Malapetaka Asap Karhutla dan Ketiadaan Kepemimpinan Prabowo

Summary

A coalition of civil-society groups warned that Indonesia’s forest and land fires had created a severe haze emergency, threatening public health in Indonesia and neighboring countries. The coalition said roughly 37.9 million people across eight provinces had been affected in the previous month. Speakers described the crisis as predictable and preventable, and criticized the government for responses they said did not adequately address the causes of recurring fires.

Health impacts and emergency needs

WALHI Central Kalimantan reported that respiratory infection cases were highest in Palangka Raya among the areas it discussed, and said the air quality in Sampit had reached a reported level of 700. It said the provincial government had an emergency-response policy, but the response and support for those fighting fires remained inadequate. Residents urgently needed masks, oxygen supplies, and “smoke-safe” shelters.

CISDI warned that children, older people, pregnant women, and people with existing illnesses face heightened risks, while haze can also disrupt access to clinics and other health services. It cited past research on the 2015 fires to illustrate the potential scale of harm.

Fires, peatlands, and cross-border haze

Greenpeace Indonesia said smoke had spread to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines, and described recurring haze patterns similar to those of 2015, 2019, and 2023. Its monitoring identified nearly 3,000 smoke-source points across eight provinces in less than a month, including in peatlands, concessions, and conservation areas.

The group questioned the effectiveness of peatland restoration, citing repeated fires in areas that had received restoration work. It also raised concerns about fires in Papua amid new development projects.

Burned areas and affected wildlife

Auriga Nusantara reported that about 178,000 hectares had burned nationally from January to June 2026, with burned area rising sharply in June. It also cited an analysis finding roughly 117,698 hectares had burned at least ten times between 2000 and 2024, and said repeat burning warrants further investigation into land use and management.

The group highlighted fires affecting peatlands and the habitats of iconic species, including tigers, rhinos, elephants, and orangutans.

Concessions and supply chains

Trend Asia said many high-confidence hotspots were located in concession areas, including palm-oil, mining, and forestry concessions. It reported a sharp increase in hotspots compared with the same period the previous year and said some commodities produced in affected areas are exported to major trading partners.

The group argued that accountability should extend beyond domestic enforcement to companies and the supply chains that benefit from these activities.

Law enforcement and state responsibility

YLBHI argued that disaster-response budgets and reduced support for local governments leave communities to shoulder much of the burden. It criticized what it described as a pattern of weak or opaque enforcement, with individuals and small farmers more often targeted than companies or powerful actors.

Speakers called for investigations to trace responsibility through concession holders, beneficiaries, permit issuers, and officials responsible for supervision—not just the people who physically set fires.

A legal expert from PHLI warned that provisions in the new Criminal Code could make it harder to prosecute corporations for environmental crimes and could prioritize administrative measures over criminal penalties. He urged residents to document haze-related harm and consider civil lawsuits, while noting that proving responsibility for widespread smoke pollution is difficult.

Speakers also discussed the ASEAN agreement on transboundary haze, describing it as a framework for cooperation rather than one that imposes direct sanctions. They suggested that affected citizens in neighboring countries could explore legal action in Indonesian courts.

Coalition demands

The coalition called on the government to:

• Take comprehensive action to tackle fires and haze.
• Prosecute companies whose concessions burn, including repeatedly, rather than focusing on local farmers.
• Stop issuing operating permits in forest areas and halt peatland conversion.
• Revoke permits of companies linked to fires based on available evidence.
• Conduct transparent reviews of permits and enforce forestry and environmental regulations.

Presenters and contributors

• Via — moderator, Tren Asia
• Janang — WALHI Central Kalimantan
• Fahrial — CISDI
• Belqis Habiba — Greenpeace Indonesia
• Fiki — Auriga Nusantara (the subtitles provide only a first name)
• Fauzan — Trend Asia
• Edi — YLBHI
• Prof. Andri — PHLI

The subtitles also identify these audience participants:

• Ahmad Rizki Muazzam — Bongabai Indonesia
• Fatur — apakabar.co.id
• H. Eman Suherman