Leonardo DiCaprio not facing ban in Indonesia over environmental comments, says environment minister

Leonardo DiCaprio isn’t facing ban in Indonesia for criticising the nation’s palm oil plantations. In fact, Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Forestry, Dr Siti Nurbaya, even commended the Academy Award-winning actor for his good intentions.

Last week, “The Revenant” star made a visit to the Southeast Asian country’s Mount Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra, expressing his concerns over the threatened species, particularly orangutans, in the place. He put the blame on the expansion of palm oil plantations.

“As the forest of the #Indonesian #LeuserEcosystemcontinues to be cleared to meet demand for Palm Oil, the critically endangered Sumatran #orangutan is being pushed to the brink of extinction. Here, at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme’s Orangutan Quarantine Center, rescued orangutans are rehabilitated so they can be released back into the wild. If we don't stop this rampant destruction, the Leuser Ecosystem and the Sumatran orangutans that call it home could be lost forever. Click the link in the bio to support this important work. #Indonesia,” he captioned his image with an orangutan on Instagram.

While his intentions were well-meaning, he appeared to have discredited the country’s government and the palm oil industry, and this isn’t something the Directorate General for Immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Heru Santoso, would tolerate.

“We support his concern to save the Leuser ecosystem,” Santoso said (via Mashable). “But we can blacklist him from returning to Indonesia at any time if he keeps posting incitement or provocative statements in his social media.”

According to Santoso, there were companies and organisations that took offence at DiCaprio’s comments and have requested immigration authorities to ban him from entering the country.

Nurbaya, on the other hand, appreciated DiCaprio’s efforts to bring international attention to the issue. She clarified that the Hollywood star would not be deported if he visited Indonesia again.

“My view is that DiCaprio’s concerns are both sincere and substantial, and he has certainly acted in good faith. In fact, we largely share his concerns on this matter. In light of this and to reciprocate his sincerity and intentions, I am open to working with DiCaprio in a joint effort whereby both of us can have our concerns addressed, including those that pertain to the Leuser Ecosystem,” Nurbaya told foresthints.news.

However, Nurbaya was disappointed that DiCaprio did not obtain more information and data from the ministry pertaining to the chronology of deforestation and the efforts being made by the administration led by President Joko Widodo.

“For example, there are about 700 thousand hectares of palm oil plantations which we have categorised as encroaching on forest areas, thereby disrupting ecological functions and wildlife habitats. Indeed, we are currently reviewing this issue in detail,” she explained.

DiCaprio and his entourage entered Indonesia legally with proper documentations. They arrived on a private jet at Kualanamu Airport in Sumatra on March 26, then proceeded to fly to the protected park via a helicopter.