Indonesia: Foreign aid to be concentrated in South Sumatra -- President

thejakartapost.com 9 Oct 15;

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that assistance from several countries to extinguish forest and land fires would be concentrated in South Sumatra.

"Based on our observation, the largest number of hot spots are located in South Sumatra," said Jokowi during a visit to a clinic for haze victims in Kampar regency in Riau on Friday as quoted by Antara news agency.

According to Jokowi, several countries that offered aid for the haze disaster included Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Russia, Australia and China.

"[Assistance from] Singapore has arrived today. [Aid from] other countries will probably start coming on Sunday," said Jokowi.

He added that the support included aircraft that can carry more than 10 tons of water for water bombing.

"We should realize that we are dealing with peat land, which may have no fires above but are raging below," said Jokowi.

He also said that the handling of the disaster was made more difficult by the vast location of fires burning and the prolonged dry season caused by the weather phenomenon El Niño.

According to Kampar regent Jefry Noer, the haze had caused an increasing number of acute respiratory infections in the regency.

"Around 20 people come to the clinic every day, which offers free treatment for 24 hours," said Jefry. (kes)(++++)

Joko Embraces Help of International Community as Haze Crisis Continues
Ezra Sihite Jakarta Globe 9 Oct 15;

Jakarta. Six nations have told President Joko Widodo they are willing to assist in Indonesia's fight against land and forest fires in Sumatara and Kalimantan, the root of the region's haze crisis.

So far, the president said, only fire-fighting equipped aircrafts from Singapore have arrived.

Malaysia, South Korea, China, Australia and Russia have indicated support, a statement from the president's team said on Friday.

“But only [aircraft] from Singapore has arrived. [Aircraft] from other nations will probably only start arriving from Sunday,” Joko said during a visit to the haze-affected Lereng village in Kampar district, Riau, on Friday.

Riau is among several Indonesian provinces hit by the seasonal fire and haze crisis, which has been exacerbated this year by the El Nino phenomenon bringing extremely dry weather to the region.

The Singaporean fire-fighting aircraft will be able to carry between 12,000 and 15,000 liters of water per flight and has a far greater capacity to waterbomb and extinguish fire hotspots than Indonesian planes.

“We need planes that have the capacity to carry 12 tons to 15 tons of water, unlike the aircraft that [Indonesia has], which have a water capacity of two to three tons. They are insufficient,” Joko earlier said on Thursday, as quoted by news portal Detik.com.

Aircraft operations will be focused on South Sumatra where satellite imaging has found the most hotspots.

The Indonesian government has previously rejected offers of assistance from other countries, notably haze-effected Singapore and Malaysia.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung earlier said the administration was concerned foreign government would claim credit for ending the crisis.


Indonesia to buy waterbombing aircraft next year: President
Antara 9 Oct 15;

Kampar, Riau (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo said on Friday that Indonesia would buy aircraft, which can be specially used to tackle fires or conduct water bombing, next year.

"Minimally, we will buy three planes that have big capacity or are able to water bomb with up to 12 tons of water," he said while inspecting burned areas in the village of Rombo Panjang in the sub-district of Tambang, Kampar, Riau province in Sumatra.

The President revealed that the budget for the purchase is yet to be discussed with the parliament.

Regarding the current haze problem, President Widodo said he believed it would be settled within the next two weeks or even less than two weeks if possible.

He added that assistance from several foreign countries would be focused on the fires in South Sumatra.

"It will be concentrated in South Sumatra first because based on our checks, most fires have indeed been found in South Sumatra," he said while visiting the health service command post for haze victims in the village of Lereng.

The President also said that several foreign countries had expressed a readiness to extend help to Indonesia to deal with the fire problem, including Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Russia, Australia and China.

"Today, only assistance from Singapore has come, but tomorrow perhaps others would follow," he said.

President Widodo said foreign assistance had been extended in the form of planes that could carry above 10 tons of water.

