InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto addressed allegations of legal violations involving approximately 5 million hectares of palm oil land, including those located in protected forest areas. He stated that the government has successfully repossessed 3.1 million hectares of palm oil land proven to be in violation of regulations. This was conveyed in his state address during the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday (15/8/2025).
Responding to this, Achmad Surambo, Director of Sawit Watch, believes that the government's claimed achievements still leave many questions unanswered. "For instance, how will the scenario of controlling these forest areas conclude? How can the asset recovery agenda proceed? To what extent have administrative fines been collected? And how significant is the state's loss due to these illegal actions?" he stated in an official statement quoted by InfoSAWIT on Monday (18/8/2025).
According to Surambo, the Forest Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH) has so far focused solely on land repossession, while other mandates such as asset recovery and the collection of administrative fines have not shown clear achievements. "Even though Presidential Regulation Number 5 of 2025 concerning Forest Area Control explicitly states that both are also the responsibility of the Task Force," he said.
Surambo also highlighted the impact of the control measures on local communities. He mentioned that the lack of dialogue and socialization has caused anxiety among residents, especially those living or owning plantations in forest areas. "Palm oil laborers are even worried about losing their jobs after the company land they work on is marked with state control signs. There is no clarity from company management, so they live in uncertainty," he revealed.
Sawit Watch, Surambo said, has submitted a request for a material review and interpretation to the Constitutional Court regarding several articles in Law Number 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction (UUP3H). This request was filed at the end of 2024, specifically concerning Articles 12A, 17A, and 110B.
"We believe the norms in these articles are not yet clear. We are conducting this material review to clarify and provide justice for vulnerable groups. The scenario of palm oil in forest areas should ideally lead to Social Forestry, Agrarian Reform Object Land (TORA), or Conservation Partnership programs," he explained.
Surambo added that the government needs to consider how state asset recovery in forest areas can be carried out technically. "Lands that were formerly forests should be able to return to their original function. In terms of collecting administrative fines, the government must also be more open and transparent so that the public can also monitor," he emphasized. (T2)
