Raja Juli on Forest Fires: Smoke Has No ID Card

The Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, has spoken out regarding the smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla) that has begun to reach neighbouring countries.

Raja Juli noted that smoke does not possess an Identity Card (KTP), meaning it can spread to other regions. Furthermore, he claimed that forest fires are not occurring solely within Indonesian territory.

“As can be seen, perhaps it is not detectable here (SiPongi). These fires are not only happening in our territory. In Sarawak, forest fires are also occurring; it is simply that the wind direction happens to be blowing upwards,” Raja Juli told reporters on Tuesday (1/9).

“If the wind direction were from this direction (downwards), according to colleagues from the Environmental Agency, the fires occurring there would also enter Indonesia. Because, as it turns as it were, smoke has no ID card,” he added.

Raja Juli stated that the government’s main focus at present is ensuring the safety of Indonesian citizens from the impacts of forest fires occurring in several regions.

“The President has told us that the Indonesian government’s primary focus in handling forest fires is the safety of the Indonesian people,” he said.

He noted that control efforts are being continuously implemented to prevent the occurrence of transboundary haze. However, he also stated that hotspots are not originating solely from within Indonesia’s sovereign territory.

“That we can maintain or control our forest fires and our smoke so that transboundary haze does not occur, Alhamdulillah. And certainly, as a society that maintains good relations with our neighbouring countries, we will fight together,” he said.

Furthermore, Raja Juli stated that the ranks of the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), Polri (National Police), and Manggala Agni (Forest Fire Control Agency) will continue to fight maximally in handling forest fires.

“So, we will continue to fight as hard as possible; we will not allow any negative impacts or harm to our neighbours. But as per the President’s order, what the TNI, Polri, and Manggala Agni do day by day is to protect our people and the safety of the Indonesian people,” he concluded.