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Indonesia's top court rejects Indigenous community's appeal in palm oil case

Indonesia's Supreme Court has turned down an appeal by a Native neighborhood that looked for to cancel an authorization for a palm oil concession on thousands of hectares of jungle it claimed as ancestral land, legal files revealed on Friday.

Maintaining the appeal might have set a crucial precedent in a country that has actually promised to both protect a $30 billion export industry, and improve governance amid allegations of deforestation and human rights violations. Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil exporter.

The concession at the centre of the case brought by the Awyu individuals's Woro clan was approved to PT Indo Asiana Lestari (IAL). on 36,000 hectares (88,960 acres) of land.

I feel sad since I am entrusted no other legal. avenue to protect the land and individuals of my ancestral. homeland. I am shattered since throughout this battle, there. has been no support from the federal government, said Hendrikus. Franky Woro, a neighborhood member leading the legal battle.

The Supreme Court is Indonesia's final court for appeals.

2 out of three Supreme Court judges argued that appeal. surpassed the time limits and must be turned down, while one offered. a dissenting opinion, arguing IAL's authorization breached Indonesia's. environmental rules, a court document released on Friday showed.

Indo Asiana Lestari did not instantly respond to a demand. for remark. It has actually said formerly it obtained all the authorizations. lawfully required and had reached agreements with 12 Native. clans in the area.

Besides the IAL case, other Awyu members are likewise seeking to. revoke the licenses of PT Kartika Cipta Pratama and PT Megakarya. Jaya Raya, 2 other palm oil business granted concessions. within in very same area. The overall size of the area for all cases is. nearly 115,000 hectares (284,170 acres).

Non-governmental groups promoting for the Awyu, which. included Greenpeace, stated on Friday the Supreme Court's. rejection may have an influence on the results of the other cases.

(source: Reuters)