Indonesia could "blacklist" DiCaprio

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Getty Images

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DiCaprio was photographed with elephants during his visit to Leuser National Park in Aceh province

Leonardo DiCaprio could be banned from returning to Indonesia, an immigration official has said.

Last week, the actor criticised palm oil plantations for destroying the country’s rainforests and endangering wildlife.

He expressed concern on his social media accounts about species whose habitats are threatened.

But an immigration spokesman has now said the actor may now be blacklisted for his comments.

“We support his concern to save the Leuser ecosystem,” said Heru Santoso, spokesman for the directorate general for immigration at the law and human rights ministry said.

“But we can blacklist him from returning to Indonesia at any time if he keeps posting incitement or provocative statements in his social media.”

DiCaprio visited the Mount Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra last weekend.

“The expansion of palm oil plantations is fragmenting the forest and cutting off key elephant migration corridors,” the actor posted on Instagram.

He described the area as “a world-class biodiversity hotspot”, adding: “Palm oil expansion is destroying this unique place”.

Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that comes from the palm fruit, which is grown on the African oil palm tree.

After DiCaprio’s visit, the immigration director-general Ronny Sompie told daily newspaper Republika: “If there are statements that discredit the government and the interests of Indonesia, he could be deported,” pointing out that the actor’s tourist visa limited him to “excursions” only.

However, a different government minister later praised DiCaprio for raising awareness of the threats facing Sumatran elephants, orangutans, rhinos and tigers.

“My view is that DiCaprio’s concerns are both sincere and substantial, and he has certainly acted in good faith,” Siti Nurbaya, Indonesia’s minister of the environment and forestry, said.

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Instagram / Leonardo DiCaprio

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DiCaprio said the endangered Sumatran orangutan is facing extinction because rainforests are being cleared to meet demand for palm oil

Slash-and-burn practices destroy huge areas of Indonesian forest every year during the dry season.

Critics argue the practice creates a haze that pollutes neighbouring countries and causes considerable economic losses.

The fires are often set to clear land for agriculture, including palm oil plantations.

Santoso said companies and organizations that objected to DiCaprio’s comments have the right to request that immigration authorities bar him from re-entering Indonesia, though none have done so yet.

He confirmed DiCaprio entered and left Indonesia legally with a proper visa and immigration documentation.

Last year, DiCaprio donated more than £9.5m ($13.5m) to environmental organisations.

“The destruction of our planet continues at a pace we can no longer afford to ignore,” he said at the time.

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