Friends of the Earth Finland et alia, 12 November 1997

President & CEO
Mr. Juha Niemelä
UPM-Kymmene
Finland

 

UPM-KYMMENE'S COOPERATION WITH APRIL

Dear Mr. Juha Niemelä,

we undersigned environmental citizens' organisation are deeply concerned about the alliance UPM-Kymmene announced in September with Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings ltd (April) on fine paper production. As the planned joint venture April Fine Paper would base its production on pulp supplied by April's Riaupulp mill, and probably also Indorayon mill, UPM- Kymmene will actively participate in converting natural rainforests - partially so called logged-over - to exotic monoculture plantations. This causes irreversible loos of ecological values and destruction of the environment of local communities. Due to Indonesian oppressive labour regulations and practices UPM-Kymmene will also involve itself in a violation of basic labour standards.

For these reasons we find UPM-Kymmene's alliance with April unacceptable. Therefore we urge you to cancel the announced alliance and abstain from cooperating with April until the following changes are made in its Riaupulp (Riau) and Indorayon (North Sumatra) mills:

 

  1. no more natural forests (even so called logged-over or degraded) are clear-cut and converted to monoculture plantations

  2. the traditional land tenure rights (adat) of the local communities are fully recognised within the concession area and in other areas where the company is active

  3. if the communities agree in a democratic and open process to allow logging, plantations or construction in their lands, they must be fully compensated

  4. land alienated in the past are returned to the communities or the losses are fully compensated

  5. the basic labour standards, including right to free union association and collective bargaining, are observed in the mills and the companies make an effort to promote such policy nationwide.

     

We would like to get a reply from you by end of November responding on our concerns and indicating your intentions regarding the alliance.

 

Sincerely yours,

Kaija Helle
Friends of the Earth Finland, Finland

Indonesian NGO Network for Forest Conservation SKEPHI, Indonesia

Bettina Heilman
Pro Regenwald, Germany

Klemens Laschefski
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Germany

Olli Turunen
Nature League, Finland

Georgina Green
Friends of the Earth, England

Arjan Alkema
Milieudefensie,The Netherlands

 




    
CC: 

    Mr. Sukanto Tanoto, Chairman and CEO, April

    Mr. Aarni Heikinheimo, Finnish Guarantee Board

    Mr. Antti Lehtinen, Finnish Export Credit ltd

    Mr. Seppo Härkönen, Finnish Foreign Trade Association

    Mr. Antti Kalliomäki, Minister for Trade and Industry, Finland

    Mr. Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Environment and Development
    Cooperation, Finland