"We must know what we are dealing with is peat land forests. There is no fire found on the surface, but below it is burning," he stated.

President Widodo also stressed that greater efforts were needed to extinguish the fires because the areas affected were larger and because of the increased impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon.(*)


Indonesia aims to put out fires in two weeks with aid from other countries
Indonesian president Joko Widodo added that next year, the government plans to acquire at least three aircraft to deal with forest fires.
Saifulbahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 10 Oct 15;

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo said authorities target to put out forest fires burning in parts of the country in two weeks, with the help of other countries.

The fires have sent haze drifting across parts of the region.

"For one week (foreign help) will give priority to South Sumatra. The target is about two weeks from Menkopolhukam (Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs), and Head of BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency). But, I hope it will be sooner," said Mr Widodo, quoted by local news agency Detiknews.com.

Speaking to reporters on Friday (Oct 9) while visiting areas affected by the forest fires in Riau, Mr Widodo said all foreign assistance will arrive in one to two days.

Countries which have offered help include Malaysia, Singapore and China.

Mr Widodo said the priority is in South Sumatra for one week because the haze is coming from there. He added that next year, the government plans to acquire at least three aircraft to deal with the forest fires. These aircraft will have the capacity to carry more than 12 tons of water.

Mr Widodo said for the past 17 years, Indonesia has been fighting forest fires with aircraft that only have the capacity to carry between two and three tons of water, and this has not been too effective.

Presidential communications team member Ari Dwipayana said there are no details yet on what kind of aircraft the government will buy, but they will be used for other purposes as well.

"Besides using them to put out land and forest fires, the aircraft can also be used to transport logistical aid if there is a disaster in certain areas," said Mr Ari, as quoted by Detiknews.com.

- CNA/dl


RI to receive foreign help in haze crisis
Ina Parlina and Fedina S. Sundaryani, The Jakarta Post 9 Oct 15;

After months of reluctance, the government has said that it was now willing to receive help from foreign countries to extinguish raging forest and peat land fires that have caused thick haze to envelope parts of Southeast Asia.

The government had previously declined repeated offers of assistance made by Singapore on the basis that it had sufficient resources to deal with the fires.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said she had spoken with her counterparts in Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, China and Australia “to discuss cooperation initiatives to overcome fire hotspots”, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir.

“This has proven quite a challenge for us, so we see it as a necessity to work together with countries that have the available resources to extinguish the fires,” he said on Thursday.

Arrmanatha said foreign ministers from the five countries had indicated that they were ready to help and the next step would be to select the proper mechanisms, such as whether the cooperation would be technical or financial.

While waiting for assistance, the authorities have stepped up their efforts to put out the fires.

“At least 65 million liters of water has been dropped on areas in five provinces and 250 tons of salt has been used to modify weather,” he said. “These efforts have more or less succeeded, but there are still 110 hotspots as of today.”

The government requires an aircraft that was able to store 10,000 liters of water to extinguish the 110 hotspots.

As many as 22,146 military and police personnel, and officers from relevant agencies, have been deployed to put out raging forest fires in six provinces, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Recently, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on Indonesia to take action against those setting forest fires, which have also affected areas of Malaysia.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo who flew to West Sumatra to observe fire fighting efforts on Thursday said that the foreign assistance would be of great value to accomplish the complex task of putting out the fires.

“We hope [the assistance] can speed up efforts in tackling [the haze],” Jokowi said in a press release distributed by the presidential communication team.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the foreign countries, which were expected to focus on helping extinguish fires in South Sumatra, particularly in Ogan Komering Ilir and Musi Banyuasin regencies, would conduct a joint-operation.

According to Sutopo, Indonesia had experience working with foreign assistance teams. Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, the US, Japan and France joined efforts to extinguish forest fires in 1997.

“As a follow-up, there will be meetings at the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister to discuss details of the assistance, mechanisms and other matters related to the foreign aid,” he added. “Of course what is needed is assistance that can fill gaps in the existing measures.”

