https://doi.org/10.26593/jihi.v15i2.3416.197-212

The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
Windratmo Suwarno
Policy Analysis and Development Agency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia, ratmo70@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Indonesia will continue to face a discrimination of palm commodity in European Union in the next
decade. The challenge the European black campaign against palm oil is not easy to overcome. Most of European
people have a bad perception about palm oil. The issue of palm oil is not only about the forestation, but also it is
influenced by bad perception on health and social impact. It is a time for Indonesian diplomacy to make a
strategy to resolve this issue by improving public diplomacy through lobbying, corporate diplomacy and
identification of stakeholders. Although in the European Parliament statement does not mention the elimination
of palm oil, discrimination against palm oil will continue in the trilogy. Palm oil must face accusations from
various interested parties such as NGOs and members of parliament who have relations with farmers in Europe.
They have a strategy to phase out using palm oil for biofuels. The issue of palm oil is not only about a battle of
the vegetable industry anymore, but it is more about politics to defend other vegetable oil in the market by
disseminating any kind issues related to oil palm plantation. It must be deal with the total diplomacy taken by all
stakeholders in Indonesia and in Europe.
Key words: oil palm, public diplomacy, biofuels, European Parliament

ABSTRAK
Indonesia akan terus menghadapi diskriminasi komoditas kelapa sawit di Uni Eropa dalam dekade
mendatang. Tantangan kampanye hitam Eropa terhadap minyak sawit tidak mudah diatasi. Sebagian besar orang
Eropa memiliki persepsi buruk tentang minyak sawit. Masalah kelapa sawit tidak hanya tentang penghijauan,
tetapi juga dipengaruhi oleh persepsi buruk tentang kesehatan dan dampak sosial. Ini adalah waktu bagi
diplomasi Indonesia untuk membuat strategi untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini dengan meningkatkan diplomasi
publik melalui lobi, diplomasi perusahaan dan identifikasi pemangku kepentingan. Meskipun dalam pernyataan
Parlemen Eropa tidak menyebutkan penghapusan minyak kelapa sawit, diskriminasi terhadap minyak kelapa
sawit akan berlanjut dalam trilogi. Minyak kelapa sawit harus menghadapi tuduhan dari berbagai pihak yang
berkepentingan seperti LSM dan anggota parlemen yang memiliki hubungan dengan petani di Eropa. Mereka
memiliki strategi untuk menghentikan penggunaan minyak kelapa sawit untuk biofuel. Masalah kelapa sawit
bukan hanya tentang pertempuran industri sayuran, tetapi lebih tentang politik untuk mempertahankan minyak
nabati lainnya di pasar dengan menyebarkan isu-isu buruk yang terkait dengan perkebunan kelapa sawit. Itu
harus berurusan dengan total diplomasi yang diambil oleh semua pemangku kepentingan di Indonesia dan di
Eropa.
Kata kunci: kelapa sawit, diplomasi publik, biofuel, Parlemen Eropa.

Parliament to phase out import of Indonesian
palm oil. The resolution is not only to
discriminate against palm oil but also it has
claimed that the palm oil plantation has an
impact for the deforestation of rainforest in
Indonesia and other issues related to health and

Introduction
Indonesia was shocked by the
European Parliament on April 4, 2017 that
stated on the resolution to ban imported palm
oil. Indonesia can not take it for granted
regarding the discrimination of palm oil
commodity by the resolution of European

197

198 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
social impact. Indonesia must take an action to
overcome this statement.
Methodology
I use qualitative methodology in
conducting and analysis this paper. The topic
that will discuss is related to the policy of
European Union Policy Parliament about palm
oil commodity. It will focus on European
Parliament and the condition of other vegetable
oils which is needed to compete with palm oil
in European markets. The paper will take the
information from literature review about the
development of vegetable oils in European
markets. The analysis is based on secondary
data from various books, journals, online
articles and online news.

