Astra Agro Lestari (AAL) – Agro Nusa Abadi, Lestari Tani Teladan, and Mamuang – popup

March 2022

FoE/WALHI report titled “No Consent: Astra Agro Lestari’s land grab in Central and West Sulawesi, Indonesia” highlights 3 subsidiaries of Astra Agro Lestari ( AAL), namely PT Agro Nusa Abadi, PT Lestari Tana Teladan, PT Mamuang, which are alleged to be responsible for numerous environmental, human rights, and governance violations.

Out of three companies mentioned in the report, only PT Agro Nusa Abadi (ANA) is part of our supply chain.

AAL informed us that they had previously provided a response to Friends of the Earth (FoE) prior to the publication of the report.

The summary clarifications from the engagement process with AAL can be accessed here.

20 September 2022

Open Letter from Indigenous Peoples and civil society organisations to consumer goods companies regarding ongoing criminalization, human rights abuses, and land grabbing by AAL and subsidiaries, urging members of Customers Goods Forum to suspend of palm oil and palm oil kernel sourcing from AAL until conflicts between AAL subsidiaries and local communities have been resolved

To respond to the open letter, AAL published a public statement that can be accessed here.

Musim Mas continue the engagement and monitor the progress.

Based on our meeting with AAL regarding the alleged issue raised by FoE/Walhi, we were made aware of the following information:

1.PT Mamuang

AAL explained that they have engaged the Donggala National Land Agency (BPN) regarding Land Certificate (SHM) that overlapped with PT Mamuang’s 1997 Land Use Certificate (HGU). BPN Donggala Regency provided a response letter stating that they had never issued SHM within PT Mamuang’s HGU.

2.PT Agro Nusa Abadi

The issue is that there are multiple land claims on the same land by several communities. Steps are needed to be taken to identify the verified land statement/ SKT (Surat Keterangan Tanah) holders by the government team. AAL has been working closely with a team appointed by North Morowali Regent to address these land claims, to identify and to verify the SKT holder.

The team, which consist of multiple government agencies, is working to verify community land claims. The process is still currently on going. AAL is processing the land compensation based on recommendation from the Team.

3.PT Lestari Tani Teladan

Regarding the Towiora village community, AAL has no conflict with the village, the relationship has been quite good so far. AAL has provided the assistance needed by the community, especially in the education sector.

Please find AAL public statements via following links:

1. Response to FoE and ENS report published by AAL on 7 December 2022 [Download]
2. Response to the Open Letter regarding the Allegations of Land-Rights & Environmental Abuses published by AAL on 2 October 2022 [Download]

AAL released a joint statement dated 31 March 2023, stating that they have appointed an independent third party, EcoNusantara, to conduct a review of the allegations raised by FoE.

This decision was made based on consultations with some key stakeholders and deemed as best equipped since they have carried out an initial verification regarding the allegation.

EcoNusantara will start working shortly in April 2023. The verification is scheduled to be completed in six months and will be conducted independently and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The joint statement can be found on AAL website via this link https://www.astra-agro.co.id/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Joint-Statement-AAL-EcoNusantara_Appointment-of-an-Independent-Third-Party.pdf