Indonesian Police Name 72 Suspects in Kalimantan and Sumatra Land Fires
Indonesian Police Name 72 Suspects in Fire Investigations
Indonesian police’s Criminal Investigation Department named 72 suspects during investigations into 89 police reports across nine provincial jurisdictions. [2] The suspects were identified during investigations into 89 police reports across the nine jurisdictions. [2] Criminal Investigation Department Director Brigadier General Mohammad Irhamni said the suspects were identified during investigations into 89 police reports across the nine jurisdictions. [2] “These nine provincial police departments have conducted investigations, with about 72 individuals named as suspects,” Irhamni said at a news conference in Jakarta on Sunday (Aug. 23). [2] Indonesian police have named 72 suspects in investigations into forest and land fires across Kalimantan and Sumatra. [4] The police’s Criminal Investigation Department named 72 suspects during investigations into 89 police reports across nine provincial jurisdictions. [2]
Lawmaker Backs Pursuit of Masterminds and Financiers
A senior Indonesian lawmaker, Habiburokhman, head of the House of Representatives’ Commission III, supports prosecuting not only field operators but also corporations and financiers who profit from burned land. [2] Habiburokhman said field workers were often victims or laborers, while corporations and financiers profiting from burned land escaped scrutiny. [2] “Following the money and taking firm action without exception aligns with the reform agenda for fair law enforcement,” Habiburokhman said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday. [2] He said police should also prosecute those making financial gains from forest and land fires, stressing that enforcement must address the root causes. [2] He also praised proactive prevention measures by police. [2] He said Commission III would continue supporting and overseeing police efforts, from prosecuting environmental offenders to pursuing sustainable mitigation measures to protect communities and ecosystems. [2] The Indonesian police’s pledge to prosecute not only field operators but also masterminds and financiers behind forest and land fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra has won support from a senior lawmaker. [2]
Preventive Infrastructure Built in Fire-Prone Regions
Police have built 1,296 reservoirs and 834 canal blocks in fire-prone areas as proactive prevention measures. [2] Habiburokhman praised proactive prevention measures by police, including the construction of 1,296 reservoirs and 834 canal blocks in fire-prone areas. [2] The measures demonstrated police commitment to President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for all units to make maximum efforts to stop and prevent forest and land fires, he said. [2] “Building water infrastructure is tangible evidence of precision policing that directly helps mitigate the annual smoke disaster,” Habiburokhman said. [2] He said Commission III would continue supporting and overseeing police efforts, from prosecuting environmental offenders to pursuing sustainable mitigation measures to protect communities and ecosystems. [2]
South Kalimantan Firms Provide Masks and Firefighting Support
In South Kalimantan, companies associated with the Indonesian Palm Oil Association distributed 20,000 masks to residents to mitigate health effects from the fires and haze. [3] South Kalimantan’s Environment Agency and the local Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) distributed 20,000 masks to residents in order to mitigate the health effects caused by forest and land fires. [3] GAPKI South Kalimantan is also ready to provide direct support for firefighting operations in affected areas, according to a statement received here Monday. [3] The commitment followed a field visit and guidance from Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Hanif Faisol at a monitoring post in Banjarbaru on August 18, GAPKI South Kalimantan Executive Secretary Hairuddin said. [3] Hairuddin said GAPKI member companies would deploy firefighting teams to assist with operations on the ground. [3] "Firefighting teams from GAPKI members will go directly to the field. We will also be active from August 30 through Sept. 8, 2026," he said. [3] GAPKI member companies in South Kalimantan are deploying firefighting teams to assist operations from August 30 through September 8, 2026. [3] Company involvement is expected to strengthen firefighting resources, particularly in tackling fires in areas that are difficult to reach, he added. [3] South Kalimantan Environment Agency Chief Rahmat Prapto Udoyo praised companies for supporting fire response efforts, saying business involvement strengthened personnel in the ground fire-response task force. [3] "GAPKI is among them. Eight companies have now joined the ground task force handling the fires," Rahmat said in Banjarbaru. [3] GAPKI South Kalimantan Executive Secretary Hairuddin said distributing masks reflected businesses’ concern for residents affected by haze. [3] GAPKI South Kalimantan had previously provided 17,500 masks through the Environment Agency and the provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency, he said. [3] Another 2,500 masks were distributed directly to residents with the Environment Agency, Plantation, and Livestock Agency and Disaster Mitigation Agency. [3] "That brings the total to 20,000 masks. We distributed 17,500 through the Environment Agency and Disaster Mitigation Agency, while 2,500 went directly to residents," Hairuddin said. [3]
New Zealand Crews Battle Canterbury Wildfire
A separate wildfire covering about 100 hectares is being fought by helicopters and crews in Canterbury, New Zealand, on Karaka Rd south of the Hurunui River. [1] Helicopters and fire crews are tackling a wildfire in Canterbury. [1] Fire and Emergency NZ said it was responding to a vegetation fire on Karaka Rd, south of Hurunui River. [1] A spokesperson said the fire is covering about 100 hectares on a rural property. [1] Three helicopters and firefighters are responding to the vegetation fire. [1]
What to watch next: Police efforts to prosecute those making financial gains from forest and land fires continue alongside construction of reservoirs and canal blocks, while GAPKI member companies remain active in firefighting operations from August 30 through Sept. 8, 2026, and New Zealand crews address the Canterbury vegetation fire covering about 100 hectares.