On labor industry, based on data from the
Ministry of Agriculture (2015), the number of
employees working in oil palm plantation
companies increased from 718 thousand people
(2000) to 3.4 million people (2016). Thus, the
number of workers absorbed directly is around
2 million people in 2000 increased to around
7.8 million in 2016. Smallholder farmers is
about 40 percent of total production. On the
other hand, there are dominant private
enterprises (Wilmar Group and Sinar Mas
Group) in producing slightly over half of total
Indonesian palm oil output. Many of
smallholder farmers are so vulnerable to global
market palm oil prices fluctuation .1

This paper will examine the challenge
of Indonesian diplomacy to disseminate right
information about the development of
sustainable oil palm plantation. The description
will be focused on which countries oppose and
support the use of palm oil. It will be analyzed
any stakeholders that have a prominent
influence to transform the image of palm oil
commodity. It will elaborate the solution and
recommendation to overcome or to minimize
the impact of oil palm discrimination in
European Countries. In the meantime,
Indonesia should take many strategies in
dealing
with
European
countries.
Discrimination of palm oil commodity is not
only in the perception of their government but
also their community and the involvement of
the role of Non-Government Organization.
a.

Strategic Production of Palm Oil
The palm oil in Indonesia is very
significant commodity based on area and labor.
According to data from Indonesia's Statistics
Agency (BPS), based on 2017 data, the total
area plantations for palm oil in Indonesia is
currently around 11.9 million hectares. The
data that is about three times higher than in the
year 2000 when around 4 million hectares. The
increase of the area is expected to 13 million
hectares in 2020 (Indonesia-Investment, 2018).

1

Sawit Indonesia (2018) Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit
Banyak Menyerap Tenaga Kerja Pedesaan, https://
sawitindonesia.com/ rubrikasi-majalah/beritaterbaru/perkebunan-kelapa-sawit-banyakmenyerap-tenaga-kerja-pedesaan

199 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
Figure 1. Fundamental Shift Palm Oil Export 1990-2017 from EU to Asia

As described in Figure 1, in the last 27
years, there has been a pivotal shift destination
of Indonesian palm oil export from EU to Asia.
In the 1990s, Indonesian palm oil export went
mostly about 74% to EU. The export to Asia is
only about 11% which was to China and India.
In 2000, it was slightly decreasing export of
Indonesian palm oil to EU that is about 26%.
In 2010, Export to EU was decreasing about 20
% of Indonesian palm oil export. By then, in
2017, about 70% of palm oil export went to
Asia, and only a fraction of 18% went to EU.
According to Indonesian Palm Oil Producers
Association (Gabungan Asosiasi Pengusaha
Kelapa Sawit Indonesia-GAPKI), total
production of palm oil increases from 35.6
million ton in 2016 to 42 million tons in 2017.
It increases 18 percent from the previous year.
The volume export, which brought in US$22.9
million, was recorded at 31 million tons last
year. 2

Indonesian palm oil export to India
and African countries increased by 32 and 50
percent year-on-year, respectively and even
exports to Europe increased by 15 percent from
4.37 million tons in 2016 to 5.03 million tons
in 2017.
Albeit increasing 15% of the
Indonesian export to Europe, palm oil has been
discriminated by the EU. Among the
discriminations include an ambitious political
agreement on increasing renewable energy use
between negotiators from the Commission, the
European Parliament and the Council on 14
June 2018. Their ambition is indirectly to
phase out palm oil-based biodiesel production
by 2021. The discrimination is used by various
measures that might lead into discriminatory
policy, and even black campaigns against
Indonesian palm oil.
Based on discriminastion of palm oil,
on the 40th Annual Summit of ASEAN-EU
Partnership Cooperation in Manila, November
14, 2017, President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo

2

Pramono, Siswo. The Potential of Palm-Oil Based
Energy in Indonesia: MIKTA’s Sharing Experience
on Renewable Energy dalam MIKTA:Current
Situation and The Way Forward, ed.by Siswo
Pramono, Jakarta: Policy Analysis and

Development Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Republic of Indonesia. 2018

200 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
emphasize to the Summit participants that
palm oil is very important for alleviating
poverty in Indonesia, narrowing the gap, and
building an inclusive economy welfare mostly
for small farmers. The President affirmed that
EU discrimination on palm oil must be
stopped. A number of policies that are
considered to undermine economic interests
and tamper the image of palm oil producing
countries must also be eliminated. 3 The
statement of Indonesian President regarding
the palm oil discrimination is a summit
diplomacy in international forum in order to
deliver the truth about Indonesian palm oil
position.
b. Competition of Vegetable Oils
The European Parliament didn’t leave
off to discriminate palm oil. In January 2018, it
adopted a Palm Oil and Deforestation of
Rainforest report to prohibit palm oil import
for biodiesel by 2021 as a part of the reform of
the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II.
This policy has the potential to jeopardize the
livelihood of 1.5 million households and
threaten the emerging rural economy in
Indonesia. Based on this report, the issue of
palm oil is not only about a battle of the
vegetable industry anymore, but it is more
about politics to defend other vegetable oil in
the market by disseminating wrong perception
about oil palm plantation. It must be deal with
the total diplomacy taken by all stakeholders in
Indonesia and in Europe.
In the early 2000s, palm oil was one of
the second biggest contributor vegetable oils to
the world’s market, with a 35.64% share.
Rapeseed and sunflower sat in third and fourth
spots with 20.2% and 13.62% market share
respectively. Some analysts have said that
3

