Theft of oil palm fruit rife in North Sumatra<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
A comprehensive approach is needed to curb the rife theft of oil
\npalm fruit at private and state-owned plantations in North
\nSumatra, according to a legislator and a policeman.<\/p>\n
Serta Ginting, deputy chairman of the North Sumatra provincial
\nlegislative council, said that besides enforcing the law,
\nsecurity personnel and the local administration should use a
\npersuasive approach to stop locals plundering oil palm
\nplantations.<\/p>\n
"Both local police and the military must enhance cooperation
\nto crack down on the well-organized syndicate that is behind the
\ntheft of oil palm fruit because the syndicate is allegedly backed
\nby servicemen," he said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that locals living around the plantations had
\nthe audacity to steal the palm fruit because they were backed by
\na syndicate that purchased the stolen fruit at a low price.<\/p>\n
"Unless stern measures are taken against the syndicate, the
\ntheft will continue," he said.<\/p>\n
Serta also said that oil palm plantations should conduct
\ncommunity development programs in villages in their surroundings
\nto deter plundering.<\/p>\n
"Oil palm fruit theft is rife because of the poor living
\nconditions of local people living near the plantations and
\nbecause they have no a sense of belonging," he said.<\/p>\n
Oil palm fruit sells for between Rp 300 and Rp 500 per
\nkilogram. Plantation security guards are unable to take action
\nagainst the theft because it is reportedly backed by servicemen.<\/p>\n
Serta said the legislature frequently received complaints
\nabout theft at more than a dozen private and state plantations in
\nthe province and had asked security personnel to take stern
\naction, but the theft continued.<\/p>\n
Sr. Comr. Iskandar Hasan, spokesman for the North Sumatra
\nPolice, concurred and said both oil palm plantations and security
\nauthorities should make local people aware of the law to dissuade
\nthem from stealing the fruit.<\/p>\n
"Besides promoting the law and the Criminal Code, the oil palm
\nplantations should also conduct community development programs to
\nempower the villagers," he said.<\/p>\n
He cited as an example state-owned oil palm plantation PT
\nPerkebunan Nusantara IV's allotting 10 percent of its annual
\nprofit to help village cooperatives in Simalungun regency and
\nemploying more local villagers.<\/p>\n
"Oil palm fruit theft has been rife because the villagers have
\nno a sense of being a part of the plantations," he said.<\/p>\n
Iskandar also conceded that the police had difficulty taking
\nstern measures against plunderers because they were backed up by
\nhoodlums and soldiers.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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