When haze becomes hazier

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.