Ahdiba, Nouvarah (2018, February 06) Through
Palm Oil Diplomacy, Indonesia Attempts to Build
its Palm Oil Image, http://voinews.id/index .php/
component/k2/item/507-through-palm-oildiplomacy-indonesia-attempts-to-build-its-palmoil-image

discrimination of palm oil by the European
Parliament is means of boosting to increase
two important the European crops. Palm Oil is
the highest-yielding vegetable oil crop, so it is
making cheaper for consumers. It has proven
that palm oil lead in the global vegetable oil
market in 2008, with 41.47% market share. In
2017, soybean oil’s market share declined to
32.03%. Sunflower was the most affected by
rising demand of palm oil. Its market share is
dwindling to 9.4% from a high demand of
18.14% in 1990. In figure 1, it describes that
the consumption of palm oil is rising from the
year of 2013 until 2017. It competes with
soybean oil in the world market share.

201 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination

Figure 1.
Consumption of Vegetable Oils Worldwide
From 2013/14 to 2017/2018, By Oil Type (In Million Metric Tons)

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/263937/vegetable-oils-globalconsumption/ (Accessed 2018, 9 April)

According to Oil World, the EU is the
largest biodiesel producer in the world with the
output 11.9 million tons in 2017, up from 11.7
million tons a year earlier.4 Moreover, The EU
is also the world’s largest consumer of
biodiesel, a fuel made mostly from vegetable
oils, which is renewable and aimed at reducing
carbon emissions. It is estimated that 3.5
million tons of palm oil as raw materials.
European Union produce around half of
biodiesel which is the raw materials of the
crop-based biodiesel are imported. According
to OilWorld (an independent market analysis
publication working on vegetable oils), in
2016, 33% of EU crop biodiesel is an

4

Hamaide, Sybille de La (2018, March 07) Europe
struggles to stem biodiesel import flood,
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-biodieselanalysis/europe-struggles-to-stem-biodiesel-importflood-idUSKCN

imported palm oil. Most of the consumers is
cars and trucks as the the top consumers in
Europe (T&E, 2017. The figure 2 shows that
imported palm oil to European Union has
increased from the year 2009 to 2016 and
feedstock grown in EU was decreasing from
2014 to 2016. Imported palm oil to EU has
been competing with corn or soybean as the
major feedstock of Biofuels production.

202 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination

Figure 2.
Fedstock Used for Biodiesel Production 2009-2016

Source: www.transportenvironment.org/press/around-half-eu-production-crop-biodiesel-basedimports-not-crops-grown-eu-farmers-new-analysis (Accessed, September 19, 2018)
The Role of Stakeholders

groups and European farmers as the second
Parliament group.5

The European Parliament voted on a
resolution to phase out of palm oil in transport
fuels by 2021 will become “catastrophic
effects of Indonesian palm oil producer. The
MEPs claim that Indonesian palm oil creates
deforestation. The European Parliament is not
aware that the major feedstock likes corn or
soybean to create ethanol has indirect
connection to corn or soybean plantation. What
are they talking about regarding the
deforestation is only related to deforestation in
Indonesia? Several stakeholders have an
interest to make a bad image of palm oil. The
Centre-Right European People’s Party (EPP)
from the biggest political groups in the
European Parliament is heading towards a
clear statement that the use of palm oil should
go to zero by 2021. Palm oil has become a
political issue in the Parliament. It is also
supported by the Socialist, Democrats, Green
5

Simon, Frédéric (2018, January 10) EU heading
for ‘zero palm oil’ in transport by 2021,
https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/euheading-for-zero-palm-oil-in-transport-by-2021/

203 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination

Figure 3. Biodiesel: Cure worse than the disease

Source:

Lifecyle analisys by T&E based on Globium Study (2016) dalam
https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/biodieselworse-for-the-environment-than-fossil-fuels-warn-green-campaigners/

