Real initiatives needed for fires

From Media Indonesia

Forest fires have been raging in Kalimantan and Sumatra for the past two months. So far we have only heard and read the statements of prominent government officials but no concrete steps have been taken.

There has even been mutual finger-pointing among the officials about inaccurate reports.

Last week, Malaysia sent a group of voluntary troops and they have been doing real work in the Sumatra and Kalimantan forests, as shown by press photographs.

We, in Indonesia, made a statement last week that the forest fires constituted a disaster but no steps have actually been taken to deal with the problem.

It has been limited to a statement and request for regional officials to monitor the situation.

Media Indonesia went to print with the headline Forest fires declared national disaster, government officials mobilized and reported the assembly of 1,000 people in Waringin and the forestry ministry's preparation of 560 crews consisting of 8,837 people.

However, there has been no action. What are we waiting for? Should a seminar on forest fires come first?

SIMON LAKES

Jakarta