Prabowo calls forest fires “environmental terrorism”, orders probe

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3 hours ago

We have also arrested individuals who deliberately set fires, which we can consider environmental terrorism..

Jakarta (ANTARA) –

President Prabowo Subianto described forest and land burning allegedly committed by various parties, including corporations, as an act of environmental terrorism that must be taken seriously.

Speaking at a Plenary Cabinet Session at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, Prabowo said fires in several parts of Indonesia were not natural occurrences but had been deliberately set by certain parties, including corporations.

“Turns out, many corporations are also responsible. We have also arrested individuals who deliberately set fires, which we can consider environmental terrorism. This is a crime against humanity that endangers the health of millions of our people,” he said.

President Prabowo said investigations had found evidence of human involvement in the forest and land fires.

He therefore ordered the Indonesian National Police, the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of Forestry, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to conduct a thorough investigation, including into alleged corporate involvement.

“We must take this matter seriously. We will step up our response while conducting a thorough investigation,” Prabowo said.

He added that Indonesia would take forest and land fires seriously and revoke the permits of companies found to have violated the law.

Prabowo also referred to several countries that frequently criticize Indonesia, warning that he would publicly identify foreign companies found to be involved in the fires.

“For countries that frequently insult Indonesia, we will eventually expose these companies,” he said.

As of Wednesday, firefighting operations had extinguished 502 hectares of forest and land fires across six priority provinces, out of a total target area of 983 hectares. The response has prioritized South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan, followed by other provinces: Jambi, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and Riau.

These six provinces have been prioritized for forest and land fire mitigation because of their extensive critical peatlands, vulnerability to hotspots, and exposure to extreme weather.