The other interest group such as
environmentalists have warned against the
damage caused by palm oil. Published in
2016, An EU-funded study found that biodiesel
produced from palm oil was three times more
polluting than from other vegetable oils. 6
According to T&E (NGO Transport and
Environment), vegetable oils from crops such
as palm, rapeseed and soy are blended with
fossil diesel to create biodiesel. Based on the
study in EU, mentioning that crops is not only

palm oil but also soybean and rapeseed as the
main feedstock to produce biofuel in Europe.
Figure 3 shows that fossil fuels are emitting
less than rapeseed, soy or palm oil.
Nevertheless this studies were denied by
Raffaello Garofalo, the Secretary General of
the European Biodiesel Board, an industry
group, who branded the study “unreliable”. 7
The study is absolutely biased which is set up
by T&E against biodiesel and in favor of fossil
fuels.
7

6

Hegarty, Khalil (2018, July 06) The EU's war on
palm oil will continue, http://www .thejakartapost
.com/academia/ 2018/07/06/the-eus-war-on-palmoil-will-continue.html

Crisp, James (2016, April 26) Biodiesel Worse
For The Environment Than Fossil Fuels, Warn
Green Campaigners, EURACTIV, 26 April,
https://www.euractiv.com/section/climateenvironment/news/biodiesel-worse-for-theenvironment-than-fossil-fuels-warn-greencampaigners/

204 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
The biased data of using the palm oil
came from European ethanol producers. They
said to EU policymakers to differentiate
biofuels according to their greenhouse gas
emission and sustainability. The producers
stated that ethanol emits as much as 64% less
greenhouse than fossil fuels. Ethanol is sources
almost 100% locally, according to ePURE, the
European Ethanol Industry Association. The
information from the ePure is very biased to
explain
about
environmental
impact.
TheBioenergySite Senior Editor, Chris Harris,
writes that “The growth of biofuel production
from crops will have a direct impact on the
land and the environment”. One of the biggest
advantage for producing biofuels is to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and to alleviate the
effects of global warming produced by fossil
fuels. 8 There is no reason to change using
biofuel to fossil fuel.
The challenge of facing bad impact of
palm oil is from the conservationist that claims
oil palm plantation make forest fire in
Indonesia. They made an argument that It
have threatened one third of the World’s
remaining orangutans. The magazine of
conservationist uses Italian online magazine Il
Fatto Alimentare to disseminate information on
reducing the use of palm oil in food product on
health and environmental program. The issue
arises about environmental impact, health in
food and forest fires. The anti-establishment
party led by comedian-activist Beppe Grillo
who also introduced a campaign to ban palm
oil from public cafeterias, including schools,
citing health and environmental concern.
Campaigns to ban oil palm have been
widespread in communities. In the past year
more than 160.000 people have signed to “stop
invasion of palm oil petition” created by the
magazines. 9 Although a recent review of
8

Thecropsite (2008, November 28) Environmental
Impacts
of
Biofuels,
http://www.
thecropsite.com/articles/1771
/environmentalimpacts-of-biofuels/
9
Hucal, Sarah (2018, March 04) The Italians
Fighting against an invasion of palm oil, 4 March,

scientist research suggests no increased risk of
cardiovascular disease, the issue has become
more complex if it is associated with an
environment.
The power of lobbyists in European
Parliament such as Greenpeace, AVRIL group
is spectacular. According to EU Transparency
Register, AVRIL has a budget up to 4.8
million euros or around Rp 78 billion per year
with 76 professional lobbyists to lobby the
interests of the vegetable oil industry in the
EU. Moreover, about 25 members from 45
members of agricultural committee of
European Parliament is farmers, ex farmers
and owners of agricultural business. The
biofuels are not only from palm oil, but also it
from rapeseed, sunflower and soybean which is
planted by farmers on a massive scale of 11.5
million hectares. These farmers and also other
farmers in the EU have large subsidies, which
are 59 billion euros or nearly Rp 1,000 trillion.
The media reported that a number of European
Parliament members received funds of up to
5,000 pounds or Rp 93 million per month from
the agricultural business. This figure is far
above the UK minimum wage of 1,300
pounds.10
Opposing and Supporting
There are some countries in the
European Union against the European
Parliament’s resolution via the RED II to ban
the use of palm biodiesel. Spain has declared
not to support the EU Parliament’s resolution
on the banning of palm oil. The reason is
because the Renewable Energy Directive
(RED) II violates free trade aspirations of the
World Trade Organization (WTO). The
resolution will ultimately become backfire in
higher cost. The country is the biggest

