” Yoga said.

Specifically, Yoga said that the House of Representatives appreciated the efforts of the Indonesian government that has increased the competitiveness of the national palm oil in global trade to be able to penetrate export to 26 countries this year.

However, according to him, there is still a need to be careful about the attitude of the government that is not optimal for change WTO policy on palm oil which is not in the category of forestry plants. (ysa)

 

Source: Rakyat Merdeka Online (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)