Asiatic Persada
Indonesian palm oil company operating oil palm plantations in Jambi.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
PT Asiatic Persada is an Indonesian palm oil company associated with oil palm plantation operations in Jambi Province. The company was founded in 1979 and developed plantations covering approximately 270 square kilometres, or about 100 square miles. Its business is part of Indonesia’s plantation-based palm oil industry, in which land acquisition, forest conversion, plantation development, and relations with indigenous and local communities have been central operational and social issues. The company’s plantation expansion became particularly controversial in and around Bungku village. Forest in the area was cleared for large-scale oil palm plantations during the mid-1980s. Subsequent expansion was alleged to have extended into roughly another 200 square kilometres of rainforest, including land for which indigenous communities held legally recognized rights. The Suku Anak Dalam, an indigenous community in Jambi, was involved in a land-rights dispute with the company that reportedly continued for more than three decades. Asiatic Persada was previously associated with Wilmar International. Wilmar later divested its interest in the company amid allegations concerning land grabbing and community-rights violations. In 2013, Ganda Group, owned by Ganda Sitorus, acquired PT Asiatic Persada. Ganda Sitorus is the younger brother of Martua Sitorus, a co-founder of Wilmar International. Also in 2013, the governor of Jambi called for a review of the company’s operating license because of alleged legal violations and sent copies of the request to Indonesia’s Justice Ministry and national police chief. The company remained the subject of serious allegations concerning security practices and indigenous rights. In 2014, company security personnel were reported to have killed one member of the Suku Anak Dalam community and injured five others. These events form a major part of the company’s public record and explain why Asiatic Persada is frequently discussed in relation to land conflict, plantation governance, and the environmental and social impacts of palm oil production. Publicly available reference material does not provide sufficient information to confirm the company’s current operating status, current management, detailed product portfolio, or present ownership arrangements beyond the reported 2013 acquisition by Ganda Group.
History
PT Asiatic Persada was established in 1979 as an Indonesian palm oil company based in Jambi Province. Its core activity was the development and operation of oil palm plantations. The company’s plantations were reported to cover approximately 270 square kilometres. Plantation expansion in Bungku village and surrounding areas became the central issue in the company’s history. Forest was cleared for large-scale oil palm development in the mid-1980s. Later expansion was alleged to have taken a further approximately 200 square kilometres of rainforest, including territory connected to indigenous land rights. The Suku Anak Dalam community subsequently remained involved in a land dispute with the company for more than 30 years. Asiatic Persada was connected with Wilmar International before Wilmar divested from the company. The divestment occurred amid allegations involving land grabbing and the treatment of communities asserting customary or legally protected land rights. In 2013, Ganda Group, owned by Ganda Sitorus, bought PT Asiatic Persada. That same year, the governor of Jambi requested an official review of the company’s license, citing alleged legal violations. The request was also transmitted to Indonesia’s Justice Ministry and the national police chief. The conflict escalated into a serious security and human-rights controversy in 2014, when company security was reported to have killed one member of the Suku Anak Dalam community and injured five others. The incident reinforced criticism of the company’s approach to land disputes and security. Available reference material does not establish the company’s current corporate structure, leadership, production volumes, financial performance, or whether its plantation operations remain active.
- 2014
Security incident involving Suku Anak Dalam community
[1]A reported confrontation involving company security resulted in one death and injuries to five members of the Suku Anak Dalam community.
- 2013
Acquired by Ganda Group
[1]Ganda Group, owned by Ganda Sitorus, acquired PT Asiatic Persada.
- 2013
Jambi license review requested
[1]The governor of Jambi urged authorities to review the company’s license over alleged legal violations.
- 1980
Plantation expansion begins in Bungku area
[1]Forest in Bungku village was cleared during the mid-1980s for large-scale oil palm plantation development.
- 1979
Company founded
[1]PT Asiatic Persada was founded as an Indonesian palm oil company.
Products and positioning
An Indonesian plantation company focused on oil palm cultivation and palm oil production, with its public profile strongly shaped by longstanding land-rights and environmental controversies.
Agricultural plantations
Oil palm plantations
The company’s principal operating asset was a large oil palm plantation estate in Jambi, reported to cover approximately 270 square kilometres. The plantations supplied the agricultural base for palm oil production and were developed through the conversion of forest and other land. Public reference material does not provide a detailed breakdown of planted area, varieties, yields, mills, or current production.
Edible oils and agricultural commodities
Palm oil
Palm oil is the principal commodity associated with Asiatic Persada’s business. The available material identifies the company as a palm oil firm but does not specify its product grades, refining activities, downstream brands, or sales channels.
Controversies
2014
Death and injuries involving company security
Company security was reported to have killed one member of the Suku Anak Dalam community and injured five others during the continuing land conflict.
Long-running land-rights dispute with the Suku Anak Dalam
The company was involved in a land-rights dispute with the Suku Anak Dalam community that reportedly continued for more than 30 years. Allegations concerned plantation expansion into land claimed or legally protected as indigenous territory.
Alleged rainforest clearance and land grabbing
Asiatic Persada was accused of clearing forest for oil palm plantations and of illegally claiming a further area of rainforest, including land associated with indigenous rights. These allegations were part of the context for Wilmar International’s divestment.
Brand decisions
2013
Ganda Group acquisitionM&ABackground
Asiatic Persada was divested by Wilmar International amid allegations concerning land rights and land grabbing.
Action taken
Ganda Group, owned by Ganda Sitorus, acquired PT Asiatic Persada.
Aftermath
The company remained associated with longstanding land and indigenous-rights disputes in Jambi. No reliable financial terms for the transaction are provided.
2013
License review requested by Jambi governorOtherBackground
Authorities faced allegations that the company had violated Indonesian law in connection with its plantation operations and land disputes.
Action taken
The governor of Jambi urged officials to review Asiatic Persada’s license and sent copies of the request to the Justice Ministry and national police chief.
Aftermath
The available material does not document the final outcome of the requested review.
Recent events
- 2013
Ganda Group acquires PT Asiatic Persada[1]
M&A
Ganda Group, owned by Ganda Sitorus, acquired PT Asiatic Persada after its earlier association with Wilmar International.
Sources1 sources
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