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainablebusiness/2015/ dec/09/italy-italian-food-palm-oilsupermarkets-boycott-deforestation-forests-healthenvironment-china-alliances
10

Oegroseno, Arif Havas (2018, June 02) Ideologi
Anti-Sawit Di Eropa, Kompas

205 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
biodiesel consumers and spend annually
importing palm oil as feedstock.11 The high
cost due to the resolution will be borne by
consumers which in turn will result in bigger
losses for biodiesel industry player in Spain. It
assured that fair treatment for palm oil is in
line with rules set by WTO. Spanish palm
importers is the main player as tools to make a
good image and branding of palm oil. Palm oil
clients in Spain can be partner to address
misunderstanding and negative perception
among consumers.
Unfortunately, Spain government
perception on palm oil is different from the
Spanish Member European Parliament (MEP)
regarding using palm oil for biofuels. The
Spanish MEP Jose Blanco Lopez said “for the
first time we put in place a consistent strategy,
avoiding false solutions like using palm oil“.12
His idea is biofuels which have a high impact
on land use change would immediately be
phased out through a method which is to be
established. The concept to phase out palm oil
from biofuels is also come from Dutch Green
MEP Bas Eickhout. It indicates that most
probably palm oil and soy and other vegetable
oils would be banned. The statement of EU
parliament in 2003 is more impartial than in
2018. In 2003, the EU has already made a
statement that biofuels as a clean alternative
for fossil fuels used in transport like petrol and
diesel without making distinctions between
different types of biofuels. On the other hand,
In 2018 the most sensitive issues during
negotiations was biofuels from food and feed
crops.
The struggle to impose ban of palm oil
is main target of European Commission. The
11

Oii, Tee Ching (2018, February 13) Mah: Spain
Does Not Support EU Palm Oil Ban,
https://www.nst.com.my
/business/2018/02/335229/mah-spain-does-notsupport-eu-palm-oil-ban (Accesed August 07,
2018)
12
Teffer, Peter (2018, June 15) EU to Phase out
Most Harmful Biofuels, 15 June,
https://euobserver.com/ environment/142101

policy serves a dual purpose. They protect the
domestic industry of vegetable oils with a
regulator barrier and fall in line with the EU’s
euro-centric
notion
of
sustainable
development. The European Farmer and Green
groups has imposed that palm oil to be banned.
This issue was supported by the EU members
of parliament and several EU governments.
Unfortunately, the European Commission
knew a ban was unworkable from trade policy
perspective. Most of EU member are still
pursuing ongoing trade relations with
Indonesia and Malaysia. To protect their
vegetable industries, for nearly a decade, the
ban of palm oil has been a main target for
European agriculture, lawmakers and nongovernmental organization. The industrial
exporter countries of palm oil are to be ready
for the next policy battle to continue.
Some analyst describes the report that
green parliamentary hail it as victory to phase
out palm oil in 2030 is not accurate. The RED
text contains no specific phase-out of palm oil.
Palm oil is not even mentioned in the
Parliament Statement. Instead, the commission
will determine a methodology in which food
and feed crops can be considered high risk to
Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) and High
Carbon Stock (HCS).13 Members of Parliament
was confident that palm oil is high risk in
terms of greenhouse gas saving. Though, on
paper, all crops are mentioned including
European crops which will be examined
through the methodology. The commission
will play the card of ILUC, even though the
concept has been criticized for the lack of a
robust methodology.
The ILUC methodology and HCS will
be a method to convince other stakeholders to
initiate the phasing out palm oil based biofuels.
European farmers including offshoots of
Deutscher Bauernverband (German Farmers’
13

Hegarty, Khalil (2018, July 06) The EU's war on
palm oil will continue, http://www .thejakartapost
.com/academia/ 2018/07/06/the-eus-war-on-palmoil-will-continue.html

206 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
Associations) have refused the methodology of
ILUC.14 The concept is used by the Greens
against feed and food-based biofuels, weather
in the EU of elsewhere. Based on the
methodology, the commission will begin work
on defining what high risk biofuel feedstock. It
will be standard for making the biofuel policy
and European countries will regulate palm oil
used for biofuels. The last step, the EU
parliament is considering a sign calling for
controls on agricultural imports from
developing countries.
Public Diplomacy
In terms of overcoming black
campaign of palm oil commodity in EU, the
role of public diplomacy is essential in the
field of informing, education and culture which
are directed to foreign countries with a purpose
of influencing government through influencing
their citizens. The main purpose of public
diplomacy is a community in foreign countries.
It does not consist only of communicating
information, but is rather defined exactly by its
intent to persuade the issue in communities. A
communication will be vital of national states
to influence the politically relevant behavior of
people of other countries. Public diplomacy is
essential propaganda designed to convince the
public opinion.15
In modern times of public diplomacy,
the diplomats are publicly representing and
interpreting the position of their country in
media and public appearances. They are also
reporting and commenting on the atmosphere
of the public opinion and the media in the host
state. It is difficult to achieve without
cooperating with the media and opinion
leaders. They can easily absorb any kind of
information by making contact with important
representatives of the economy, interest group,

