Indonesian police confirm foreign links in 98 forest and land fire cases

Indonesian National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto confirmed the involvement of foreign entities in 98 corporate cases linked to the ongoing forest and land fires in the country. The Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) is working to identify those responsible and determine the nature of their involvement. Suyudi stated that the investigation is ongoing, and they are still determining whether the cases involve foreign investment or foreign parties.

At a press conference following a Cabinet meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, Suyudi mentioned that investigators are gathering evidence and expect to name suspects soon, including company owners and shareholders. Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman Prabowo urged for intensified firefighting operations, independent of rainfall, as the crisis has become highly disruptive.

President Prabowo had instructed the deployment of troops, police, Forestry Service personnel, and the public to respond on a massive scale, in a measured and prompt manner.

Indonesia has accepted offers of foreign assistance, including from Malaysia and Singapore. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is coordinating technical arrangements for the proposed support. However, foreign assistance will be implemented only after the Indonesian government declares the fires a national disaster, which the government has yet to do. The government maintains it is capable of managing the crisis using its own resources.