On Thursday at 5 p.m. Terra and Aqua satellites had detected 106 hotspots; 97 in South Sumatra, six in Bangka Belitung Islands, two in Lampung and one in Riau; and 21 in Kalimantan; 17 in Central Kalimantan and four in West Kalimantan.

According to the BNPB, Thursday‘s particulate matter (PM10) levels in Palembang, South Sumatra, Jambi and Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan all were recorded at “dangerous” levels. Pontianak, West Kalimantan, recorded a “moderate” level.

— Tama Salim and Nani Afrida contributedto this report


Good that Indonesia's neighbours are involved in fighting fires: Jusuf Kalla
Vice-President Jusuf Kalla says Indonesia's neighbours will understand how difficult it is for Indonesia to solve the problem of haze-causing forest fires when they pitch in to battle the blaze.
aifulbahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 9 Oct 15;

JAKARTA: It is good that neighbouring countries are involved in fighting forest fires in the country, so they understand how difficult it is to solve the problem, said Indonesia's Vice-President Jusuf Kalla.

Local news portal Detiknews.com quoted Mr Kalla as saying that by helping out, other countries can "understand the ground, not just to observe from a distance".

Speaking to reporters at the vice-president's office on Friday (Oct 9), Mr Kalla also refuted claims that the government is not doing its best to put out the fires. He said a number of aircraft and troops have been deployed and funds have been used. Mr Kalla explained that it is not easy to put out the fires during this dry season.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said Indonesia welcomes help from its neighbours as long as it is sincere.

Detiknews.com reported him as saying: "We just want to remind the Singapore and Malaysian governments as friends in ASEAN, if they want to help Indonesia, do it sincerely. Do not condemn the country, and its people."

He added that it is not the wish for the Indonesian government nor its people to send the haze intentionally to Malaysia or Singapore. Mr Kumolo spoke while he was in Palembang on Friday to attend the civil service police unit jamboree.

- CNA/hs


Six countries to help Indonesia fight forest fires
Indonesia has been offered help from six countries including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Australia and Russia to end the haze crisis that has affected several countries in Southeast Asia.
Saifulbahri Ismail and Melissa Goh, Malaysia Bureau Chief, Channel NewsAsia 9 Oct 15;

JAKARTA: A total of six countries including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Australia and Russia have offered to help Indonesia put out the forest fires that have caused thick haze in parts of Southeast Asia, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Friday (Oct 9) during his visit to Riau in Sumatra.

Singapore has offered to send one Chinook helicopter with a 5,000 litre heli-bucket. According to Singapore's Defence Ministry, the Chinook will be used for "aerial fire-fighting and water-bombing" and the heli-bucket will be operated by a Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team from the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Apart from the helicopter, Singapore is also dispatching one Hercules C-130 aircraft for cloud seeding operations. However, its Defence Ministry said this "will ultimately depend on whether cloud conditions are conducive for cloud seeding".

Aid from other countries may start arriving in Indonesia on Sunday, Antara news agency quoted President Widodo as saying. Their assistance, focusing on the fires in the South Sumatra province, includes water-bombing aircraft with a capacity of more than 10,000 kg.

Malaysia has deployed three aircraft and a 25-member team to help fight fires in South Sumatra.

It will dispatch one Bombadier amphibious aircraft, one Hercules C-130 aircraft and a survey helicopter.

The Bombardier amphibious aircraft uses a "water bombing" technique capable of putting out a fire the size of a football field.

For the next five days, the Bombardier CL 415 from Malaysia's Maritime Enforcement Agency will be operating seven hours a day to put out the fires burning up large swathes of forest in South Sumatra.

Malaysia is the only country in Southeast Asia that has a Bombardier aircraft capable of fetching up to 6,000 liters of water within just 12 seconds.

