Following its commitment to conduct an independent investigation into a conflict that occurred in September in North Sumatra between PT Toba Pulp Lestari[1] (TPL) personnel and members of the Lembaga Adat Keturunan Ompu Mamontang Laut Ambarita Sihaporas (Lamtoras) Group, APRIL Group has announced the appointment of Patala Unggul Gesang (PUG) to conduct the independent investigation.
PUG is an independent institution engaged in environmental and forest management consulting and promoting sustainable practices, including strengthening the sustainability capacity of local communities. It is also actively involved in advancing sustainable forest management initiatives through certification schemes, the engagement of Indigenous peoples, and the advocacy of community rights.
The mandate of the multi-disciplinary expert investigation team assembled by PUG is to:
- Conduct an independent and evidence-based investigation of the 22 September 2025 TPL incident
- Identify and analyze the root causes of the conflict
- Provide actionable recommendations of corrective and preventive measures to reduce risks of recurrence
All investigation activities will strictly adhere to the principles of independence and impartiality, transparency and accountability, informed consent, confidentiality and do-no-harm.
The independent expert investigation team will be led by Prof. Hikmahanto Juwana (Ph.D.) a well-established professor of international law at University of Indonesia, supported by other experts including PUG Director Nazir Foead (M.Sc), formerly Head of Indonesia’s Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG RI) and Conservation Director of WWF Indonesia, and Prof. Francisia Saveria Sika Ery Seda (Ph.D.), a leading sociologist and researcher in the fields of environmental sociology, gender sociology, and poverty and social exclusion. The five-phase investigation will commence in November 2025.
Meanwhile, TPL has advised APRIL of the voluntary suspension of its operations starting from 6 December 2025 until further notice, as a signal of its serious commitment to the independent investigation and to allow it to focus on implementing the resulting actions.
During the suspension period, the company will undertake only essential plantation maintenance activities in its operations and will continue to provide support to those who are affected among its more than 1,000 direct employees.
APRIL and TPL have also adopted a Code of Security Principles and Practice to guide security teams on the proper implementation of security measures and use of security resources in our operations. The Code is founded on the principles of respect for human rights, legal compliance, conflict prevention and peacemaking, and the protection of children and women in any security action.
[1] Following the Forest Stewardship Council’s definition of Corporate Group, TPL is part of the APRIL remedy process to end APRIL’s disassociation from FSC.
