Indonesia: Criminal investigation into illegal slash-and-burn methods

Interesting how an entire culture of people can build the sustaining
of their families on logging and burning the land away for cattle and
palm oil… Then suddenly a government feels pressured to look
responsible so they go after that culture? Imagine the challenge that
is to that culture’s sensibility? –Editor, Forest Policy Research

The government has promised to open criminal investigations into a
forestry company and a group of local farmers accused of using illegal
slash-and-burn methods to clear land, causing widespread forest fires
across Riau province. “Our team has found evidence that forest fires
in Palelawan regency, Riau, were not caused by natural phenomenon, but
were deliberately set by a company and group of local farmers clearing
some land,” Illyas Asaad, a deputy environment minister, told The
Jakarta Post on Tuesday. However, he declined to identify the company
in question. Illyas, the deputy minister for environment compliance at
the State Ministry for the Environment, said stern measures were in
the works to help fight Indonesia’s international image as a “smoke
exporter”, following massive forest fires that burn out of control
each year, sending smoke as far away as neighboring Singapore and
Malaysia.

“Because such practices occur every year, we have decided to
take stern action as a deterrent for the public to stop setting fires
in forests,” Illyas said. He added his office was still investigating
forest fires in Pelintung, also in Riau. “Our team is still working to
collect data and evidence on the fires in Pelintung, but it looks like
the incident is also a man-made disaster,” he said. The ministry will
enforce a 1999 environmental law that authorizes civilian officials to
investigate environmental violations. The law’s Article 40 says civil
investigation officials may examine people accused of crimes in
relation to such violations.

Civilian investigators are also allowed
to seek explanation and evidence from individuals or legal bodies in
connection with criminal violations of the environmental laws. The
results of the investigations can then be submitted to the police, who
can then choose to arrest or detain suspects based on the
investigations. Under the law, violators can face a maximum penalty of
10 years in prison and a Rp 500 million fine. Data recorded by
Singapore’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite
show there were at least 142 hotspots in Riau on Thursday. A hotspot
is defined as a fire covering at least a hectare.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/28/government-vows-conduct-criminal-probe-forest-fires.html

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