Calls to Close PT Toba Pulp Lestari Widen, Triggered by Ecological Damage and Social Conflict

Various community groups continue to advocate for the closure of PT Toba Pulp Lestari, a pulp mill based on industrial plantation forests covering 167,912 hectares in the Lake Toba area. The company's operations have triggered ecological damage, agrarian conflicts, and the criminalization of indigenous communities.

Various indigenous community groups and non-governmental organizations have been fighting for years to advocate for the closure of PT Toba Pulp Lestari Tbk (TPL) operations. Support continues to grow. The latest backing comes from the major religious institution of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) church and 6.5 million congregants in the Lake Toba region, as well as the Catholic Church through the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (KPKC) Capuchin Medan.

"We reject the presence of PT Toba Pulp Lestari, which has clearly damaged biodiversity and the wealth of ecosystems in the Lake Toba area," said Sumitro Sihombing from OFM Cap, representing the Catholic Church, on Thursday (5/6/2025).

According to Sumitro, the paper pulp producing company is highly exploitative towards nature and is solely oriented towards personal, group, and corporate profits. This action disregards moral responsibility and a sense of justice for the community and future generations.

Exploitation of nature has resulted in floods, landslides, prolonged droughts, climate irregularities and the loss of biodiversity.

In addition to environmental damage, Sumitro stated that overlapping concessions with indigenous community lands also lead to agrarian conflicts, resulting in prolonged suffering for communities that have relied on agriculture and forest products for generations.

We reject the presence of PT Toba Pulp Lestari, which has clearly damaged biodiversity and the wealth of ecosystems in the Lake Toba area.

In many cases, indigenous communities fighting for their customary land are subjected to imprisonment and criminalization. The case of the arrest and imprisonment of the customary elder Sorbatua Siallagan (66) illustrates the criminalization of indigenous communities.

Sorbatua is the Chairman of the Oppu Umbak Siallagan Indigenous Community in Dolok Parmonangan Village, Dolok Panribuan District, Simalungun Regency. He was arrested like a criminal by the police on March 22, 2024, on charges of occupying the TPL concession.

Sorbatua, who has lived his entire life in a wooden house with a dirt floor, was sentenced to 2 years in prison and fined Rp 1 billion at the Simalungun District Court. However, that verdict was annulled by the Medan High Court, and Sorbatua was acquitted of all criminal charges.

"I was arrested in front of my wife like a criminal. Then I had to live in prison for seven months. Subsequently, I was declared not guilty. I was truly criminalized," he stated.

Sumitro stated that Sorbatua represents the suffering of indigenous communities facing agrarian conflicts following the presence of TPL. Sorbatua remains anxiously hopeful while awaiting the cassation decision from the Supreme Court judges.

"We request that the Supreme Court grant an acquittal to Mr. Sorbatua Siallagan, who is a victim of criminalization in defending the rights of indigenous community members," said Sumitro.

The closure of PT TPL was also strongly voiced by Ephorus HKBP Victor Tinambunan. "The statement of rejection against the operation of PT TPL is the official stance of HKBP and 6.5 million HKBP members in the Lake Toba area and its surroundings," he said.

He stated that the community must confront the painful reality as the activities of PT TPL continue to cause environmental damage and ecological disasters, ranging from flash floods, landslides, and pollution.

The statement of rejection regarding the operation of PT TPL is the official stance of HKBP and 6.5 million HKBP congregants in the Lake Toba area and its surroundings.

TPL holds a forest concession of 167,912 hectares, most of which is located in the catchment area of Lake Toba, which covers an area of only 263,041.68 hectares.

Victor stated that TPL has generated trillions of rupiah in revenue from its operations in the Lake Toba area. However, according to him, the presence of the company has not provided significant economic impact for the community and the region.

"This is an irony that has persisted for more than 30 years. I urge the owners and management of PT TPL to cease the company's operations as soon as possible," said Victor.

The Executive Director of the Community Initiative Study and Development Group (KSPPM), Rocky Pasaribu, stated that the flash flood in March 2025 in the Parapat area, which is the heart of Lake Toba tourism, serves as a tangible illustration of environmental damage and ecological disaster resulting from TPL activities.

This is an irony that has persisted for more than 30 years. I urge the owners and management of PT TPL to cease the company's operations as soon as possible.

Rocky stated that TPL has a concession of 20,360 hectares in the Aek Nauli sector, Simalungun, upstream of Parapat. Based on spatial analysis and field research conducted by KSPPM, significant deforestation has occurred in the last 20 years in the Bolon Simalungun Watershed (DAS).

In the year 2000, the natural forest cover in the area was 10,348 hectares. However, this area has shrunk to only 3,614 hectares by 2023. Rocky stated that a significant loss of forest cover has also occurred in the industrial plantation forest concession area of TPL.

The Head of Corporate Communication at PT TPL, Salomo Sitohang, stated that they respect the right of every party to express their opinions, but it must be based on accurate data and facts. "We firmly reject the accusation that TPL's operations are the cause of ecological disasters. All of our activities are in accordance with permits, regulations, and provisions," said Salomo.

Salomo stated that a comprehensive audit was conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in 2022–2023. The results indicated that TPL complied with all regulations and no violations were found in environmental or social aspects.

Of the total concession area of 167,912 hectares, Salomo stated that the company has only developed 46,000 hectares as eucalyptus plantations and 48,000 hectares as conservation areas and protected zones.

TPL is also undertaking factory rejuvenation for efficiency and environmental impact reduction. In the social aspect, TPL is opening dialogues, socializations, and partnership programs with the government, indigenous communities, religious leaders, and non-governmental organizations as an inclusive social approach.