InfoSAWIT, ACEH TIMUR – Chairman of Serikat Petani Kelapa Sawit (SPKS) Aceh, Abubakar AR was sorry for business rights in the province were not cultivated based on the permits after the government published to (many) company(ies). He thought, this was bad for the smallholders that could cultivate the areas for their business.
He also criticized the companies that got business rights but did not implement Agrarian Laws and Laws Number 39 / 2014 about Plantation. "In the laws, it is clearly written/regulated that the companies are obliged to cultivate the areas for five years after getting the permits,” he said to InfoSAWIT, Tuesday (6/8/2024).
On Monday, 5 August 2024, he visited the office of National Land Agency (NLA) Regency of East Aceh to get information about business rights areas in the regency. He only knew that NLA Regency of East Aceh would not be in charge to deliver information about it. Every authority is in NLA Aceh Province.
“The government should be transparent about it. Do not hide behind the name of ‘authority’. I would send official documents for NLA Aceh Province in this very short with the copy letter to Minister of Agrarian Affairs/NLA,” he said. SPKS would plan to meet NLA Aceh Province to get the names of the companies that got business rights and the companies that did not get cultivation – plantation permit, and also cultivation – plantation business permit.
He just wanted to know the companies that got rights on the land before 2 February 2021 and companies that were obliged to fasilitas pembangunan kebun masyarakat sekitar (FPKMS) that should be 20% from their business rights. "The companies should realize FPKMS after getting rights on land for three years. This should be informed. SPKS would keep monitoring it,” he said.
He also said about circulars from General Directorate of Plantation Ministry of Agriculture on 21 June 2024 that was signed by Director of Plantation Product Marketing and Process. The circulars mentioned that it would be the obligation for those that got business permits in plantation sub-sector. The circulars were with copy letter to Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial/NLA, and Chairman of Steering Committee of Palm Oil Task Force.
“I would like to ask for head of Plantation and Agriculture Agency Aceh Province, and the agencies that deal with plantation in the regencies and cities, they should follow up the mandate of the circulars. Do not hide every information when someone ask for it. This is the government’s idea to welfare the people, not to enrich business permits’ holders, particularly by letting the areas be abandoned for tens of years,” Abubakar said.
He also reminded based on the 1945 Constitution, Chapter 33, the land belongs to the country and everything in it should be used to welfare its people. “This is a reminder. Do not ignore,” he said. (T2)
