The situation of forest and land fires in Indonesia is currently in an alarming condition. More than 1000 hotspots in recent days have continued to increase and recorded 80% of the total hotspots in ASEAN countries based on the Asean Specialized Meteorological Center (ASMC) data. This is the highest history since 2015. In a visit related to forest and land fires carried out by the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces-Chief of National Police of Indonesia-Minister of Environment and Forestry in Riau, National Police Chief Tito Karnavian stated that he would withdraw the cases of forest and land fires to Headquarters if law enforcement was ineffective.
Responding to the statement of the National Police Chief, Henri Subagiyo, Executive Director of the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), hopes that this will not only be a lip service amid the worsening forest and land fires situation. “We’ve been treated to something similar. But often these things run inconsistently after forest and land fires subside. Even though efforts to control forest and land fires, including law enforcement, must continue despite the reduction in hotspots in the field. Chief of National Police of Indonesia Tito Karnavian himself had already signed the Circular Letter (SE) No. SE/15/XI/2016 concerning Control of Forest and Land Fires on the 10th of November 2016. The SE is arguably quite comprehensive which includes directives for the ranks of the National Police to carry out pre-emptive, preventive and repressive measures complete with directions for proving efforts in the process of research and investigation. But the results so far have not been widely felt by the public, especially law enforcement for corporate actors. Remember that related to law enforcement the Commission III of the Indonesian Parliament had formed a Forest and Land Work Committee in 2016 although the results were unclear.”
Henri stressed that Chief of National Police of Indonesia Tito Karnavian should be able to be more assertive, total and comprehensive. I think the Chief of National Police of Indonesia should be able to use the SE as a basis for a comprehensive evaluation of all ranks below whether the SE is implemented properly. If necessary the Chief of National Police of Indonesia forms a separate task force to do that, he added.
“What is the guarantee that the cases of forest and land fire will be withdrawn to Headquarters if law enforcement is ineffective in the Regional Police? I think it’s the same, the process of Jikalahari police’s report related to forest and land fires until this moment is not even clear,” said Made Ali, Coordinator of Jikalahari. In 2016 Jikalahari reported 49 companies to the National Police Headquarters one of which was related to the burning of forests and land.
Plus, until this moment Chief of National Police of Indonesia Tito Karnavian haven’t had the courage to reopen SP3 on 15 Corporations which were stopped by the Riau Regional Police in 2015 and 2016.
The findings of Jikalahari for those 15 corporation were on fire again in 2019. Jikalahari monitored via Terra-Aqua Modis satellite throughout 2019 there were 275 hotspots, with confidence >70% there were 149 points that could potentially become hotspots in the corporate area instructed by the SP3. The companies are PT Sumatera Riang Lestari (131 points) and PT Suntara Gaja Pati (3 points). Field data in March 2019 found that PT Sumatera Riang Lestari was really on fire on Rupat Bengkalis Island.
“President Jokowi should replace Chief of National Police of Indonesia Tito Karnavian for failing to stop forest and land fires in Riau through progressive law enforcement,” Made Ali said.
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