RI given until July to implement 'no fire' policy

RI given until July to implement 'no fire' policy

JAKARTA (Agencies): Indonesia has until mid-July to implement
ASEAN's "zero-burning policy" requiring the prevention of new
land-clearing forest fires as a test of Jakarta's resolve, Antara
quoted a Singapore health official as saying Monday.

There will be no penalty if Indonesia does not meet the
deadline, but the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
views tough action to prevent and fight fires as a critical
indicator of Indonesia's sincerity in curbing the smoke haze
menace blown by winds to neighboring countries, the news agency
said.

New fires spotted in the Indonesian island of Sumatra last
week sent up air pollution levels in Singapore and parts of
Malaysia, triggering fears of a repeat of the 1997-1998 disaster
when forest blazes from slash-and-burn tactics had a devastating
impact on health, the environment and industry.

"We have set Indonesia as a target," Environment and Health
Minister Yeo Cheow Tong was quoted as saying in The Straits
Times.

"By the time the ministers meet next in early July in Kuala
Lumpur, we will want to have a full report from them on the
completion of the test projects," he said.

"We hope to be able to test the resolve of the Indonesian
authorities to mobilize the fire-fighting resources and take firm
enforcement actions," Yeo told reporters.

"If they can do both, then their abilities to prevent fire
being started in the first place will be enhanced."

In addition to the fires currently burning in central Sumatra,
a European Union-funded forest fire managing team noted the Riau
province, which has 14 times as many fires last year as Sumatra,
could pose a particularly serious haze concern.

Indonesia gave its backing to the zero-burning policy adopted
at the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze held Friday in
Brunei.

With the dry months approaching, Singapore, Malaysia and
Brunei are very concerned about massive fires breaking out again
in Indonesia.

"When a fire covers 1,000 or 2,000 hectares, looking for
evidence like a kerosene can or a match is not possible," Yeo
said.

Instead, ASEAN wants Indonesia to adopt the presumption of
guilt policy practiced successfully in Malaysia and Brunei.

It requires a plantation owner to prove that any fire on his
land was not his fault and that he had taken all necessary
actions to stop it.