Thank you for writing to Wilmar and providing us with an opportunity to respond.

We have published our statement on the issue – which can be found here and also attached to this email.

The case is also being investigated within Wilmar as a grievance, guided by the procedures in our Grievance Procedure which is aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP) to underpin an effective non-judicial mechanism and reflects our commitment to the protection of human rights defenders, whistleblowers, complainants, and community spokespersons. Our Grievance Procedure is also consistent with the guiding RSPO Human Rights Defenders Policy.

Details of our investigation so far can be found in our grievance listing, available by scrolling to the particular case on our grievance list. Wilmar’s grievance unit was first made aware of a case implicating the company PT Arta Prigel - a subsidiary of PT Bukit Barisan Indah Prima (BBIP) -  from our regular media monitoring via a report that appeared in a regional Indonesian online news portal on 22 March 2020.  We initiated an investigation process with  PT BBIP on 26 March 2020. The case which involves the deaths of two local community members, is currently being investigated by the regional police, and we are awaiting the outcome findings of the investigation. As part of the grievance investigation, the Wilmar grievance unit has seen records that show there has been dialogue between the PT BBIP and the local community since at least 2019 with regards to a local land claim. PT BBIP also have a standard operating procedure (SOP) for community conflict resolution which has been in place since 2014.

Wilmar will also be appointing an external organisation to assist us in this grievance investigation.