14 arrested in connection with Indonesia’s forest fire
14 arrested in connection with Indonesia’s forest fire
28 June 2013
published by www.channelnewsasia.com
Indonesia:Indonesian police said they have arrested 14 people in connection with the forest fire in Sumatra.
JAKARTA: Indonesian police said they have arrested 14 people in connection with the forest fire in Sumatra.
Eleven of them allegedly started the fires on areas owned by plantation companies.
However, the police have yet to establish if the companies had paid the suspects to clear the land.
Jakarta said there has been a significant drop in the number of hot spots in recent days.
The number of hot spots in Riau – the worse hit area – fell to about 60 after hitting 265 earlier this week.
However, Indonesia is warning of a long dry spell ahead.
Agung Laksono, the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare, said the ongoing operation to put out the fires will likely stretch to October when the dry season is expected to end.
Mr Agung said: “South Sumatera, Jambi, North Sumatera and the whole of Kalimantan. This operation readiness in anticipation of the haze disaster will be carried out from this month until October.
“We have to be vigilant because new hotspots could emerge in July. It means we have to be ready until October. And we are still able to use our own equipment and personnel. We will rent when necessary from other countries that have experience such as Russia and Vietnam.”
Mr Agung, who heads the multi-agency task force tackling the fires, said the operation will cost the government some US$10 million. He that Indonesia has the capacity and personnel to carry out the operations on its own.
“We are open to the idea of cooperation. However, Indonesia is still capable to overcome it on our own,” he stressed.
Neighbours Singapore and Malaysia have offered assistance to help put out the fires.
