Forest and land fires burning for nearly four months across Indonesia triggered widespread transboundary haze, prompting high-level regional apologies during the 49th ASEAN Leaders' Summit in Manila. Emergency mobilization saw tens of thousands of personnel dispatched to contain the blazes, resulting in fatal casualties and destroyed aircraft. Alongside emergency containment, authorities applied a zero-tolerance policy against offending corporations through legal charges and concession revocations. Moving forward, Indonesia plans to launch a dedicated agency while coordinating with regional neighbors on corporate accountability.
Key points
Indonesia has formally acknowledged regional responsibility after months of forest fires…: Indonesia has formally acknowledged regional responsibility after months of forest fires caused transboundary haze across neighboring nations.
The country is transitioning its strategic focus away from active firefighting toward sys…: The country is transitioning its strategic focus away from active firefighting toward systematic institutional prevention through a planned new agency.
Regional partners are collaborating on shared accountability measures to investigate and…: Regional partners are collaborating on shared accountability measures to investigate and penalize commercial firms responsible for burning land.
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According to a statement from the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat, Prabowo also said 16 firefighters had died and two helicopters were lost battling forest fires that had raged for nearly four months.
MANILA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto apologised on Sunday (Nov 15) for the transboundary haze from forest and land fires in his country that has affected Singapore and Malaysia, according to a statement from the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat.
The statement, issued late on Sunday following the first day of the 49th ASEAN Leaders' Summit in Manila, said Prabowo had conveyed the apology on behalf of the Indonesian government and people while assuring regional leaders that his country had done its utmost to tackle the fires.
The fires, which persisted for nearly four months, have caused transboundary haze affecting communities in Singapore and Malaysia, the statement said.
Prabowo said his government maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward corporations involved in forest fires and that various law enforcement measures have been taken, including the revocation of concessions and the initiation of legal proceedings against companies suspected of being responsible.
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