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

Indonesian National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto has revealed that investigators are working to gather evidence and expect to name suspects in the upcoming months, including foreign entities such as company owners and shareholders connected to the forest and land fires. Speaking at a press conference following a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, Seto stated that the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) is currently determining which of the 98 corporate cases involve foreign investment or foreign parties.

The police chief added that the nature of the foreign involvement is still being assessed, with a decision expected soon. Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman Prabowo has called for intensified firefighting operations without waiting for rainfall, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate and sustained action.

The president has instructed the deployment of troops and personnel, including the Indonesian military, police, Forestry Service, and civilians, for massive-scale interventions to control the fires. Prabowo also mentioned that Indonesia has accepted foreign assistance offers, primarily from Malaysia and Singapore, with the National Disaster Management Agency coordinating technical arrangements for the proposed support.

However, Prabowo stated that foreign assistance would have to wait until the Indonesian government officially declares the fires a national disaster, a decision Indonesia has not yet made, as it believes it can manage the crisis with its own resources.