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Last Updated: 28/07/13
Company Description: Kertas Nusantara is a pulp manufacturer. Previously known as Kiani Kertas, it operates a pulp mill in Berau, East Kalimantan.
Owned by: Kiani Kertas was formerly owned by Suharto’s crony Bob Hasan, but it’s leadership passed to Prabowo Subianto in 2003. Prabowo is Suharto’s son-in-law and a former commander of the Kopassus special forces. He is widely associated with human rights abuses when he was commanding forces in East Timor and also for the murder, kidnappings and torture of activists during the uprising which toppled Suharto in 1998. For this he was kicked out of the military, at which point he reinvented himself as a businessman and politician. Prabowo was less openly involved in Papua while serving in the military, but there are rumours that he may have been involved in covert operations1 and he undoubtedly maintains strong links with the military there. He was a vice-presidential candidate in the 2009 general election, and is involved in the populist Gerakan Indonesia Raya (Gerindra) party. He has announced that he wants to run for president in 2014.2 His brother, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, also has an interest in MIFEE through his company Comexindo.
Plans in Merauke: Kertas Nusantara has been allocated an area of 155,000 hectares in Ngguti and Okaba districts since October 2008.
(UPDATE) No further progress was made on the plantation plan and the Merauke Regency has cancelled Kertas Nusantara’s permit. Meanwhile, Prabowo Subianto is a leading candidate to be the next president of Indonesia!
Other conflicts around West Papua and Indonesia: Kiani Kertas is alleged to have used its military influence to evict two villages when building its pulp mill in Kalimantan, and to have engaged in illegal logging and pollution.4
Address: Bidakara Building, 9th floor Jln Gatot Subroto Kav. 71-73 Jakarta, 12870 Indonesia.
Phone Number: +62(21)8379-3211 Web: www.kiani.com
1. http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/07/20/bombings-reboot-indonesia%E2%80%99s-vicious-political-circle/ , http://manukoreri.net/papers-talks-and-articles/will-australia-allow-another-balibo-at-freeport/
2. http://english.kompas.com/read/2011/11/22/10510072/Prabowo.Runs.for.President