The Federasi Serikat Pekerja Pulp dan Kertas Indonesia (FSP2KI) this week launched an extraordinary attack on the FSC, claiming that the organisation is part of a systematic effort to "destroy" the Indonesian pulp and paper industry on behalf of its Western competitors.
"Attempts to indirectly destroy Indonesian pulp and paper production have been launched from every corner of the globe," the union said. "These attempts were conducted systematically, predominantly by competitors and other relevant organisations, in particular international NGOs and their local partners, which receive support from Western countries that feel threatened by the growth of the Indonesian pulp and paper industry.
"These attempts are now often done under the veil of social and environmental issues - that are currently at their peak of saliency - for their own financial benefit."
The union argued that the beginning of these attacks started with the creation of the FSC in 1993.
"This certification scheme is designed in a manner that makes it impossible for timber and forestry products from developing countries to meet the standards, principles and the criteria set by the certification scheme," the union claimed.
"Armed with the FSC standards, international environmental NGOs and their local partners have launched numerous campaigns against Indonesian pulp and paper products, on the basis that they do not comply with FSC standards. These NGOs' FSC marketing campaigns were conducted by approaching and threatening multinationals and foreign companies with the intention of forcing them to stop procuring Indonesian pulp and paper products."
But FSC Australia chief executive Michael Spencer told ProPrint that the FSC standards were developed in consultation with developing nations, and that developing nations continue to play a part in the organisation.
"These [standards] were developed with full input from communities and indigenous peoples' organisations in developing countries," Spencer said. "In fact, the FSC Governance system guarantees places on the Board of FSC International (as well as other committees and technical teams) for developing countries.
"Half the Board of FSC International must be composed of people representing the interests of developing countries. So the FSC system actually recognises and ensures that these voices are heard," he added.
Spencer suggested that the attack has been timed to influence the FSC's current review of its Principles and Criteria.
The FSP2KI is a federation of nine mill-level branch unions. Its largest membership comes from Asia Pulp and Paper's (APP) PT Pinto Deli and Indah Kiat mills, as well as Asia Pacific Resources International's (APRIL) PT Riau mills.