Nation concerned over forest fires, says Soeharto
Nation concerned over forest fires, says Soeharto
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto reiterated yesterday the
country's concern over the ongoing national disaster of fires
that were still razing the nation's forests.
He also said Indonesia was suffering from a currency turmoil
where the rupiah continued to fall against the U.S. dollar. In
order to cope with the unfavorable situations, the nation did not
have any choice but to work harder to resolve everything that
hampered development, he said.
"We are now working hard to solve the monetary crisis, and we
are also working hard to control the forest fires causing haze
that has spread everywhere," Soeharto said in his address at a
meeting of Karang Taruna youths in Malang, East Java.
Karang Taruna is a government-sponsored youth organization
which has branches in every village throughout the country.
The rupiah has dropped about 40 percent against the U.S.
dollar since July.
The government was forced last month to either postpone or
review 156 government and state-related projects worth US$38
billion.
Meanwhile, fires continue to raze Indonesian forests, although
rain has reportedly begun to fall in some parts of North Sumatra
and East Kalimantan.
The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency forecasted last week
that rain might pour next week in several parts of Sumatra,
including South Sumatra, Bengkulu and Jambi, while Riau was
expected to enjoy rain earlier. However, Lampung would not likely
see rain until the third week of this month.
It is forecast that rain will also fall in Kalimantan next
week, especially in East and South Kalimantan.
In a related development, East Kalimantan authorities said
they would distribute 20,000 free facial masks this week to local
people of the province where at least 10,000 people had suffered
from acute respiratory problems caused by the haze.
"Although rain has begun to fall in some locations, air
pollution is still alarming here," Antara quoted East Kalimantan
Vice Governor Suwarna Abdul Fatah as saying yesterday.
In this province, fires have razed at least 25,821 hectares of
forest, mostly owned by big firms, during the dry season.
Police deployed 150 Mobile Brigade personnel to combat fires
razing 8,880 hectares of forest in Jambi.
"The haze condition here is very worrisome, and we need to
boost efforts to reduce people's suffering," Jambi Police Chief
Col. Priestewa said on Wednesday.
In Central Sulawesi, 900 hectares of productive forest were
damaged by fires on Monday.
Assistance
Indonesia has not been left alone in its fight against forest
fires. Malaysia sent a team of 1,000 firefighters to extinguish
the fires in several parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan early last
month.
Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer
announced on Monday that his country would provide an initial A$1
million to assist Indonesia in tackling health problems caused by
the haze.
"I have also instructed to investigate whether Australia can
assist in aerial water bombing," Downer said in New York.
The Japanese government presented a supply of items worth
US$80,375 to the Indonesian Red Cross on Monday to be used to
help people suffering from the haze. Japan previously donated 300
portable water cannons to the Indonesian government.
South Korea donated $100,000 last month, and Canada offered to
send consultants on forest fire management. The British
government donated $70,000 to help fire victims.
The American government has informed Jakarta about its plan to
send food and humanitarian assistance to Irian Jaya, where almost
300 people have died of drought-related diseases.
But the haze continues to hinder many relief operations.
AFP reported that Thailand was prepared to send water bombers
and helicopters to Indonesia.
Singapore offered three Hercules planes and bulldozers to be
used to combat the fires. Indonesia rejected the bulldozers for
practical reasons.
The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team
pledged to give medical equipment and medicine worth $67,000 to
Indonesia. (prb/aan)