"PRESS RELEASE: Report Shows Widespread Human Rights violations in Wilmar's Palm oil operations in West Sumatra", 4 Nov 2019

Human Rights violations by one of the world's biggest palm oil suppliers, Wilmar International, and its subsidiaries and suppliers in West Sumatra have been revealed in a new report...

Two Indonesian NGOs...released a report...summarising complaints made by fifty communities negatively affected by Wilmar's oil palm operations and its suppliers. All communities reported loss of access and control of their customary lands which were taken over by the companies without their consent. Many communities also reported suffering intimidation and criminalisation after raising concerns and complaints with the companies affecting them.

"Wilmar International and the [Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil] RSPO have failed to address these systemic problems. A year ago they promised to conduct a joint risk assessment but despite regularly urging them to turn commitment into action, no assessment has taken place," said Zulkifli, director of the Nagari Institute...

Patrick Anderson from Forest Peoples Programme...said "we urge the RSPO and Wilmar International to honour their commitment made at the 2018 RSPO [Roundtable] RT in Kota Kinabalu to conduct an assessment into these problems and to work together to address the community reports that together indicate systemic human rights abuses."