More hot spots detected in Kalimantan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo
\nsaid satellite imagery from the U.S. National Oceanic and
\nAtmospheric Administration had revealed 895 hot spots in East
\nKalimantan yesterday.<\/p>\n
Last Tuesday 200 hot spots were detected. By Friday this
\nnumber had risen to 618, Djamaludin said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
The minister accused 17 companies of starting fires but
\ndeclined to reveal their names.<\/p>\n
\"I can't name the alleged culprits for the time being. I will
\nannounce them only after I receive confirmation from the
\ncompanies and match satellite images with my timber and
\nplantation maps. I don't want the government to charge the wrong
\nfirms,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sources in the ministry said one of the companies accused is
\nstate-owned timber company PT Inhutani I.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin said a water bomber sent by the Australian
\ngovernment has been unable to help extinguish the fires in the
\nprovince due to technical problems.<\/p>\n
\"The recent fires are different from last year's. The recent
\nforest fires are sporadic and cover thousands of small areas,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said the government had attempted to send fire fighters to
\ncombat the flames, however difficult terrain severely hampered
\nthese efforts. The National Agency for Disaster Management will
\ndispatch small planes and helicopters to help control the fires.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin said he had instructed timber companies and
\nplantation firms operating in the affected areas to deploy their
\nown fire fighting teams, which he estimated to number 253,
\ncontaining over 1,400 personnel.<\/p>\n
Fires have razed through the Bukit Soeharto forest reserve
\nand along the Bontang-Sangatta highway, and have burned 1,400
\nhectares of Kutai National Park. Fresh fires are now raging along
\nthe Balikpapan-Samarinda highway area.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin said that efforts to control the fires would
\nconcentrate on Kutai National Park, a habitat for many rare
\nspecies.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara, reporting from the East Kalimantan capital
\nof Samarinda, said that haze from fires has blanketed areas along
\nthe Mahakam River and hindered river transportation in the
\nhinterland. Thick smoke has reduced visibility to about 500
\nmeters.<\/p>\n
In Bongan subdistrict, Kutai, the haze covered the Mahakam
\nRiver and vast oil palm plantations belonging to PT London
\nSumatra.<\/p>\n
\"Boat operators were unwilling to go fast because they fear a
\ncollision,\" a speedboat driver, Mansyur, told the news agency in
\nthe town of Bangun.<\/p>\n
Local residents said the fire might have been started by
\nnomadic farmers who practice slash-and-burn farming techniques.<\/p>\n
Since the middle of January, East Kalimantan has been on alert
\nbecause of the prolonged dry season. (gis\/pan)<\/p>",
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