Pekanbaru – Twenty-five Greenpeace activists blockaded a vessel loading thousands cubic meters of timber at a port operated by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) at Teluk Binjai Village, Pelalawan Regency, Riau, on Thursday.
In a campaign on forest preservation, the protesters demanded the company stop its logging activities and the government step in.
The protesters unfurled a banner, calling for the urgent halt of environmentally unsound land use. Another banner reading "Stop Pencurian Masa Depan Kami" (Stop the robbery of our future), was hung on the pile of logs on the vessel.
Zulfahmi, the spokesperson of Greenpeace Asia, said their blockade of the vessel to prevent it from transporting timber to a pulp factory was held to protest Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan's policy issuing logging permits for the Kampar peat land.
"The newly issued permit contradicts the ministry's commitment to preserve peat lands," Zulfahmi said.
The blockade lasted only ten minutes as hundreds of police personnel stepped in to remove the banners and drive away protesters.