Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs personally leads forest and land-fire readiness drill in Riau

Pekanbaru – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) Djamari Chaniago led the forest and land fire readiness drill in Riau Province at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Field, Pekanbaru, on Thursday. In his address, the Menko Polkam said the drill marks the starting point of preparedness to protect natural wealth. In this regard, he said, not only to prevent damage to the environment around the site of the fires, but to bolster global confidence that Indonesia can protect and monitor the natural resources bestowed by God. ‘Various steps can be taken with our preparedness to face possible forest and land fires. Mitigation and prevention can be carried out including weather modification, water bombing, helicopter patrols, and maintaining high water in canals and ditches on peatlands,’ said the Menko Polkam. Meanwhile, participants of the drill included personnel from the Indonesian Air Force based at Lanud Roesmin Nurjadin, the XIX Tuanku Tambusai Military District Command, Manggala Agni of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Kemehut), Military Resort Command 031/Wirabima, Riau Police, BPBD Riau, Satpol PP Riau, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and companies such as PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan, PT RAPP, and PT Arara Abadi APP Group. To governors, regents and mayors, the Menko Polkam urged to prepare all available resources to face disasters. Local governments are on the front line when forest fires occur. To the Fire Care Community (MPA) in disaster-resilient villages, students, scouts and farmer groups, they were asked to continue to actively participate in reporting fire conditions and handling methods. ‘On this occasion I would also like to express my thanks and highest appreciation to all ranks of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, and local governments in disaster management, for their dedication, hard work and readiness in preventing and addressing forest and land fires that have frequently occurred,’ said the Menko Polkam Djamari Chaniago.