Indonesian Governor Faces 5 Years in Prison for Approving Oil Palm Plantation

WAHLI, an environmental group from Indonesia, will file papers in court against Aceh's governor, Irwandi Yusuf, accused of disrupting the natural balance of forests after approving a palm oil plantation located in Tripa peat swamp, earlier this year. He now risks spending the next five years in prison.

The organization states that the governor broke the law by neglecting Indonesia's recent land concession ban aiming to ensure the safety of forests and peatlands, reports Mongabay.com.

He decided to have 1,605 hectares of peat forest turned into a vast oil palm plantation in the Nagan Raya District. Apparently, his call violates a presidential decision drawn out to protect woodlands.

Even if the organization is keen on demonstrating the governor's guilt, its representatives say he might not be as guilty as he seems.

They talk about an “uncharacteristic” signing of the official document legalizing the transaction. Furthermore, Whali implies that Irwandi could have been pressured to sign the paper. Another hypothesis suggests that he wasn't fully aware of the fact that his action could put the entire ecosystem in great danger.

Representatives from the environmental group manifest their doubts while taking into consideration the fact that Irwandi Yusuf has continuously improved his position as one of the most active guardians of forests.

Irwandi is a keen green leader in the Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force, an eco-friendly group created to provide financial support to forest preservation initiatives developed in tropical countries.

The Director of the Tropical Forest Group, John O. Niles, thinks the trial should be postponed until the investigators have gathered all the information, given the governor's noticeable contribution to environmental conservation projects.

"This is a serious allegation, but Irwandi has demonstrated his strong personal commitment to the people and forests of Aceh. Let's wait till we see the facts and hear from the Governors' office before leaping to any judgments,” affirmed Niles.

Aceh has one of the most valuable forests in Sumatra, yet the region has suffered dramatic changes after several corporations tried to use the land in their own interest, converting it into profitable oil palm and paper plantations.