JAKARTA – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) hopes that the palm oil industries will be more conducive for the implementation of good governance to increase the industrial growth and improve their sustainability in the future. “Looking forward, we hope that the palm oil industries will be more conducive for application of better governance,” GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono said in a press statement in Jakarta on Monday (20/01/2025).
He also expressed high appreciation for the support of President Prabowo Subianto who had instructed all state officials, including the military and police, to maintain the security of the palm oil industries across the archipelagic country. “The palm oil industries have been previously struggling to tackle the rampant cases of looting and theft in palm plantations. But now, thanks to the attention of the government and the security forces, the cases have been declining significantly, although several areas are still seeing some cases of thefts,” he said.
Eddy said that the palm oil industries also need support from the regional governments. “We often see that when there is a lawsuit filed against a plantation company, then the plantation is blocked. Certainly, in such case the operation of the plantation companies will be disrupted,” he said. “In such condition, it is not only necessary to secure the plantations, but it also requires the involvement of the regional governments to resolve this problem,” said Eddy.
The instruction of President Prabowo Subianto for all state officials to secure the palm oil industries throughout Indonesia was immediately followed up by the Indonesian military forces (TNI). The TNI has been taking all necessary steps, including coordination with a number of related agencies, to ensure that the palm oil industries are well protected as national strategic assets.
Head of the Information Center (Kapuspen) of the TNI Headquarters, Major General (TNI) Hariyanto, revealed that the military will continue to conduct internal coordination to implement President Prabowo Subianto’s direction. “We are studying and preparing the necessary steps so that the implementation will be progressing well as expected, including coordinating with related agencies such as the agriculture ministry, the environment ministry and forestry ministry,” he said.
The involvement of the TNI in helping to protect palm plantations as national strategic assets is not without legal basis. In Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army (TNI) in Article 7 paragraph (2), it is stated that the main tasks of the TNI are carried out through military operations for war (OMP) and military operations other than war (OMSP).
One of the points of OMSP is to assist the government’s duties in the regions and secure national vital objects that are strategic in nature. “If the oil palm plantations are considered as national vital objects or strategic asset by the government, then the involvement of the TNI can be carried out based on this legal basis,” he said.
But certainly, such implementation should be in accordance with government policy and still prioritize coordination with the National Police, regional governments (Pemda), and other related agencies,” added the two-star general. However, Hariyanto emphasized that the involvement of the TNI was carried out professionally and proportionally, according to needs, and referring to applicable laws and regulations.
“We are ready to support government policy in maintaining the security of state assets for the sake of national interests,” said the former Chief of Staff of the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Region Command. Regarding the role that should be played by the military to avoid potential clashes in the field with the community, the Head of the Information Center emphasized that the TNI and the Indonesian people are one and can never be separated.
“Because our war adheres to the total people’s war system, which means that the TNI and the people fight for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Strong people, strong TNI,” added Hariyanto. Previously, when addressing the National Development Planning Conference (Musrenbangnas) on medium terms national development plan (RPJMN 2025-2029) at the office building of the national development planning ministry/ national development planning board (PPN/Bappenas) in Jakarta, on December 30, 2024, President Prabowo Subianto said that Indonesia needs to expand its oil palm plantations and for such purpose Indonesia shouldn’t be afraid of being accused to have caused deforestation.
“I think in the future we must also increase our oil palm plantations. In doing so, we shouldn’t be afraid of being accused as the cause of deforestation,” said the President. Prabowo added that oil palms are also leafy trees that can also emit oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). On that occasion, the Head of State also asked all regional officials, military and police to maintain the security of the palm oil industries. “So, regents, governors, soldiers, and police officers, you have to guard our palm oil plantations. They are our state assets,” President Prabowo said. (*) Source: sultra.antaranews.com
