Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Islamic Students Association’s Central Executive Board (PB HMI) has welcomed police naming 20 companies as suspects in forest and land fires, calling the move an important step toward environmental accountability.
The action demonstrates the police commitment to prosecuting environmental crimes and provides an opportunity to strengthen protection of Indonesia’s forests and ecosystems, the organization said.
Herdiansyah Iskandar, PB HMI’s deputy secretary-general for strategic policy, said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday that prosecuting companies was essential to ensuring equal treatment under the law.
“However, naming suspects must not end the process. The state must ensure investigations remain transparent, professional and accountable to provide legal certainty,” he said.
Forest and land fires are not merely law enforcement issues but matters of environmental justice, requiring more than punitive action after damage has occurred, he said.
The government must strengthen prevention by reviewing permits, monitoring concessions, conducting environmental audits and improving early detection in fire-prone areas, he said.
“The government must review concession oversight and ensure all companies meet their environmental protection obligations. The state must not act only after damage has occurred,” he said.
Herdiansyah also urged authorities to make corporate law enforcement conditional on environmental restoration. Companies found responsible must rehabilitate ecosystems and pay compensation in accordance with applicable laws.
The impact of forest and land fires extends beyond forest destruction to public health, local economies, livelihoods and the long-term sustainability of ecosystems.
“Success must not be measured solely by the number of companies named as suspects. It must also include environmental restoration, protection for affected communities and guarantees against recurring fires,” he said.
Regarding the involvement of foreign-invested companies, Herdiansyah stressed the importance of upholding Indonesia’s legal sovereignty.
Environmental laws must apply equally to all parties, regardless of business size, financial resources or investment origin, he said.
“Indonesia welcomes investment, but not at the expense of the environment. Domestic and foreign companies operating here must comply with Indonesian law. No one should receive preferential treatment in law enforcement,” he said.
PB HMI also urged the government to strengthen coordination among ministries and agencies, particularly in forest monitoring, environmental law enforcement, concession data transparency and civil society participation.
Forest and land fires are not merely a legal issue but a test of the state’s commitment to public safety and environmental sustainability, Herdiansyah said.
“Economic development must go hand in hand with environmental justice. Corporate profits must not benefit only a few while communities and future generations bear the environmental costs,” he said.
Police data showed that authorities had recorded 104 police reports involving forest and land fires, affecting a total of 29,168.78 hectares.
Of the 20 companies named as suspects, 16 were domestic investment companies and four were foreign-invested firms from Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea.
Investigators suspect that the fires were linked to intentional acts or negligence in company operations.
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Translator: Benardy F, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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