Letter to Asia Pulp & Paper: PT. Bangun Rimba Sejahtera (BRS)

17 March 2017

www.watchindonesia.org/wp-content/uploads/20170317-letter-to-APP-on-PT-BRS.pdf

Association with new suppliers in Bangka Belitung, PT. Bangun Rimba Sejahtera (BRS)

A group of nearly 60 Indonesian and international NGOs sent today a letter to APP director, Linda Wijaya, to express concern regarding a new possible supplier, PT. Bangun Rimba Sejahtera (PT BRS).

According to a recent NGO report, the company has a concession laying up to 85% on land used by local communities for their livelihoods. The report suggests that 100,000 people in West Bangka Regency could be affected by PT BRS operations, and that 21 villages (the majority of the affected villages) have expressed their opposition to the presence of PT BRS. The report finds that PT BRS has failed to undertake a credible Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process.

The concession, in order to be viable, must use lands claimed and used by local communities, consequently risks further igniting social unrest, undermining local livelihoods and creating serious land conflict. The NGOs ask APP not to choose PT BRS as supplier.

The letter is signed by:

Akar Foundation (Indonesia), ARA (Germany), BankTrack (The Netherlands), Blue Dalian (China), Denkhaus Bremen (Germany), Dogwood Alliance (USA), Environmental Paper Network – EPN, Finance & Trade Watch (Austria), FoE US (USA), Forest Peoples Programme (UK), Forest Watch Indonesia, Forum Ökologie & Papier (Germany), Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung (Germany), Friends of the Earth Finland – Maan ystävät, Friends of the Earth Japan, Friends of the Siberian Forests (Russia), FUgE (Germany), Genesis (Indonesia), Global 2000 (Austria), Green Longjiang (China), Hutan Kita Institute – HaKI (Indonesia), Inspera (Indonesia), Jaringan Masyarakat Gambut Jambi (Indonesia), Jaringan Masyarakat Gambut Riau (Indonesia), Jaringan Masyarakat Gambut Sumatra Selatan (Indonesia), Japan Tropical Forest Action Network – JATAN (Japan), JMG-J (Indonesia), Jikalahari (Indonesia), Kanopi Bengkulu (Indonesia), KKI Warsi (Indonesia), KPKA Rimba Negeri (Indonesia), Link-AR Borneo (Indonesia), LBH Palembang (Indonesia), Markets For Change (Australia), Mighty (USA), Mitra Insani (Indonesia), Perkumpulan Hijau (Indonesia), Padi Indonesia, PeTA (Indonesia), Pro Regenwald (Germany), Rainforest Action Network – RAN (USA), Rainforest Foundation (Norway), Rainforest Rescue (Germany), Re:Common (Italy), Reforesting Scotland (UK), Robin Wood (Germany), Sarawak Campaign Committee (Japan), Scale Up (Indonesia), Terra! (Italy), Serikat Tani Tebo (Indonesia), Urgewald (Germany), Walhi Jambi (Indonesia), Walhi Kalimantan Barat (Indonesia), Walhi Kalimantan Timur (Indonesia), Walhi Kep. Bangka Belitung (Indonesia), Walhi Sumsel (Indonesia), Walestra (Indonesia), Watch Indonesia! (Germany), Wuhu Ecology Center (China),Yayasan Keadilan Rakyat Jambi (Indonesia).

read the complete letter here

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