14

Ibid.
Gilboa, Eytan (2002, December 01) Global
Communication and Foreign Policy, Journal of
Communication, Volume 52, Issue 4, Pages 731–
748, http://tadpisim .kinneret.ac.il/88126 .pdf
15

sciences, academic institutions and more. 16
Some of the usual diplomatic activates could
be characterized as lobbying activities to
influence the decision process for the benefit
specific groups of people.
The activities of public diplomacy in
foreign countries can be aimed at survey
results of KANTAR consultative about the
perception of oil palm compared to other
vegetable oil such as olive oil, rapeseed oil,
lard, margarine, sunflower oil, etc. The survey
was held in a period of 4-18 April 2018 in 17
countries; Italy, USA, UK, France, Germany,
Belgium, Australia, Turkey, Poland, Canada,
Spain, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Czech Republic,
Mexico, Portugal, Austria. The survey is in the
form of questionnaire, given to 1000
respondents aged between 20-64 years old.
There are several points of the result. In regard
to palm oil awareness in Europe, about 65%
respondents are aware of palm oil. The
awareness is above average in Italy (76%),
France (72%), French Belgium (71%) and
Spain (74%). Most people in Europe is aware
about palm oil.
Palm oil is not the best oil for health
based on the survey. Instead, palm oil is still
generally perceived by the majority of
respondents as the worst oil for health,
especially in France, Spain, Austria and Czech
Republic. Most of European stated that olive
oil, rapeseed oil and coconut oil are relatively
good. In Italy and Germany, palm oil is in the
second place for the worst oil for health after
lard. The negative opinion towards palm oil is
relatively stable in every country except Spain,
Germany and Poland where it is significantly
increasing. Moreover, the majority stated the
palm oil is not good for health because it
contains harmful fats, too high in fats and
chemical/unnatural substances. It also causes
Krajnc, Kristina Plavšak (2005) Public
Diplomacy: Basic Concepts and Trends,
http://www.ifimes. org/en/8020-public-diplomacybasic-concepts-and-trends
16

207 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
cardiovascular disease and obesity. Based on
the survey, even though the community knows
well about palm oil, the bad perception of
health is the focus of public diplomacy
activities.
In terms of environmental impact, the
respondents in the European countries,
especially in Italy and Spain, generally stated
that the best oil for the environment is olive
oil, whilst most people hardly anyone
mentioned palm oil is the best oil in terms of
environment. There is nearly none of the
respondents mentioned palm oil. On the
contrary, regarding the worst fat in terms of
environmental impact, nearly all the
respondents in European countries stated that
palm oil is the worst for the environment,
except Poland and Portugal where margarine
and lard was the worst oil.

The best fat or oil in terms of social impact on
local community is olive oil based on
respondents in Italy, Spain and Portugal. The
worst opinion was no respondents tend to
stated that palm oil has the best social impact.
Its mean that most people in the EU has no
information about the social impact of
smallholders in oil palm plantations in
Indonesia. On the contrary, the majority of
respondents stated in their perception that palm
oil is the worst in terms of social impact, with
percentage, Austria (39%), France (37%),
Chezh Republic (31%) and Italy (29%). The
respondents who stated that oil palm is the
worst oil in terms of social impact in Belgium
(50%), France (43%) and Spain (39%).

