RI given until July to implement 'no fire' policy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (Agencies): Indonesia has until mid-July to implement
\nASEAN's \"zero-burning policy\" requiring the prevention of new
\nland-clearing forest fires as a test of Jakarta's resolve, Antara
\nquoted a Singapore health official as saying Monday.<\/p>\n
There will be no penalty if Indonesia does not meet the
\ndeadline, but the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
\nviews tough action to prevent and fight fires as a critical
\nindicator of Indonesia's sincerity in curbing the smoke haze
\nmenace blown by winds to neighboring countries, the news agency
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
New fires spotted in the Indonesian island of Sumatra last
\nweek sent up air pollution levels in Singapore and parts of
\nMalaysia, triggering fears of a repeat of the 1997-1998 disaster
\nwhen forest blazes from slash-and-burn tactics had a devastating
\nimpact on health, the environment and industry.<\/p>\n
\"We have set Indonesia as a target,\" Environment and Health
\nMinister Yeo Cheow Tong was quoted as saying in The Straits
\nTimes.<\/p>\n
\"By the time the ministers meet next in early July in Kuala
\nLumpur, we will want to have a full report from them on the
\ncompletion of the test projects,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We hope to be able to test the resolve of the Indonesian
\nauthorities to mobilize the fire-fighting resources and take firm
\nenforcement actions,\" Yeo told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"If they can do both, then their abilities to prevent fire
\nbeing started in the first place will be enhanced.\"<\/p>\n
In addition to the fires currently burning in central Sumatra,
\na European Union-funded forest fire managing team noted the Riau
\nprovince, which has 14 times as many fires last year as Sumatra,
\ncould pose a particularly serious haze concern.<\/p>\n
Indonesia gave its backing to the zero-burning policy adopted
\nat the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze held Friday in
\nBrunei.<\/p>\n
With the dry months approaching, Singapore, Malaysia and
\nBrunei are very concerned about massive fires breaking out again
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"When a fire covers 1,000 or 2,000 hectares, looking for
\nevidence like a kerosene can or a match is not possible,\" Yeo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Instead, ASEAN wants Indonesia to adopt the presumption of
\nguilt policy practiced successfully in Malaysia and Brunei.<\/p>\n
It requires a plantation owner to prove that any fire on his
\nland was not his fault and that he had taken all necessary
\nactions to stop it.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-given-until-july-to-implement-no-fire-policy-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}