Original article written by: Reuters
In response to accusations of procedural irregularities and violations of human rights made by environmental organizations, Astra commissioned EcoNusantara in March to examine operations at three of its subsidiaries. PT Agro Nusa Abadi (ANA), one of the companies, was charged with taking over farmers' land in multiple villages, totaling about 5,000 hectares (12,355.27 acres).
Uli Arta Siagian, the manager of WALHI's Forest and Plantation Campaign, said in a statement that "the investigation did not bother to look at how AAL subsidiaries acquired lands from communities or whether these companies are operating legally, despite international condemnation and consumer goods companies suspending sourcing from AAL over abuses in Sulawesi."
Following revelations by environmental groups last year that the firm had not obtained permission from local communities before claiming land, had inappropriately disposed of garbage, and had cleared places that could have resulted in flooding, a number of consumer goods corporations have requested their suppliers to stop purchasing palm oil from AAL.