Figure 4. Public Diplomacy Categories

Source: https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/pdin_monitor_article/pd-2014-glance
The majority of respondents get
sources of Information and topics related to
palm oil (to the respondents whose aware) was

available on television and the press. In Italy,
Poland and Czech Republic, the internet is the
main source of the information and topic about

208 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
palm oil. Thus, the direction of public
diplomacy must be directed at television
programs, and local news agencies. In figure 4.
The most perception of palm oil can be
disseminated by government or Indonesian
representative’s office abroad through official
websites or cultural diplomacy. Thereafter, the
public diplomacy should be carried out by nonstate actors within a scope to influence public
opinion, and using smart & soft power (soft
power emphasizes the capacity to persuade
others to do what one wants. In particular, soft
power arises from the attractiveness of a
nation’s culture, political ideals, and policies.
In contrast, smart power refers to the capacity
of a State to combine both elements of hard
power and soft power in ways that are
mutually reinforcing).
The Power of Lobbying and Corporate
Diplomacy
We need to understand that palm oil
issue is not about the national interest of
European countries, but it is the influence of
interest group that needs to ban palm oil
import. In facing the issue of palm oil, the state
has a limitation role, because there are many
Indonesian national interest to European
Union. It is not enough that the issue of palm
oil is only faced by Indonesian Embassy in
European Union. The embassy has a meaning
to collect or to coordinate any kind of
stakeholders who have a special feeling and
interest to make a lobbying or corporate
diplomacy.
The purpose to actively work to shape
public opinion uses a lobby. The lobby is
formed as not a single, but a unified movement
with a central leadership. The individuals and
groups that make up this broad coalition
sometimes disagree on specific policy issues.
The organizations and individuals who carry
out the lobby make an operated out in the open
and in the same way that other interest groups

do.17 In this context, there is furious lobbying
around the RED revisions, just like European
farmer and Green groups that wanted to ban
palm oil. The lobbyist was supported by
members of the EU Parliament and several EU
governments. On the other hand, some EU
member states, pursuing ongoing trade relation
with Indonesia and Malaysia, didn’t eager to
ban palm oil.
According to Christian D. de Fouloy,
“Lobbying is any attempt by individuals or
private interest groups to influence the
decisions of governments or the votes of
legislators.
While
both
corporate
diplomacy and lobbying try to influence on the
external sphere, there are fundamental
differences.18 The main role of lobbying is
related to influence the legislative process,
norms and regulations issued by the
government, regular authorities or public
institutions. The fundamental statement to
make a regulation of Renewable Energy
Directive is European Commission. How the
lobbyist group influence the decision of
banning reducing palm oil in biofuels. The
lobbyist is much more focused on concrete
issues faced by Indonesia interest on palm oil
commodity. Moreover. It has to focus on
forestation, welfare of oil palm smallholders,
healthy food and climate in Indonesia. The
approach need a more intense relationship with
particular stakeholders or social groups.
The reality of banning oil palm import
continues in the circle of Member of European
Parliament, the green groups and farmer
association. Consequently, the campaign of
sustainable of palm oil has to implement by
Corporate Diplomacy which focuses on a
17

Mearsheimer, John.J and Walt, Stephen M. the
Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, New York:
London Review Book. 2006.
18

De Fouloy, Christian D (2016) Difference
Between Lobbying And Corporate Diplomacy
Explained, December 10, http://www.aalep.eu/
difference-between-lobbying-and-corporatediplomacy-explained

209 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
variety of external inter-actor. The actor, MEP,
have a direct or indirect relationship with the
corporation such as stakeholders (e.g.
government, local authorities, trade unions,
business confederation, trade associations,
NGOs), social group (e.g. environmental
groups and consumer representations) and
official representation (e.g. embassies,
consulates) but also with competitor.19
For the permanent contact and relations
in work in a long time, especially to minimize
bad impact of palm oil in Europe, corporate
diplomacy need to be maintained for the
future. This is a kind of diplomatic style
implementing in official representatives.
Unfortunately, after completing task, corporate
diplomacy cannot be maintained to overcome
the issues that might arise later. The issue of
palm oil is very delicate issue that need to spin
a network of contacts. There are some
principles to explain how to get a long
connection. Corporate Diplomacy's activities
are guided by six principles.20
1.
Acting within the established legal
framework and corporate philosophy,
which means lawfully and in accordance
with the corporate code of good practice
and compliance.
2.
Seeking win-win situations, which
means a conduct, whilst pursuing one’s
own interests, to look for compromise,
building alliances and constructing
coalitions among the stakeholders as a
trustworthy and reliable partner.
3.
Pursuing a fluid dialogue with social
groups and civil society organizations
involved, which means a convincing
public
presence,
explaining
the
corporation’s philosophy, policies and
actions, showing a high degree of
transparency.
4.
Aiming at long-term results, which
means focusing on sustainable solutions,
strengthening one’s own market
19
20

Ibid.
Ibid.

5.

