Prabowo Instructs Severe Sanctions for Forest and Land Fires
President Prabowo Subiating plans to significantly increase legal sanctions against companies proven to be involved in causing forest and land fires (karhutla) in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The President even proposed that such environmental crimes be classified as acts of ecological terrorism.
This instruction was delivered by President Prabowo during a hybrid limited meeting held with ministers and heads of agencies on Wednesday (16/9). The President ordered the Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, and the Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas, to immediately study regulatory provisions to strengthen sanctions for perpetrators of forest fires.
“I have stated that the Minister of State Secretary and the Minister of Law should look into this so that the legal sanctions, perhaps through legislation, can be requested from the House of Representatives (DPR) to be intensified by classifying this as ecological terrorism. This is very serious,” stated President Prabowo, as quoted from an official broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (17/9).
In addition to increasing sanctions for corporations, the Head of State also ordered regional leaders to immediately revoke regional regulations (perda) that still provide loopholes for forest and land burning practices. The President requested the Minister of Home Affairs to ensure the revocation of such regulations proceeds across all high-risk areas.
Regarding the justification of ‘local wisdom’ often used by communities to clear land through burning, the President emphasised that this can no longer serve as an excuse. He offered a solution in the form of government assistance for communities requiring legal and safe land clearing methods.
“I have said that if the people need it, we will assist with land clearing. However, this must truly not continue. There must be no more forest fires for land clearing or any other reason,” said the President.
The limited meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Commander of the TNI General Agus Subiyanto, and Head of BNPB Lieutenant General Suharyanto. The government is currently focusing on mitigation steps over the next one and a half months to anticipate situations deemed still quite high-risk in the Sumatra and Kalimantan regions.