Post-Forest Fire Land Immediately Planted with Palm Oil, DPR Urges Authorities to Investigate
The Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Puan Maharani, has requested authorities to investigate allegations regarding land previously affected by forest and land fires (karhutlag) being immediately converted into palm oil plantations.
“As was asked earlier, regarding whether matters related to forest fires have undergone land-use changes, we will ask the relevant parties to investigate that. This should not be allowed to happen and must be investigated immediately,” Puan stated at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (8/9).
Puan noted that handling forest fire disasters should not only focus on current firefighting efforts but must also address the resulting impacts. She highlighted various consequences felt by the community, such as the spread of Acute Respiratory Infections (ISPA) and the disruption of teaching and learning activities.
“Regarding social issues, such as education and public welfare—for instance, the current problem of ISPA and the condition of children whose education is being disrupted—these must be addressed immediately, and solutions must be found for the future,” she said.
President Prabowo Subianto previously expressed astonishment at the emergence of new palm oil plantations following forest fires. He has requested that these incidents be investigated.
“I am interested in how land that has just burned becomes plantation land in a very short period. Therefore, this is truly intentional, and whether this involves the people or corporations, please continue to investigate,” he said. Prabowo also suggested there may be elements of intentional burning aimed at clearing land for plantations.
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that eight companies are currently being processed in relation to forest fire cases in the Kalimantan and Sumatra regions. Listyo mentioned that, to date, a total of 200 police reports regarding forest fires are being processed. Of that number, 138 perpetrators have been named as suspects.
He also reported that of those hundreds of perpetrators, 119 did indeed intentionally carry out burning for land clearing, while 18 others were proven to have been negligent, leading to the fires.