PPU Police Chief Stresses Criminal Sanctions for Forest Fire Perpetrators

The Chief of Police for Penajam Paser Utara (PPU), East Kalimantan, AKBP Andreas Alek Danantara, has asserted that any act of burning that leads to forest and land fires (Karhutla), particularly within the PPU region, carries criminal consequences. “The unlawful act of burning that causes Karhutla has criminal repercussions. Every perpetrator proven to have conducted burning can be processed in accordance with the applicable legal provisions,” he stressed on Thursday (16/7). He reminded the public that negligence or deliberate actions should not result in losses for many parties. Legal regulations govern forest and land burning, and the community must understand and comply with them. Andreas stated that the PPU Police are continuously enhancing Karhutla prevention efforts by encouraging all levels of society to jointly protect the environment and increase vigilance against the potential emergence of hotspots in the PPU Regency area. He explained that this measure is a form of the PPU Police’s commitment to preserving the environment, protecting the community from the adverse effects of Karhutla, and creating a safe and conducive security and public order situation, especially in facing weather conditions that could increase the risk of fires. “We urge the public not to engage in activities that could trigger fires, especially clearing land by burning indiscriminately,” he appealed. According to him, Karhutla not only impacts environmental damage but can also cause various problems for community life, such as air pollution from smoke haze, health issues, disruption of residents’ activities, damage to wildlife habitats, and economic losses. “Karhutla is a threat that we must prevent together. Public awareness is a crucial factor in minimising fires. Let us work together to protect the environment and refrain from actions that could ignite fires,” the Police Chief stated. He reiterated that the public should be more careful when conducting activities in open areas or fire-prone zones. Actions to avoid include burning forests and land without supervision, carelessly discarding cigarette butts, leaving behind fire remnants after outdoor activities, and disposing of objects that could trigger a fire. In efforts to prevent Karhutla, the PPU Police force is continuously implementing various preventive measures, ranging from patrols in vulnerable areas, community engagement activities, and public awareness campaigns, to strengthening coordination with the local government, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and other relevant agencies. Through these activities, he hopes the public will better understand the importance of protecting the environment and actively participate in early detection and prevention of potential fires. Members of the public who discover indications of fire, hotspots, or suspicious land-burning activities are urged to immediately report to the authorities for swift and appropriate handling. Reports can be submitted through the Police Call Centre service at 110, enabling officers to promptly respond to any information received from the public. “Prevent Karhutla starting from yourself. Protect the forests, safeguard the environment, and save the community. With cooperation and shared concern, 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 Police are calling on the entire community to make Karhutla prevention a shared responsibility to preserve nature and ensure the sustainability of life for future generations.