Indonesia Names 20 Firms in Forest Fire Crackdown — SkimNews
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- Indonesian police named 20 companies as suspects in forest and land fires, including four foreign-owned firms, with investigations ongoing into 97 companies total.
- Asep Safrudin, head of the national police’s criminal investigation department, disclosed that 22 of the 97 firms under investigation have foreign backing, with Singapore-linked firms most numerous.
- President Prabowo Subianto labeled the fires a 'crime against humanity' and 'environmental terrorism,' ordering police and prosecutors to pursue corporate and individual accountability.
- Singapore’s National Environment Agency issued legal notices to 10 Indonesian companies and held a meeting with senior executives over their potential links to the fires.
- Singapore Exchange separately questioned seven listed agricultural companies about their operations and possible connections to the fires in Indonesia.
- Indonesian police requested the revocation of permits for 23 companies due to repeated fires, inadequate firefighting equipment, and fires spreading over 500 hectares.
- Individuals face up to 15 years in jail under the 1999 Forestry Law, with 245 already named as suspects in fires covering about 5,860 hectares.
Why it matters: Plantation firms with foreign investment now face legal action and permit revocation in Indonesia, raising financial and reputational risks for Singapore, Malaysia, and other international stakeholders tied to the 22 under investigation. The coordinated response from Jakarta and Singapore signals a shift toward enforcing cross-border environmental accountability.
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