GREENPEACE SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT ON KAMPAR CASE

Jakarta, Nov. 18 (ANTARA) - International environmental NGO Greenpeace has written a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to report about intimidation and deportation by Riau authorities.

"We send a letter to the President to report the case happening in Kampar Peninsula, Teluk Meranti village, Meranti sub district, Pelalawan District, Riau Province," Nur Hidayati, Indonesian office representative of the Greenpeace Southeast Asia, here on Wednesday.

The local police and company personnel intimidated Greenpeace activists after some Greenpeace activists had locked themselves to seven excavators owned by APRIL, one of Indonesia's biggest pulp and paper producers, in Kampar Peninsula, on Nov. 12.

Their action had triggered the Riau immigration officers to deport 15 foreigners consisting of 13 Greenpeace activists and 2 journalists.

The intimidation has caused Greenpeace activists to stop their activities in their Climate Defender Camp set up near Kampar River three weeks ago.

"We set up the camp to protect the forests in Kampar Peninsula which have considered been destroyed by company's activities," Hidayati said.

"We want the President to know that his personnel have conducted policies contradicting to the president's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emission," she said.

She hoped that Yudhoyono could take stern measures against his personnel which had taken policies contradicting to the president's target. The counterproductive policies included deportation of Greenpeace activists, she said.

Hidayati pointed out that the forestry ministry had issued an annual working plan which gave permits to 14 companies in Riau mostly owned by APP (Asia Pulp and Paper, Sinar Mas Group) to cut trees in forest areas measuring 100,000 hectares, mainly for pulp and paper industries.

"In fact, in the G-8 Summit in Japan, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has announced his commitment to reducing gas emission by 50 percent in 2009 and 75 percent in 2012," she said.

On its official website, Greenpeace Southeast Asia said Indonesian authorities have ramped up Intimidation tactics against Greenpeace activists, independent media and local community members supporting its Climate Defenders Camp on the Kampar Peninsula on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

"We are calling on President Yudyhono to step in and stop these extreme and embarrassing actions against Greenpeace activists who are carrying out their peaceful activities along with the local communities to help our President fulfil his internationally announced emission reduction targets," said Hidayati earlier.

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