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ere in the Netherlands we are surprised and saddened to read almost every day of orangutans in Indonesia being harassed and killed in large numbers by Malaysian palm oil companies in particular. It breaks our heart and makes us want to avoid all palm oil in the things we buy.

We appeal to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to urgently rein in these palm oil companies to prevent them from massacring even more orangutans in Indonesia.

The harm being done to this legally protected species is incalculable. If this flag-ship species, Indonesia’s one and only great ape, is to be saved, the law needs enforcing and urgently.

We also wish to appeal directly to the palm oil industry to show more respect to orangutans and the laws of Indonesia.

Sanne Blok

The Netherlands