Malaysian Seeks Help Of Its Oil Palm Planters In Riau To Prevent Haze

Bernama 9 Aug 09;

PEKAN BARU (RIAU), Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has requested the assistance of its three major investors in Riau to enhance their role and cooperation with local authorities in efforts to prevent peat and forest fires to reduce haze.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said the three investors, which operate a 180,000 hectare oil palm plantation here, could play an important role by ensuring their plantations were free of any bush or peat fire, and to render immediate assistance if it occurred.

He said they should also continue with the practice of zero burning in their plantations.

"This is a social responsibility which is very much appreciated by the Malaysian government and also the Indonesian government," he said at a dinner with Malaysian oil palm planters here Saturday night.

Unggah Embas is leading a delegation from his ministry for a two-day working visit here, during which he also handed over to the Indonesian government two projects, the air quality monitoring station and canal blocking, meant to prevent fire on peat soil.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Consul in Riau, Zamani Ismail, said the district governor welcomed the assistance provided by the Malaysian government in efforts to extinguish the forest firers in Riau.

"They see the assistance provided by Malaysia as an act which signifies a good friendship and neighhbourliness," he told Bernama.

Last night, Unggah Embas, who was accompanied by Indonesian Minister of Environment, Rahmat Witoelar, visited a Malaysian-aided project in Bagan Siati Api.

Unggah Embas returned to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday morning.

-- BERNAMA

Plantation firms behind forest fires in Riau: Minister
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post 9 Aug 09;

State Minister for Environment claimed that several plantation firms operating in Riau were behind the massive forest fires that caused dangerous levels of air pollution across the province last week.

He said that his office would submit its findings on forest fires cases to national police to take legal action.

“We will file lawsuit against the plantation firms this week,” he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Minister Rachmat and his Malaysian counterpart Douglas Unggah Embas flew over forest in Riau to watch the fires.

“The forest fires remain in place and uncontrollable. I see some forest fires are in the plantation firms.”

The 1999 environmental law authorizes civilian officials to investigate environmental-related violations.

Article 40 of the law says civil investigation officials may examine people accused of crimes in relation to violations.

The 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 investigations can then be submitted to the police, who can then choose to arrest suspects based on the investigations.

Violators can face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a Rp 500 million fine.

Govt to report firms burning forests to police
Adianto P. Simamora and Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 10 Aug 09;

State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar has pledged to submit findings on massive forest fires in Riau to help the police take legal action against plantation companies that have showed disdain for environmental law.

Rachmat confirmed that several plantation firms operating in Riau were behind the forest fires that have disrupted flights and forced dozens of schools to close due to the thick haze from fires last week.

"We will file lawsuits against firms involved in forest fires in Riau this week," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Rachmat made the statement after his visit to Riau on Saturday when he and his Malaysian counterpart Douglas Unggah Embas flew over the forest areas to survey the impact of the fires.

"The forest fires in Riau were still at uncontrollable levels during my visit. I also saw forest fires in the plantation company areas," he said.

Environmental law allows civil investigators (PPNS) to investigate environment-related violations.

The results of these investigations are then submitted to police, who choose whether to investigate the matter further.

Violators can face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a Rp 500 million (US$50, 505) fine.

A team from Rachmat's office has been in Riau investigating the case for the past week.

In February, the ministry also carried out similar investigations of forest fires in Pelalawan, Riau, but no companies or local farmers have been taken to court.

WWF Indonesia said fire hot spots in Riau reached 2,395 in July, the highest ever across the country. A hot spot is defined as a fire covering at least a 1-hectare area.

The latest forest fires have caused the repeated closure of airports in Riau due to low visibility. The air quality also reached "dangerous" levels due to thick haze and has forced schools in the area to close. The haze reportedly reached Malaysia last week.

During a meeting with Rachmat, Douglas said that his country would not complain about the "export" of haze from Indonesia.

"We understand how difficult it is to stop the fires. I myself have seen the forest fires in Riau from a helicopter. It is difficult to control the fires as they have hit huge areas," he told reporters in Riau on Saturday.

"We also have the same problem in Sarawak."

The Associated Press reported Sunday that pollution caused air quality to plunge to its worst level this year in the eastern parts of Kalimantan, where more than 1,000 hectares of wildfires - roughly the size of 1,500 soccer fields - are raging in several forests, especially near Sarawak's border with the neighboring sultanate of Brunei.