Indonesia says Singapore 'behaving like a child' over haze

AFP Yahoo News 19 Jun 13;

Indonesia on Thursday accused Singapore of acting "like a child" over acrid smog from forest fires in Sumatra that has triggered the city-state's worst environmental crisis in more than a decade, as the two nations held talks.

The escalation in tensions between tiny Singapore and its vast neighbour came as the levels of haze enveloping the island hit a new record high, shrouding the whole city, from residential blocks to tree-lined parks.

Singapore ratcheted up pressure on Jakarta Thursday totake "definitive action" to stop the fires -- but Indonesia, which insists Singapore companies that own plantations on Sumatra also share the blame, hit back.

"Singapore should not be behaving like a child and making all this noise," Agung Laksono, the minister coordinating Indonesia's response, told reporters. "This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature."

The minister for people's welfare also insisted that the sprawling archipelago did not want any financial assistance to fight the fires from its rich neighbour unless it was a large amount.

"If it is only half a million, or one million dollars, we don't need that. We would rather use our own national budget,"he said.

His comments came as an emergency meeting hosted by Indonesia's foreign ministry in Jakarta and attended by the chief executive of Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA), Andrew Tan, got under way.

Singapore's air pollution index meanwhile hit a new record high, soaring to 371 at 1:00 pm (0500 GMT), well past the previous high of 321 set the night before.

Any reading above 300 is "hazardous" while a reading above 400 is deemed "life-threatening to ill and elderly people," according to government guidelines.

"This is now the worst haze that Singapore has ever faced," said Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's minister for the environment and water resources.

"We need urgent and definitive action by Indonesiato tackle the problem at source," he said on Facebook.

"Singaporeans have lost patience, and are understandably angry, distressed and concerned."

Smog still shrouded the city-state as residents went towork Thursday, and more commuters were seen wearing disposable medical masks than in previous days.

The acrid odour of burnt wood and grass could be smelled in living rooms and bedrooms across the island as well as inside the air-conditioned trains of Singapore's metro system.

Drug stores in the central business district were sold out of disposable masks and refused to take advance orders, telling customers to return the next day in case new stocks arrived.

Parks were empty of the usual morning joggers, but thousands of employees still trooped to offices and labourers continued their work on high-rise buildings under construction.

The previous Singapore air pollutant index high of 226was recorded in September 1997 at the height of a Southeast Asian calamity also resulting from vast amounts of haze from Indonesia, where slash-and-burn farming generates heavy smoke during the dry season that begins in June.

Parts of Malaysia close to Singapore have also been severely affected by the smog.

Laksono said that plans to use cloud-seeding to unleash rain over Sumatra and put out the fires were also under way, and it was hoped helicopters could be dispatched on Friday.

Smallholders and plantations in Sumatra -- some of them with Singaporean investors -- have been accused of using fire to clear land for cultivation, but big palm oil companies deny involvement in such activities.

Singapore smog from Indonesia fire 'could last weeks'
BBC News 20 Jun 13;

Singapore's prime minister has warned that the haze engulfing the city-state could last for weeks, as air pollution soared to record levels.

The pollution standards index peaked at 371 on Thursday, breaking previous records and well above hazardous levels, before falling to about 300.

The haze is the result of forest fires started by farmers clearing land on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The issue has sparked accusations between the two neighbours.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister, wrote on his Facebook wall that he would demand "definitive action" from Jakarta.

"No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans' health and wellbeing," he said.

However, Indonesian Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono said that Singapore was "behaving like a child".

"This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature," he said.

Environment officials from the two nations have been holding an emergency meeting in Jakarta, to discuss the issue.

Since the haze arrived, Singapore's buildings have been obscured by the polluted air and the smell of burnt wood has permeated the city-state.

A PSI reading above 200 indicates "very unhealthy" air, while a PSI score above 300 is "hazardous". Readings are being posted on the website of the National Environment Agency.

At a press conference, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the haze could "easily last for several weeks and quite possibly longer until the dry season ends in Sumatra".

Mr Lee asked Singaporeans to "stay indoors where possible and avoid heavy outdoor activities".

He also announced that the Singaporean government would hold daily press conferences on the haze situation.

Air traffic controllers in Singapore have been told to work with extra caution given the poor visibility, while McDonald's has temporarily cancelled its delivery service.

The Singaporean military has also reportedly suspended all outdoor training.

The poor air quality has prompted widespread buying of disposable face masks, leading shops to run out of stock.

Parts of Malaysia have also recorded "hazardous" pollution levels, with over 200 schools in the country's south ordered to shut.

Malaysia's Department of Environment has also banned open burning in some states.
Cloud seeding

Indonesia's forestry ministry said it intended to use cloud seeding to try to induce rain on the affected area of Sumatra.

Indonesian officials have suggested that foreign palm oil investors, including Singaporean companies, may bear some responsibility for the fires.

