Govt supports Walhi lawsuit against companies accused of starting fires
Govt supports Walhi lawsuit against companies accused of starting fires
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The central and local governments expressed their support on Friday for a move by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) to file a lawsuit against 20 firms accused of starting forest fires in Riau.
Herman Prayitno, the division head of forest fire prevention at the Ministry of Forestry, and Ahmad Syah Harrofie, the head of the Riau Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedalda), said the lawsuit would encourage the enforcement of the environmental law.
"If they have any evidence, just sue the companies," Herman said.
Walhi said the firms started the fires by using the slash-and- burn method to clear land.
He said there were fires in the Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) industrial estate, but it was not clear yet where the fires had started. RAPP was on Walhi's list.
"RAPP has been unable to contain the fires, and it has asked us to get the help of fire-fighting teams from Thailand," Herman said.
Ahmad Syah said the local government had also been investigating the firms that were behind the forest fires, but he refused to name the companies.
The firms said on Friday that they were not guilty of any wrongdoing, but said they were prepared for the lawsuit to be filed by Walhi.
RAPP, a subsidiary of Raja Garuda Mas, denied the accusation brought forward by Walhi, claiming that the fires were set by other people.
"The area that is burning, which is on our estate, is not our land. It is land that belongs to the locals," Nandik, the spokesman for RAPP, told the Jakarta Post.. "We do not know who started the fires, but if you don't believe me just check it for yourself."
He said RAPP had not used fire to clear the land for planting since 1995.
Despite the denial, he would not ask Walhi to drop the lawsuit. "We will look into the lawsuit," he said.
PT Arara Abadi, a subsidiary of PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper, also denied the accusation, saying that it did not clear land by using the slash-and-burn method.
"We have never used fire to clear the land," he said.
Walhi announced on Thursday its intention to file a lawsuit against 20 firms and seven local governments in Riau for starting forest fires and failing to contain them.
RAPP, Arara Abadi, Siak Raya Timber and Rokan Permai Timber are major firms on Walhi's list.
Walhi will also sue the Pekanbaru, Rokan Hulu and Hilir, Indragiri Hulu and Hilir, Dumai and Bengkalis administrations.
The government banned the slash-and-burn method in 1999, but many firms and locals maintain the practice to save on the cost of clearing land.
Meanwhile, in Medan, North Sumatra, a high level of dust particles in the area caused more cases of acute respiratory infection (ISPA).
The number of patients with ISPA in the capital city of North Sumatra has increased by 20 percent from the period before the haze.
The head of the Medan Health Office, Herman Shadeck, acknowledged the rise in ISPA cases, saying that he had delegated medical officials and medicine to all health community centers.
Firms sued by Walhi over forest fires: PT Hamidah Hamidi, PT Sumatera Sinar Plywood, PT Arara Abadi, PT Esa Indah Timber, PT Sri Buana Dumai, PT National Timber Industri, PT Rokan Permai Timber, PT Bumi Reksa Nusa Sejati, PT Inecda, PT Multi Gambut Industri, PT Sari Hijau Mutiara, PT Bhumi Reksa Nusa Sejati, PT Priatama Riau, PT Rokan Permai Timber, PT Flora Wahana Tata, PT Siak Raya Timber, PT Indowood, PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper, PT. Rokan Permai Timber, PT Duta Palma Nusantara1.