REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian sugarcane farmers association (APTRI) staged a rally on Monday to protest the Ministry of Trade decision to seal the factory of Cirebon's sugarcane farmers. They assessed the decision was part of game played by sugar import mafias involving person in the ministry.  

Chairman of APTRI advisory council, Arum Sabil, said there were people who persuade the ministry to seal the factory. "I see there are some whisperers, I strongly assume they are players and sugar import mafia who try to prevent local sugar from being absorbed by the market, while imported sugar flood the market," he said to Republika.co.id, on Monday.

According to Arum, the case is very closely related to unfair competition between sugar imports mafia and local sugar farmers. The game played by these importers has been very detrimental to logal sugar producers. "Lately, many importers import raw sugar then processed it at the local sugar factory to disguise," he remarked.

Also read: Farmers association urge govt to limit sugar imports

Arum said the Ministry of Trade should run laboratory test against the sugar quality produced by Cirebon's farmer to prove whether the sugar comply to national standad (SNI) and International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis (ICUMSA).

"I understand the government wants to protect the consumers, but sugarcane farmers and local sugar producers also need protection," he said.

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