Indonesian court hears 'negligence' complaint against state over fires, haze

The Indonesian government faced accusations of gross negligence in a court case that began on Wednesday (October 7), involving President Prabowo Subianto and other officials over toxic haze caused by wildfires on Borneo island. Four plaintiffs, including a local Indigenous NGO chapter, filed a class action lawsuit in Pontianak, West Kalimantan province. The region has been devastated by fires and smoke, leading to school closures and hundreds seeking medical attention for respiratory issues.

Plaintiffs' lawyer Glorio Sanen stated that the case aimed to address the annual wildfires, largely caused by forest destruction and exacerbated this year by an intense El Nino drought. The government has been struggling to control fires across Sumatra, Papua, and Borneo, releasing choking smoke that has affected Malaysia and Singapore. None of the defendants appeared in court, according to an AFP reporter. Glorio expressed regret for their absence, attributing it to the haze condition.

The plaintiffs accuse the government of gross negligence for not addressing the recurring problem, seeking to declare a national disaster for comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures, including covering healthcare costs for affected residents. A similar lawsuit last year in South Sumatra was dismissed.