On smog

On smog

Yes, it's back again. Some call it smog, others prefer a more tourist-friendly term -- haze. But there is no doubt as to the origins of the huge smoke cloud that has enveloped parts of Southeast Asia last week. In 1997, forest fires, aggravated by the El Nino weather phenomenon, swept out of control in Borneo and Sumatra, paralyzing the region for several months. The fires broke out again a year later, albeit with much less ferocity.

Environmentalists have warned that this year's fires could dwarf the smog of 1997, given the drier weather conditions. ... Obviously, the Indonesian government has yet to learn the lessons of 1997. Logging companies and plantation owners must be severely punished for forest destruction. If the Indonesian government does not have the political will to do so, then other affected countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations must step in. Forget about the cherished non-interference policy. This is about the health of our citizens.

-- The Nation, Bangkok, Thailand