Enviro News Asia, Southeast Sulawesi – The Forest Area Compliance Task Force (Satgas PKH) has taken enforcement action on 24,233 hectares of land owned by PT Sampewali in Bombana Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, on Thursday (15 August 2025).
Of the total land area, approximately 2,429 hectares were found to be planted with oil palm, despite the company’s business license only covering timber crops.
The operation was led by Chief Executive of Satgas PKH, Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Dr. Febrie Adriansyah, alongside Indonesian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Richard Taruli H. Tambubolon, Head of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) Dr. Muhammad Yusuf Ateh, as well as representatives from the National Police and the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Government.
Head of the Legal Information Center of the Attorney General’s Office, Anang Supriatna, stated that this action was carried out in accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025 on Forest Area Compliance.
“The cross-sectoral task force has been working day and night to verify and enforce compliance on oil palm plantations that fall within state forest areas,” he said.
President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, commended the achievements of the PKH Task Force in his state address at the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday (15 August 2025). He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to returning control of natural resources to the state.
To date, the government has successfully enforced compliance on 3.7 million hectares of illegal oil palm plantations that have been verified, as well as reclaimed 3.1 million hectares of land returned to the state.
The operation in Bombana is part of the government’s broader efforts to ensure that forest areas are managed in accordance with regulations, while taking firm action against illegal plantation practices.
“Despite facing various obstacles, the operation continues and has delivered significant results,” Anang stressed. (*)
