JAKARTA: The murder of two Indonesian activists, which police say was ordered by a palm oil businessman, highlights the escalating violence and threats faced by environmentalists who challenge the industry, rights groups say.
Police said on Friday they had arrested the head of the Amelia palm oil company, who they identified only as “H” or “Harry”, on suspicion of having paid several men about US$3,000 to kill the two activists. “The motive of the incident revolves around a land conflict case,” North Sumatra Police Chief Agus Andrianto told reporters, adding that four other suspects had been arrested in the case, with another three still at large.
For civil society groups, the killings show that rights abuses in the US$60-billion global palm oil trade remain widespread, with growing intimidation against those who investigate them.