Jobs loses loom as sugar firm faces closure
Jobs loses loom as sugar firm faces closure
Nana Rukmana, Cirebon
The Ministry of Forestry plans to reclaim 13,113 hectares of
sugarcane plantations in forest reserves in Majalengka and
Indramayu regencies in West Java, threatening to leave at least
21,844 families without a means of livelihood.
Djoentoro, general manager of sugar company PT Rajawali
Nusantara Indonesia (PT RNI) in Jatitujuh district, Majalengka,
said that his firm would definitely stop operating if the
plantations it depends upon for sugarcane were closed.
"Some 1,091 hectares of the land is managed under the joint
operation scheme (KSO) with state-owned forestry company
Perhutani Unit III for West Java and Banten, while the remaining
12,022 hectares, which have commercial operation (HGU) status,
are reserved for plantation use by the forestry ministry," he
said.
Djoentoro, speaking to journalists in the West Java city of
Cirebon on Monday, said the forestry minister had instructed
Perhutani not to cooperate with PT RNI anymore so that the land
could be replanted as forest.
The order was issued in a letter that PT RNI received from
Majalengka's Perhutani office head Taufik YD Raharjo, which was
dated May 31, 2004.
Djoentoro said the letter quoted Minister of Forestry M.
Prakosa as ordering Perhutani to immediately replant the entire
1,091 hectares currently managed by PT RNI.
The minister also ordered the National Land Agency (BPN) not
to extend PT RNI's HGU permit, which will expire on Dec. 31,
2004.
Djoentoro said that if the ministerial instruction were to be
executed, the Jatitujuh sugar factory would definitely close
down.
He said his company was seeking to negotiate with Perhutani in
the hope that the latter would reclaim the land in stages until
the company could find another site for its plantation.
"They (Perhutani) could repossess 700 hectares this year and
the remaining 391 hectares next year. They agreed to our request
during negotiations, but already they have reclaimed all but 60
hectares," he said.
Deputy West Java Governor Nu'man Abdul Hakim, who is also a
member of Perhutani's supervisory board, expressed concern over
the matter and said he would bring it up for discussion at a
board meeting.
The West Java administration would immediately send a
recommendation letter to the forestry minister and the National
Land Agency to reconsider the reclamation plan, he said.
"We will immediately take the necessary steps to overcome the
problem," Nu'man added.
The closure of the sugar company could cause permanent,
seasonal and contractual workers, as well as drivers, food
workers and contractors to lose their jobs, most of whom are the
breadwinners of their families.