Observer: Law Enforcement for Forest Fires Must Not Stop at Individuals
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Dr Edi Saputra Hasibuan, a criminal law observer from Bhayangkara University Jakarta, stated that criminal investigations into forest and land fire (karhutla) cases across various regions of Indonesia must not stop at individuals.
“We see that the National Police (Polri) are very firm in taking action against perpetrators of forest fires. Law enforcement must be carried out professionally and must not stop at individual perpetrators,” Edi said in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
As of 16 September 2026, the National Police have handled 219 forest fire cases across 12 regional police departments and have named 162 individuals as suspects. Meanwhile, 95 corporations are still under investigation and inquiry regarding their alleged involvement in forest fire cases.
Edi, who is also the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Association of Law and Criminology Lecturers (ADIHGI), emphasised that the alleged involvement of corporations must be investigated based on valid evidence. If they are proven to have committed violations, corporations must be held accountable in accordance with legal provisions.
“If there are corporations proven to have broken the law, they must not be shown mercy. Sanctions must be firm, including the revocation of permits if they legally meet the requirements for revocation,” he asserted.
Edi noted that Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management serves as a crucial basis for forest fire law enforcement. Article 108 regulates criminal penalties for parties involved in land burning, while Article 116 regulates criminal liability for business entities and parties who order or lead environmental criminal activities.
In addition to criminal sanctions, environmental law also recognises administrative sanctions, including the freezing or revocation of permits in accordance with statutory regulations.
“The principle is clear: anyone proven to have broken the law must be held responsible. Law enforcement regarding forest fires must provide a deterrent effect while ensuring that the environment and the community are protected,” he said.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto ordered the Chief of the National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, to go ‘all out’ by deploying his ranks to check and deepen investigations into potential criminal elements committed by companies involved in forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
The President believes that sanctions limited to the revocation of business licences are insufficient to provide a deterrent effect to companies involved in forest and land fires.
“I ask the Chief of Police to go all out. I ask you to deploy the agencies under your command, investigate as deeply as possible, and take action. We can no longer tolerate this,” said Prabutan, as quoted from an official broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta on Thursday.
The directive to the Chief of Police was given by the President during a limited meeting at the Indonesian Presidential Palace in Jakarta, held via hybrid format with several state officials on Wednesday (16/9).