When haze becomes hazier
The Indonesian government and those of neighboring countries have been extremely worried by the serious impact of the haze coming from burning forests in Kalimantan and Sumatra. But those involved in the making of the "environmental apocalypse" apparently remain unrepentant.
The haze, covering a vast area of Southeast Asia, is not only feared as a health hazard but has also caused limited visibility in Kalimantan, Sumatra, Malaysia and Singapore. According to State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, who reported to President Soeharto about the severity of the situation on Monday, at least 300,000 hectares of forest, mostly on Indonesia's two largest islands, has been burned in the last three months.
The minister accused large companies, mostly in Jakarta, of intentionally burning the forests despite government warnings that their actions may lead to disaster. At the meeting, Soeharto ordered him to stop slash-and-burn style land clearing activities across the country. Sarwono said that if this instruction was not obeyed he would not hesitate to take stern action against violators.
His statement immediately provoked us to question why so many concerns have been so irresponsible? Finding the answer to this may need numerous seminars and many years. This is not the first time that the minister has gone to request presidential involvement in facing thoughtless enterprises causing social disturbance.
In May, 1995, the very same minister reported to the President on the destruction of Bira island within the Thousand Islands in Jakarta Bay, caused by a business tycoon who had illegally built a golf course there. Soeharto then underlined the importance of rejuvenating the environment and threatened to prosecute the developer if it refused to abide by existing regulations. However, nothing further was heard about the project or the penalty the developer might have received because officials, when asked by the press about the case, preferred to remain silent.
But for Indonesia, the present haze is much more serious, especially as it is accompanied by a drought, one of the most severe in 50 years. That is why Sarwono has warned those he believes to have had a share in causing the calamity.
In a normal situation, since such offenses have repeatedly been committed since 1994, many of those responsible are brought to court. But the reality is questionable. There are hundreds of forestry companies in Kalimantan and Sumatra but until now only two in Riau have had their licenses revoked.
Reports said yesterday that even after Sarwono named three big companies as culprits and three ministries vowed to handle the matter seriously, local authorities in the worst-hit province in Sumatra, found another company burning forest of between 7,000 hectares and 9,000 hectares. The same day the provincial forestry office also issued a stern warning to seven companies for the same offense.
These companies must possess influence to challenge the authorities. If, as Sarwono said, they have headquarters in Jakarta, their influence could only come from political connections.
Law enforcement has been one of the weakest links in our bureaucratic chain for a long time and today, amid the more vocal demand for a clean government, the crusade is getting more difficult.
So, those who expect the haze problem to be soon overcome will only find themselves frustrated if they are too optimistic. The haze above us is becoming hazier.