Ministry of Defence states 180 Japanese personnel ready to assist in forest fire management
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Defence (Kemhan) has confirmed that 18<0xC2>0 military personnel from Japan are ready to contribute to the government’s efforts in managing forest and land fires (karhutla).
“Japan is deploying approximately 180 personnel, consisting of operational crews and other supporting elements,” as quoted from a press release by the Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom) released on Tuesday in Jakarta.
The press release explained that the Japanese personnel are currently in Pontianak. Their presence there is to inspect helicopter support facilities, as Pontianak is planned to serve as a base for CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
These helicopters are among the aid sent by the Japanese government to the Indonesian government to handle forest and land fires. With the arrival of these helicopters, it is hoped that the fire suppression process using the water bombing method can be carried out more effectively.
According to the same press release, the helicopters are currently en route to Kalimantan and are expected to arrive on Wednesday (9/9).
Indonesia maintains control over forest fire operations
Despite receiving assistance from Japan, the government emphasised that it maintains full control over forest and land fire management operations in Indonesia. The government ensured that Japanese assets and personnel will serve as supporting elements, while the execution of the mission remains integrated within the Indonesian government’s operational mechanisms.
According to the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General TNI Tri Budi Utomo, this assistance is a follow-up to the comprehensive Defence Cooperation Arrangement (DCA) between Indonesia and Japan, signed on 4 May 2026. Under this agreement, one of the primary scopes includes disaster management, including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). Therefore, he noted, the cooperation is humanitarian in nature and should be viewed within the broader framework of diplomacy.
“Therefore, all national capabilities remain deployed. Japanese assistance will then be integrated with the entire forest fire management operations carried out by the Indonesian government,” he said.
In closing, Tri expressed his appreciation to the Japanese Government for the support. He stated that the presence of the three helicopters reflects the spirit of mutual assistance between friendly nations and strengthens increasingly comprehensive defence cooperation.
“On behalf of the Indonesian government, we express our appreciation and gratitude to the Japanese government for the support and solidarity provided. We hope that the addition of three CH-47 Chinook helicopters can provide a tangible contribution to strengthening forest fire management in Kalimantan,” he concluded.