Sugar Group responses<\/p>\n
Referring to your article \"Lampung Governor Urged to Resolve
\nLand Dispute\" dated Oct. 3, 2002, we would like to express both
\nour deep disappointment at the false accusations leveled at our
\ncompany and our amazement at the unprofessional behavior of your
\nreporter. The report contains many errors of fact, and draws a
\nseries of distorted, misleading and plainly false conclusions
\nabout the Sugar Group Companies.<\/p>\n
We are completely baffled as to how The Jakarta Post could
\npublish such an error-ridden article which is clearly libelous
\nabout our Companies, while never once contacting us for comment.<\/p>\n
To illustrate just some of the gross inaccuracies in your
\narticle:
\n* You described the Pamswakarsa as being formed by vigilantes
\nhired by the Companies to torture villagers. This is absolutely
\nfalse, not to mention libelous. On the contrary, the Pamswakarsa
\nformation was requested by our unionized workers to protect them
\nand their families against criminals entering the Group's
\nplantation and factory properties. Before the Pamswakarsa was
\nformed, there were many incidents in which our workers were
\nrobbed of their money during payday in the Group's plantation
\narea. In other cases, our plantation workers were beaten and
\nattacked with machetes by intruders when working in the field.
\nAlso contrary to what you reported, members of the Pamswakarsa
\nwere recruited from the Group's own employees.
\n* The reported claim by Bakung Udik villagers that PT ILP has
\noccupied some 7,000 hectares of their land without compensation
\nis also false. The land where PT ILP and PT SIL plant their
\nsugar cane was previously forested land owned by the Ministry of
\nForestry. For securing the rights to convert the forest area into
\nplantation area, PT ILP has fully paid and compensated the
\nMinistry of Forestry, according to the law. In addition to
\npayments to the Ministry of Forestry, the company has also
\ncompensated all villagers with legitimate claims. With regards to
\nthe Rp 3 billion PT SIL promised to pay, the fund remains in
\nescrow because there were three individuals trying to falsely and
\nwrongfully represent and act on behalf of Tegamoan people by
\nforging their documents. They are currently missing and on the
\npolice force's wanted list.<\/p>\n
We trust you will share with your readers the real story
\naccurately according to facts. We also beseech you to respect the
\ncentral rule of journalism: always check both sides of a story.<\/p>\n
IRWAN ANG
\nSugar Group Companies<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sugar-group-responses-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}