Prabowo Issues Directives on Forest and Land Fires During On-Site Inspection in Kalimantan

Efforts to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) in the Kalimantan region are still ongoing. President Prabowo Subianto has issued direct instructions regarding the handling of the fires.

Prabowo travelled directly to Kalimantan to review the handling of karhutla on Saturday (22/8). Upon arriving at the Air Task Force Post, Supadio Air Base, West Kalimantan, Prabowo immediately led a limited meeting on karhutla handling.

“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I have come to see the real situation on the ground,” Prabowo said, opening the meeting.

Prabowo then asked regional officials to report on the latest situation in handling the fires. “Now I ask who can give me a presentation on the situation?” he said.

Expert Staff to the Head of BNPB, retired Brigadier General Asrianus Bulo, then provided a report. He said that based on satellite data from the last 24 hours, there were 198 hotspots with a high confidence level.

“This means that with a high level of confidence, there are hotspots and smoke occurring in the West Kalimantan region,” said Asrianus Bulo.

He also mentioned that there were 3,100 hotspots with a medium confidence level and 406 hotspots with a low confidence level.

After leading the limited meeting, Prabowo then inspected one of the karhutla points on Jalan A Yani III, Limbung Village, Sungai Raya, Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan. Accompanied by a number of ministers, Prabowo went directly to the fire site.

Upon getting out of the car, Prabowo, wearing a cream safari shirt and a dark blue cap, went straight to one of the fire points. Prabowo appeared not to be wearing a mask during the inspection.

Accompanying Prabowo on the inspection were Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto. They also appeared not to be wearing masks.

During the inspection, Prabowo observed the site while receiving reports from local officials. Meanwhile, a number of officers at the location appeared to be holding hoses and carrying out extinguishing efforts.

In the inspection area, thin smoke or haze appeared to blanket the area, limiting visibility towards the back of the location. Access to the site appeared to be a peat soil path over a dry ditch.

Prabowo walked along the burned land. He observed up close the condition of the affected area and the fire handling process being carried out by joint officers.

During the inspection, Prabowo also gave instructions to the accompanying ministers and relevant officials. Prabowo emphasised the importance of handling karhutla quickly and in a coordinated manner so that the fires could be brought under control immediately and not spread to other areas.

Prabowo also approached and greeted the officers who were carrying out extinguishing efforts. In addition to interacting with the officers, Prabowo also greeted a number of residents around the location.

By going directly to the fire site, Prabowo wanted to ensure that the directives and strategies for handling karhutla could be implemented effectively in the field. The government is also continuing to deploy various efforts to accelerate extinguishing while preventing the spread of forest and land fires in Kalimantan.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya revealed President Prabowo Subianto’s instruction that forest and peatland fires (karhutla) be handled quickly and optimally. Teddy said Prabowo requested firm action if legal violations were found.

“The President has instructed that karhutla handling be carried out as quickly and optimally as possible so that the public can resume normal activities,” Teddy said in his written statement on Saturday (22/8).

“The President also requested that any legal violations found be dealt with firmly in accordance with applicable regulations,” he continued.

While leading the limited meeting, Prabowo emphasised the importance of rapid handling. However, it must remain coordinated and direct on the ground.

“The President also stressed that regional governments be firm in implementing regulations in their areas, while strengthening prevention measures so that forest and land fires do not continue to recur,” Teddy said in his statement on Saturday (22/8).

Teddy detailed a number of handling measures prepared to address karhutla quickly. One of them is the addition of three TNI battalions from outside Kalimantan, which will be brought in gradually.

“The addition of three TNI battalions, or around 1,500 personnel, from outside Kalimantan, who will be brought in starting today until Sunday morning,” he said.

Teddy said the government is also deploying ground personnel to extinguish hotspots, as well as adding six water-bombing helicopters that will arrive this afternoon.

The government will also increase weather modification operations (OMC) to support karhutla handling, taking into account the potential for rain expected in West Kalimantan.

“Increasing and adding pumping equipment and water drilling rigs, especially on peatlands, to suppress underground hotspots,” he said.