JAKARTA \u2014 The handling of forest and land fire cases in several parts\nof Indonesia needs to be comprehensive, including investigating possible\ncorporate involvement and those who benefit from the burning of\nland.<\/p>\n
Legal practitioner Desri Zayanti called on law enforcement officers\nnot to focus solely on people who set fires in the field. They should\nalso investigate parties suspected of ordering or financing the\nactivity, or gaining economic benefits from it.<\/p>\n
Her call follows police investigations into forest and land fires, in\nwhich 223 people and nine companies have been named as suspects in\nseveral parts of Indonesia. Firm law enforcement is expected to deter\nthe main actors operating behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
Riau province is among the areas under scrutiny, with 3,395 hectares\nreported to have burned. Police have so far named 65 people as suspects\nthere, but no company has been announced as a suspect in a forest and\nland fire case in the province.<\/p>\n
The situation should be a serious concern for law enforcement, so\nthat investigations can be completed fully. Large-scale land burning may\ninvolve economic interests far greater than the actions of individual\nperpetrators.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe logic is simple. If someone is arrested for burning hundreds or\neven thousands of hectares, investigators must establish the motive. Did\nthe land belong to that person? Who benefited? Was anyone giving orders\nor funding it? These questions must be answered through an\ninvestigation,\u201d Desri said in a statement on Thursday (22 October\n2026).<\/p>\n
Desri said it was important to establish land ownership, identify\npermit holders and examine the links between people on the ground and\nthose who control the land. This is needed to uncover the possible\ninvolvement of other, more influential parties.<\/p>\n
She warned that law enforcement must not stop with those who directly\nset the fires. Investigations should be expanded if there are\nindications that others may also bear legal responsibility.<\/p>\n
Desri also called on investigators to examine land licensing and\nadministrative records relating to land control in depth. This is\nparticularly important if there are indications of irregularities in the\nissuance or use of business permits.<\/p>\n
In her view, investigations into forest and land fires should\nconsider possible links between business interests, land control and\nabuses of authority. Any involvement by individuals in facilitating\nbusiness permits must also be investigated.<\/p>\n
She stressed the importance of preventing bribery or corruption in\nlicensing processes in the forestry and plantation sectors. Transparent\nland-permit governance is key to preventing such fires from\nrecurring.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not investigate only who lit the fire. The authorities also need\nto establish who controls the land, how the permits were issued and who\nbenefits from the burning. If there are indications of bribery or abuse\nof authority, those matters must be investigated,\u201d Desri said.<\/p>\n
Desri added that some parties often choose to clear land by burning\nit as a way to cut operating costs immediately. This illegal method is\nconsidered far cheaper than clearing land in accordance with the\nlaw.<\/p>\n
For that reason, economic motive should be an important aspect of\ninvestigators\u2019 inquiries, without ruling out other possible causes of\nthe fires on the ground.<\/p>\n
From a legal perspective, Desri said companies found to have been\ninvolved in forest and land burning can be held accountable. Firm\npenalties should be imposed in accordance with Indonesian law.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/practitioner-urges-investigation-into-corporate-involvement-in-forest-and-land-fires-1792666316", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }