TNI and PKH Task Force: The Front Guard in Enforcing the Law on Illegal Palm Oil Plantations
By:
Dr. Stepi Anriani, M.Si
(Director of Intelligence & National Security Studies)
The palm oil industry has long been a mainstay of the Indonesian economy. Based on data from the Directorate General of Plantations of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture (2022), this sector contributed 13.5% to non-oil and gas exports and 3.5% to national GDP. With a land cover area of 16.38 million hectares and a production of 46.8 million tons of CPO, the palm oil industry also absorbs more than 16.2 million workers directly and indirectly.
However, behind this achievement, illegal palm oil plantations pose a serious threat to the environment and industrial governance. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) 2023 noted that the area of Indonesian palm oil plantations is divided into 0.55 million hectares (3.57%) managed by the state, 8.58 million hectares (56%) by the private sector, and 6.21 million hectares (40.51%) by the people. In addition, there are around 3.3 million hectares of palm oil plantations located in forest areas illegally, which not only harm the environment but also cause significant state losses. Based on the latest study, the opportunity loss from forest encroachment and the potential production of illegal palm oil plantations by National Private Large Plantations (PBSN) is estimated to reach IDR 2,600 trillion.
Appreciation of the PKH Task Force in Law Enforcement
Through Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 5 of 2025 concerning forest area control signed by President Prabowo Subianto on January 21, 2025, the government has formed a Forest Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH) led by Lieutenant General (ret.) TNI Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who also serves as the Indonesian Minister of Defense.
The real steps that have been taken by the PKH Task Force in eradicating illegal palm oil plantations deserve appreciation. One of the significant efforts made was the confiscation of 5,764 hectares of land belonging to PT Johan Sentosa (Duta Palma Group) in Pasir Sialang Village, Bangkinang Kota District, Kampar Regency, Riau. This confiscation is part of the recovery of state assets and law enforcement against illegal land acquisition in forest areas. In addition, the PKH Task Force has also taken firm action against 27 illegal palm oil companies in the Kampar, Rokan Hulu, Kuantan Singingi, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu, and Indragiri Hilir areas, which operate in forest areas without official permits.
The Threat of Illegal Palm Oil Plantations to the Environment and Land Governance.
Illegal palm oil plantations have a very broad negative impact. Illegal land clearing has resulted in uncontrolled deforestation, where millions of hectares of Indonesia’s primary forest have been lost. This not only increases carbon emissions, but also threatens the existence of protected wildlife such as orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and elephants.
In addition, social conflicts due to overlapping land ownership are increasingly common. Many indigenous peoples and local farmers have lost their land rights due to land grabbing practices by companies operating illegally. The unclear status of land ownership often triggers disputes between various parties, including farmers, companies, and the government.
The productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations is also a major concern. Compared to large plantations, the yields of smallholder plantations tend to be lower due to limited access to superior seeds and more advanced agricultural technology. As a result, many oil palm farmers are trapped in an inefficient production system and find it difficult to compete in the global market.
Overlapping permits and weak supervision of illegal oil palm plantation activities further exacerbate this problem. Many companies continue to operate in forest areas even though they do not have valid permits, which shows that law enforcement in this sector is still weak.
The Strategic Role of the TNI in Handling Illegal Palm Oil
As part of the PKH Task Force, the TNI plays a very im
portant role in supporting government efforts to regulate illegal oil palm plantations. Based on Article 7 paragraph (2) of Law No. 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI, the military has the authority to be involved in Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP) to help maintain order and enforce the law in affected areas.
In practice, the TNI plays an active role in various aspects, including supporting the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office in operations to control illegal palm oil plantations. The presence of the TNI in this operation not only speeds up the legal process, but also prevents resistance from parties who have interests in these illegal practices.
In addition to maintaining security stability, the TNI also contributes to efforts to restore and rehabilitate forest areas. After the operation to control, the land that has been cleared needs to be returned to its function as a forest area or allocated for a more controlled palm oil rejuvenation program. In this case, the TNI plays a role in security and co