However, several major Singapore-based palm oil companies have denied any involvement.

Singapore's prime minister said the city-state had provided satellite data to Indonesia to help identify who was responsible for the fires.

He added that if any Singaporean companies, or companies with a presence in Singapore played a part in the fires, they would be held responsible.

In 1997 and 1998, many countries in the region were affected by the South East Asian haze, which was caused by smog from Indonesian fires.

Road and air traffic was disrupted, and the smog is thought to have made around 20 million people ill.

The haze led to an agreement on trans-boundary haze pollution being approved by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2002.

However, Indonesia has yet to ratify the agreement.

At the scene
Philippa Fogarty BBC News, Singapore

The haze blew into Singapore late last week and pollution levels started to soar on Monday. Skyscrapers disappeared into a dense white gloom and a smell of burning enveloped the city.

On Thursday, as haze levels hit a new record peak, visibility was even further reduced. From our office downtown, we cannot make out the shoreline less than a kilometre away. At the port, big container ships emerge ghost-like out of the haze to berth.

People are complaining of dry throats, itchy eyes and a bad taste in their mouths. Laundry hung outside to dry smells like it was left next to a bonfire.

Children and the elderly are being advised to stay indoors until conditions improve - but it is not clear how soon that will be.

Regional press review

Straits Times, Singapore: "The truth, sadly, is that rogue firms thrive in permissive regimes where commercial interests overshadow environmental concerns. That situation can be changed only by an act of political will and faithful implementation of laws with sufficient bite."
The Star, Malaysia: "We need solutions. It is worth remembering that a ground-breaking Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was signed here in Kuala Lumpur more than 10 years ago, in 2002... But Indonesia, despite stating many times that it will ratify the agreement, has yet to do so."
The Online Citizen, Singapore: "The haze situation has revived an old thorn in Singapore-Indonesia relations. The government's response so far has been strongly worded, and rightly so."
Utusan Melayu, Malaysia: "Co-operation between neighbouring countries has to be more vigorous. It is meaningless to be able to control open burning in one country if it is widespread in another."

Singapore offers Indonesia assistance package amid haze
Alice Chia Channel NewsAsia 20 Jun 13;

SINGAPORE: Singapore has offered Indonesia an assistance package, similar to those offered in previous haze episodes.

The package includes an aircraft for cloud seeding operations as well as high-resolution satellite pictures and hotspot coordinates.

Indonesia said they would consider these proposals.

Singapore also requested Indonesia to ratify the ASEAN Transboundary Haze Agreement which Indonesia signed in 2002.

Indonesia informed Singapore that they would be seeking their parliament's approval on this.

Singapore representatives had met with Indonesian officials on Thursday in Jakarta to discuss the severe haze situation at an urgent meeting.

At the meeting, Indonesia shared plans to increase its capacity to deal with the fires.

They will get their agencies to report twice a day to a national task force chaired by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Agung Laksono.

Indonesia also intends to step up its law enforcement on the ground by sending investigators to Bengkalis to clamp down on errant plantation companies.

Singapore noted the ongoing measures and urged the authorities to step up their efforts.

The meeting was arranged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and involved senior Indonesian officials.

It was chaired by Mr Yuri Thamrin, Director General for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs of Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Singapore delegation, led by the CEO of the National Environment Agency (NEA), Mr Andrew Tan, expressed Singapore's serious concerns over the severe haze situation.

Singapore also stressed that haze remains a transboundary problem that affects not only Indonesia but regional countries.

Indonesia assured Singapore that it would give the issue greater attention.

As there had been a report from the Indonesian Forestry Ministry that Singapore companies may be involved in illegal burning activities, Singapore requested that Indonesia share the names of such errant companies.

However, the primary responsibility to take legal and enforcement action against these companies lie with Indonesia.

It was emphasised that it would be better if Indonesia reveal all the companies involved in such errant acts regardless of whether they are registered in Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore so that they can all be brought to task.

Singapore reiterated its commitment to work with Indonesia at both bilateral and regional levels to tackle the haze.

Singapore stands ready to collaborate at the provincial level as agreed at the Leaders Retreat in April this year.

Indonesia will also consider agreeing to the Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution to be brought forward from August this year.

Singapore also requested Indonesia to share its concession maps for the overlaying of hotspot data as discussed by the MSC Technical Task Force.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Tan said: "We had a frank and useful exchange of views where we conveyed the deep concerns of the public over the deteriorating haze situation. Both sides recognised that the situation was serious and needed urgent attention. We urged Indonesia to take decisive actions to stop the fires and prevent further burning with the onset of the dry season. We reiterated the points and offers raised by Singapore's Environment and Foreign Affairs Ministers when they spoke with their counterparts on 18 June. The meeting agreed to consider these and other suggestions made to them. Singapore hopes to work closely with Indonesia to make further progress together in the near future."

- CNA/xq