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.