Meanwhile, the Dauphin helicopter will act as a fire spotter. Another C-130 from Malaysia's Air Force will be ferrying logistics to South Sumatra where the 25-member team will be stationed for a week.

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was at the Subang military air base on Friday to send them off.

The week-long operation is expected to cost the Malaysian government up to 1.7 million ringgit or more than US$400,000.

Meanwhile, South Sumatra governor Alex Noerdin apologised for the haze crisis in the area, acknowledging that he is most responsible for the haze situation, local news portal Detiknews.com reported. However, he said a change in wind directions contributed to the crisis, as smoke is also blown from Kalimantan to South Sumatra.

He added that authorities in South Sumatra have done all they can to put out the fires, with help from the army, police and the National Disaster Management Agency. He said instead of pointing fingers, all parties involved should work together to extinguish the fires.

- CNA/pp/ms


Indonesia welcomes foreign assistance in battling forest fires
Antara 9 Oct 15;

Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA News) - After taking months to tackling, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said the government of Indonesia would welcome foreign offer to help battling forest fires in the country which have caused great inconvenience by haze of thick smoke including in neighboring countries.

"The government would welcome any offer from neighboring countries wanting to help," the minister said here on Thursday.

He expressed disappointment over criticism from neighboring countries blaming Indonesia for the smokes blown by strong winds from forest fires in Sumatra or Kalimantahn.

"Please don't put the blame entirely on this sovereign country. If they honestly want to help please do," he said.

Kumolo said the government has done what it can do and has taken firm measure against suspects responsible for the fire tragedy.

He said a number of oil palm plantation companies had been charged with causing the fires and some of the oil palm companies are owned by investors from the neighboring countries.

President Joko Widodo is currently visiting Jambi to inspect the progress made in the attempt to put out the fires.

Meanwhile, Malaysia is reported planning to send an aircraft Bombardier CL415MP to Indonesia, to help in putting out the fires that have spewed thick smokes blown by the winds to that neighboring country including Singapore.

Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the aircraft would be sent in response to request for help from President Joko Widodo to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"The President of Indonesia has asked for assistance from the Prime Minister to put out forest fires in South Sumatra," Hishammuddin was quoted as saying.

"I have talked with my Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu," he said adding the aircraft could put out fires in wide areas.


Indonesia to utilize foreign assistance to extinguish forest fires
Antara 9 Oct 15;

Kampar, Riau (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will utilize several offers of assistance from foreign countries to extinguish forest and land fires in Sumatra Island.

"Firstly, we will utilize foreign assistance to fight fires in the South Sumatra area. According to our monitoring, the region still has the most number of hotspots," the president affirmed here on Friday.

Jokowi pointed out that some countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia, China, and Australia have offered assistance to extinguish forest fires.

The president said Singapore will start providing assistance on Friday.

"I assumed that assistance from other countries will arrive on next Sunday," Jokowi added.

Foreign countries will deploy several cargo aircraft capable of dropping over 10 tons of water on the hotspots.

The president said the fires that occurred in peatland areas are more difficult to extinguish as the flames continue to burn under the surface of the upper peat.

He added that it will take a long period of time to extinguish fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands as the fires are spread over a wide area of land and also due to the drought induced by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Additionally, Health Minister Nila Moeloek hoped all people would use masks while venturing outdoors.

"It is very important as the pollutants measure between 10 and 2.5 microns. There are also gas pollutants arising from the burnt peatland areas," Nila emphasized.

Nila stated that the government had already witnessed the impacts of the pollutants. She hoped that by agreeing to utilize foreign assistance, Indonesia will be able to extinguish fires and bring down the level of pollutants in the air.

Chief of Kampar District Jefry Noer noted that the number of patients suffering from acute respiratory infections had increased due to the haze engulfing the region.

He remarked that on a daily basis, 20 people suffering from respiratory infections visited the public health center.

The chief affirmed that the health center is ready to provide free treatment to patients round the clock.(*)