Djamari Warns Regional Military and Police Chiefs Could Be Dismissed for Failing to Tackle Forest Fires

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) General (Ret.) Djamari Chaniago has reminded that the regulation allowing regional military commanders (Pangdam) and police chiefs (Kapolda) to be dismissed if they fail to control forest and land fires (karhutla) remains in force. According to him, if forest fires in a region are not brought under control, those positions risk being replaced.

“(The regulation) is still in force. When I travelled around the regions, I emphasised this. Your success in handling forest fires is how it will affect your career going forward,” Djamari said at the Kemenko Polkam office in Central Jakarta on Monday (10/8/2026).

Djamari confirmed that the central government has indicators for success in handling forest fires, measured by the ability of officers in the field to extinguish hotspots. If the fires instead spread, he continued, the positions of Pangdam and Kapolda can be revoked.

“It is not just about whether hotspots exist — there can be many hotspots, and there are hotspots even now. What matters is that in the effort to control them, success or failure is measured. If it is not successful, then there are consequences. That remains in force to this day,” Djamari said.