PPU Police Chief Stresses Criminal Sanctions for Forest Fire Perpetrators
The Head of Penajam Paser Utara (PPU) Resort Police in East Kalimantan, AKBP Andreas Alek Danantara, has affirmed that anyone who starts fires causing forest and land fires (Karhutla), particularly in the PPU area, will face criminal consequences.
“The act of burning that causes forest and land fires is against the law and carries criminal consequences. Any perpetrator proven to have started a fire can be processed in accordance with applicable legal provisions,” he asserted on Thursday (16/7).
He reminded the public that neither negligence nor deliberate action should cause harm to many parties. There are legal rules governing the burning of forests and land, so the public must understand and comply with them.
Andreas stated that the PPU Resort Police continue to step up efforts to prevent forest and land fires by inviting all levels of society to jointly protect the environment and heighten vigilance against potential fire hotspots in PPU Regency.
He explained that these steps are taken as a form of the PPU Resort Police’s commitment to protecting the environment, shielding the community from the adverse impacts of forest and land fires, and creating a safe and conducive public security and order situation, especially amid weather conditions that could raise the risk of fires.
“We urge the public not to carry out activities that could trigger fires, especially clearing land by burning carelessly,” he appealed.
According to him, forest and land fires not only damage nature but also create various problems for people’s lives, such as air pollution from smoke haze, health problems, disruption to residents’ activities, destruction of wildlife habitats, and economic losses.
“Forest and land fires are a threat we must prevent together. Public awareness is a key factor in minimising the occurrence of fires. Let us work together to protect the environment and not take actions that could spark a fire,” said the police chief.
He again reminded the public to be more careful when carrying out activities in open areas or fire-prone zones. Things to avoid include burning forests and land without supervision, carelessly discarding cigarette butts, leaving embers behind after outdoor activities, and throwing away objects that could ignite a fire.
In its prevention efforts, the PPU Resort Police continuously carry out various preventive measures, ranging from patrols in vulnerable areas, community outreach visits, public awareness campaigns, to strengthening coordination with the regional government, the TNI, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and other relevant agencies.
Through these activities, he hopes the public will increasingly understand the importance of protecting the environment and play an active role in detecting and preventing potential fires from an early stage.
Members of the public who find indications of fire, hotspots, or suspicious land-burning activity are asked to report them promptly to the authorities so they can be handled quickly and appropriately.
Reports can be submitted via the Police Call Centre 110, so officers can immediately respond to any information received from the public.
“Prevent forest and land fires starting with yourself. Protect the forest, safeguard the environment, and save the community. Through cooperation and shared care, we can create a Penajam Paser Utara Regency that is safe, comfortable, and free from the threat of forest and land fires,” Andreas concluded.
The Penajam Paser Utara Resort Police invite all members of the public to make preventing forest and land fires a shared responsibility for the sake of preserving nature and the livelihoods of future generations.