Politics · Indonesia · 2 hrs ago
Indonesian lawmaker calls for probe into oil palm planted on burned land
Oil palm seedlings were found on land burned by forest fires in Dharmasraya, in Indonesia's West Sumatra province.
Police and local officials put up signs banning planting and farming there after the seedlings were found.
Lawmaker Daniel Johan called for authorities to identify who owns the oil palm plot and investigate those responsible.
Dharmasraya's local government has removed the palms, and Johan says the land should be restored with trees, including fruit trees.
Forest fires can harm people's health and damage ecosystems, and planting palms could prevent forest recovery.
Johan urged other local governments to monitor burned land and said people or companies involved should face sanctions.
He also said his parliamentary commission would push for more funding for forest restoration next year.
Indonesian lawmaker Daniel Johan called for an investigation into who planted oil palm on land burned by forest and land fires in Dharmasraya, West Sumatra.
He said authorities should identify the plantation’s owner and sanction any individuals or companies involved.
Dharmasraya authorities removed the oil palm plants and put up signs prohibiting planting and cultivation on the burned land.
Johan said the land should be restored with trees, including productive fruit trees, rather than used for oil palm.
He said a parliamentary commission would push for next year’s Forestry Ministry budget to prioritize forest restoration.
- Who
- Daniel Johan, a member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives Commission IV, called for an investigation.
- What
- He urged authorities to identify who planted oil palm on burned land and sanction those responsible.
- When
- The article was published on October 19, 2026. It reports Johan’s remarks as made on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, a date that conflicts with the publication date.
- Where
- Dharmasraya, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
- Why
- Johan said planting oil palm on burned land harms the public and forest ecology, and that the land should be restored.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Police and Dharmasraya local government found newly planted oil palm seedlings on land that had burned.
Police and local officials put up signs prohibiting planting and cultivation on the burned land.
Johan made remarks calling for an investigation, according to the article; this date is later than the article’s October 19 publication date.
- Lawmaker
- Daniel Johan
- Location
- Dharmasraya, West Sumatra
- Land use found
- Oil palm seedlings on land burned by forest and land fires
- Local response
- Oil palm plants removed; signs prohibiting planting and cultivation installed
- Requested restoration
- Trees, including productive fruit trees
- Parliamentary committee
- Commission IV of Indonesia’s House of Representatives
What people are saying
This hurts the hearts of the people. We ask the authorities to investigate and find out who owns the plantation.
The impact of land fires on public health and the destruction of ecology is very clear.
We encourage all burned forests to be planted with trees and productive plants, such as fruit trees, so wildlife can return to the forest and have a source of food.
If oil palm is found on land that has burned, remove it and replace it with trees. Those involved, whether individuals or corporations, must be sanctioned.