..Komnas HAM needs to gather and analyze more comprehensive information before determining whether human rights violations occurred in connection with the fires.
Pontianak, W Kalimantan (ANTARA) – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is monitoring and investigating the human rights impacts of forest and land fires in West Kalimantan, including their effects on health, access to clean water, and food security among affected communities.
“We are paying serious attention to the fires, not only in West Kalimantan. We want to examine the state’s responsibility for upholding human rights in the context of these fires,” Komnas HAM Chair Anis Hidayah said in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Wednesday.
She said the monitoring aims to assess how the government is fulfilling its obligations to prevent and respond to the recurring fires.
Anis added that the commission is also examining the governance of fire prevention and response, as such blazes have repeatedly occurred in recent years. According to preliminary information gathered by her team, the current fires have lasted significantly longer than those in previous years.
Komnas HAM has collected data through meetings with various stakeholders, field visits to peatland areas, and coordination with civil society organizations and the police.
Based on its initial monitoring, the commission raised concerns about the impact of the fires on public health, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women and older adults.
The team is also examining the effects on food security, including reduced crop yields, rising food prices, and limited access to clean water.
In addition to assessing the impact on local communities, the commission is examining environmental law enforcement.
It has requested information from relevant ministries on fire management and the accountability of authorities responsible for overseeing the affected areas.
Anis stressed that the findings remain preliminary, as Komnas HAM needs to gather and analyze more comprehensive information before determining whether human rights violations occurred in connection with the fires.
The monitoring extends beyond West Kalimantan to other parts of the island, including Central Kalimantan.
Komnas HAM will also seek information from various relevant agencies, including the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), to assess fire prevention and response efforts, as well as the state’s fulfillment of its obligations to affected communities.
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Translator: Rendra Oxtora, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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