PRIME NEWS POST

JAKARTA — Sahabat Alam Hijau Indonesia is calling on central and local authorities to temporarily suspend operations by PT Ifishdeco Tbk in Wadunggo Village, Tinanggea District, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, pending a full review of the area’s status, licensing legality, and potential impacts on the mangrove ecosystem.

The demand was delivered during a demonstration held in front of the Ministry of Forestry and the Attorney General’s Office on Monday (12/10). Led by Sahabat Alam Hijau Indonesia Field Coordinator Budhi, the group urged the Ministry’s Directorate-General of Forestry Law Enforcement to conduct an immediate on-site inspection.

The presence of official warning and prohibition signs placed by the Ministry of Forestry in the Wadunggo area has become a key point of concern. The group is questioning why activities reportedly continue around the site and is calling on the government to ensure full compliance with prevailing laws.

“If warning and prohibition signs have already been installed by the Ministry of Forestry, why do alleged activities persist in the area? We urge Forestry Law Enforcement officials to go directly to the field, examine the facts, and publish their findings publicly,” Budhi stated firmly.

He stressed that the issue must not be allowed to drag on. A temporary suspension of activities is being sought as a precautionary measure until the legal status of the area and the legality of operations are clearly established.

“We are not here to judge or condemn the company. If these activities have a legal basis, let the public see it. But if violations are found, there must be firm action and environmental restoration in accordance with the law,” he said.

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Sahabat Alam Hijau Indonesia is also calling for a comprehensive verification of boundary coordinates, forest area status, all relevant permits, and an assessment of the project’s impact on mangrove ecosystems and local communities. The Attorney General’s Office has been asked to take action should indications of criminal activity be uncovered.

The organization outlined three key demands: a temporary halt to operations at the site in question, a thorough investigation into the area’s status and environmental impacts, and strict law enforcement alongside full environmental restoration if violations are confirmed.

“The mangroves of Wadunggo must not suffer simply because activities may be operating outside the rules. We call on central and local government to step forward, suspend operations temporarily, and ensure a transparent investigation is carried out. Above all, we need the law upheld and the environment protected,” Budhi concluded.