Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto announced a sweeping crackdown on the slash‑and‑burn practices that have ignited Indonesia’s most severe wildfires in 11 years. In a cabinet meeting, he pledged zero tolerance for anyone – individuals or corporations – found responsible for starting the blazes that have choked the air across the archipelago.
Legal measures and legislative push
“I have asked the State Secretary and the Minister of Law to examine stronger legal sanctions,” the president said, according to a palace statement released Wednesday night. He also urged the House of Representatives to consider classifying intentional fire‑setting as “ecological terrorism,” a term he described as reflecting the gravity of the damage.
In addition to tighter penalties, Prabowo instructed regional governments to immediately eliminate exemptions that currently allow smallholders to clear limited plots with fire. He called on the police to launch criminal investigations against corporations that violate fire‑safeguard regulations.
Current fire response
Indonesia has deployed more than 50 aircraft for water‑bombing and cloud‑seeding missions. Japan has joined the effort, sending three CH‑47 Chinook helicopters, though poor weather delayed their full participation.
From January through July, fires burned roughly 202,000 hectares (about 500,000 acres). Environmental group YKAN estimates an additional 600,000 hectares (1.4 million acres) were damaged in August alone. The haze has spread beyond Indonesia’s borders, prompting unhealthy air alerts in Singapore and Malaysia.
Outlook and challenges
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni warned that the fires could persist until early November, as the rainy season is expected to arrive later than previously forecast. The president’s decisive stance aims to curb the practice before the monsoon can provide natural relief.
Critics from some agricultural associations argue that removing fire‑clearing exemptions could hurt small‑scale farmers who rely on traditional methods for land preparation. However, the administration counters that the health risks and economic losses from haze, as well as the damage to Indonesia’s international reputation, outweigh those concerns.
By positioning the crackdown as a matter of national security and public health, President Subianto is aligning environmental protection with his broader agenda of law‑and‑order governance. The proposed legislative changes and immediate enforcement actions signal a firm commitment to protecting Indonesia’s forests, its citizens, and its neighboring countries from the devastating effects of uncontrolled burning.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
