Walhi protests reopening of pulp mill

Walhi protests reopening of pulp mill

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has condemned the Indonesian government's decision to reopen the publicly listed pulp and rayon producer, PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL), formerly PT Indorayon, which was closed last year, a statement issued on Saturday said.

"The decision is totally wrong as it ignores the people's interests," Walhi executive director Longgina Ginting said in the statement.

Indorayon was closed following strong protests from people in Porsea subdistrict, North Sumatra province, where the company operated. "Indorayon has deceived the government in the name of investment," Longgina said.

About 50,000 people in Porsea -- mostly farmers -- urged the government to close Indorayon after it was found to be polluting agricultural land there, Longgina said. "Waste from Indorayon had also damaged the habitat of various kinds of fish," he said.

Longgina expressed regret over the decision of the state minister for the environment to allow Indorayon to reopen under a new name. --Antara