6.

position, by committing oneself to the
society and contributing to its welfare.
Enhancing credibility, which means
gaining the position as a reliable partner,
whilst establishing a dense and
widespread network.
Assuring a very high reputation for the
corporation in host-countries, which
means an impeccable perception of
one’s corporation, maintaining the
corporate identity.

Based on six guided principle above, it
can be analyzed that first, regarding established
legal framework and corporate philosophy, any
kind related to process in palm oil plantations
must be guided by the Indonesian law.
Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) will
be corporate code of ethics in the meaning of
sustainable palm oil. Second, for seeking winwin solution, for example, the Italian Union for
Sustainable Palm Oil joins national alliances in
other EU that aims to increase uptake of
sustainably produced palm oil. Third, based on
its alliance in France, for example, has created
stricter criteria of sustainable palm oil by
implementing traceability to the plantation
level and greater support for the rights of
workers and local communities. This way is
pursuing a fluid dialogue with social groups
and civil society organizations involved. It is
set certification goals beyond those required by
Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil imposed by
Germany, Belgium and Norway. Fourth, to
Aim at long-term results, the Italian Union for
Sustainable
Palm
Oil
will
develop
communication
strategies
to
address
consumer’s health and environmental fear by
recruiting and educating new members
committed to goal of 100% sustainable palm
oil by 2020. The communication strategies
proposed by the Italian Union is an example to
retain a long term result of changing consume
image of palm oil. Fifth, to enhance credibility
of sustainable palm oil, it is very important to
get medical result by having a network of
scientific research, so the health issue can be
minimize through the research.

210 Windratmo Suwarno| The Challenge of Indonesian Diplomacy Against Palm Oil Discrimination
Strategy of Dominating Public Discourse
The main concern to persuade opinion
about palm oil is to ensure that public
discourse about forestation in Indonesia echoes
the strategic and moral rationales. The goals is
to convince the public that Indonesia has an
interest to retain main forestation program. The
discourse about forestation is the same value
with the most concept of global Sustainable
Development Goals.
At the same time, groups of lobby try
to marginalize anyone who criticizes Indonesia
about deforestation or challenges the special
relationship and try to prevent that person’s
view from getting a fair hearing in the public
arena. Channeling public discourse in a proIndonesia’s forestation is critically important.
Accordingly, a key element in the lobby strive
to influence discourse about Indonesia
smallholder’s welfare working in oil palm
plantation in the media, think tanks and
academia. These institutions are critical in
shaping popular opinion.
A key part of preserving positive
public attitudes toward Indonesia is to ensure
that the mainstream media’s coverage of
Indonesia and the program of forestation favor
Indonesia. While serious criticism about
deforestation and high carbon stock in
Indonesia reaches a large audience, the media
pro Indonesia or social media tends to be
biased in Indonesia’s favor, especially when
compare to news coverage in other media. It is
rather difficult to control media but at least the
group of pro Indonesia has a special relation
with owner, publishers, editors, columnists and
reporters in the mainstream of media or social
media who have special feelings with
Indonesian people. The group of pro Indonesia
must have an ability to monitor and influence
what the mainstream media say about
deforestation in Indonesia. Any kind of
information regarding about negative view of
Indonesia must properly be anticipated by the
same positive information. Data of Indonesia
forestation or the smallholder welfare taken

from the official Indonesian website can be
used in media as a valid information
Conclusion
The efforts to cope with a black
campaign of palm oil must be done with good
planning and strategy. The planning needs a
linkage among stakeholders in EU by
maximizing public diplomacy, corporate
diplomacy and lobbying. The public diplomacy
in Indonesian representatives office should be
empowered many kinds of stakeholders related
to make a policy of palm oil opinion in public.
Using one of the most important to group or
communities or alliance of palm oil which
support Indonesian palm oil commodities in
Europe will be the main priorities to
disseminate information.
The information should be focused on
issues which influence negative images of
Indonesian palm oil. Media will be the main
tool to be an effective information to
disseminate the process of palm oil plantation.
Not only to promote palm oil but also media
can be used to explain the development of
Indonesia policy on addressing the problems of
forest land and forest areas used for oil palm
plantations. Issues regarding orangutan
reservations, child labor in oil palm plantations
as well as government policies to reduce land
for oil palm plants must be the focus of
conducting public diplomacy. The expansion
of information in the media is not enough to
overcome negative campaigns but it must be
strengthened by establishing a strong lobbying
body consisting of Indonesian lovers in order
to help fight the black campaign.

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