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Women lead forest fire lawsuit against three companies in South Sumatra
Villagers across Ogan Komering Ilir regency in South Sumatra file a lawsuit demanding compensation for financial losses and health impacts of wildfire-induced haze from three pulp and paper companies that allegedly caused forest and land fire in the regency.
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Activists from Greenpeace Indonesia and other environmental groups stage a protest in front of the Palembang District Court in South Sumatra on Aug. 29, 2024. A coalition of civil groups and villagers living across Ogan Komering Ilir regency have filed a lawsuit demanding compensation from three companies, which allegedly caused forest and land fires in the regency, for financial loss and health problems caused by haze from the fires. (Courtesy of Greenpeace/Abriansyah Liberto)
M
arda Ellius is always stressed out and worried about her and her children’s health whenever flames engulfs a forest located near her house in Bangsal village, Ogan Komering Ilir regency, South Sumatra.
When the haze from forest and land fires hits the village, she always feels the air temperature getting hotter and suffers from coughing due to a lack of clean air. The fires also disrupt the family’s income because she, a farmer, cannot go to the plantation to tap and harvest rubber.
She has grown tired of such conditions, prompting her to become one of the plaintiffs who are suing three corporations with histories of causing wildfires in the area.
“I became a plaintiff to push for the companies and the government to think more about the environment,” Marda said on Aug. 28, when she and other plaintiffs filed their petitions with the Palembang district court in South Sumatra.
With the support of a coalition of environmental and civil groups, several villagers across Ogan Komering Ilir joined forces in the lawsuit against three companies, all of which are subsidiaries of giant paper producer Asia Pulp and Paper (APP): PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries.
The first hearing on the lawsuit was held on Thursday.
The 12 plaintiffs—composed of farmers, homemakers, rubber tappers and environmentalists—accuse the three companies of being responsible for the wildfires that triggered haze in South Sumatra and other surrounding areas in 2015, 2019 and 2023.
