Government Steps Up Forest and Land Fire Response, Deploys Hercules Aircraft

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government is strengthening its response to forest and land fires by deploying Hercules aircraft to support aerial operations and adding personnel on the ground, in line with instructions from President Prabowo Subianto.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said President Prabowo had ordered that the fires be tackled on a large scale, in a measured manner and without delay.

“The President said that the response to these forest and land fires must be truly extensive. The Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) was therefore instructed to use Hercules aircraft for the dry-ice operation, which has so far been conducted using Casa aircraft,” Dudung said in a press statement at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

He explained that strengthening aerial operations was one measure to address forest and land fires, which remain a problem, particularly in peatland areas.

In addition to aerial operations, President Prabowo had also ordered the deployment of more TNI and National Police personnel, Forestry Service officers and local communities to help tackle the fires, Dudung said.

He said all these groups needed to be mobilised on a large scale and in a measured manner because the fires had caused disruption.

“This really must be done extensively, in a measured way and immediately, because it has become very disruptive,” he said.

Dudung acknowledged that tackling forest and land fires was not easy, particularly on peatland, which requires special measures.

He said President Prabowo had asked his administration to act immediately rather than wait for rain.

“The President also said not to wait for rain, but to take action immediately,” Dudung said.

He added that the government was continuing its efforts to deal with the fires and called on the public to support the response so that they could be extinguished promptly.

“Do not be taken in by claims suggesting that we are doing nothing. We have done everything possible. TNI and National Police personnel, among others, are involved on a large scale. Please pray that this can be brought to an end,” Dudung said.