Prabowo berates countries that ‘insult’ Indonesia over wildfires

Indonesian President Prabowo has expressed anger towards countries that insult Indonesia over the ongoing wildfires that have devastated large areas, releasing hazardous smoke into neighboring nations. The Southeast Asian country has been grappling with fires for months, which the independent monitor Nusantara Atlas reports have consumed over 1.9 million hectares in the past nine months.

The haze has caused air pollution levels to soar, not only in Indonesia but also in Malaysia, Singapore, and East Timor. Consequently, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc has convened a meeting to address the crisis.

Prabowo stated that he had requested investigations into the cause of the fires, claiming that many corporations bear responsibility for the crisis. However, he did not disclose specific names or nationalities. The leaders of Indonesia's neighbors have offered assistance while refraining from overt criticism at the highest diplomatic level. Nevertheless, growing public discontent led a Malaysian MP to demand that Indonesia be treated as an "outcast" in the region.

The president emphasized that Indonesia is a patient nation and reiterated that his country does not seek constant insult. He has ordered the police, attorney general's office, the ministry of forestry, and the Armed Forces, along with intelligence services, to investigate the fires. Prabowo also noted that individuals caught deliberately setting fires should be treated as environmental terrorists, equating their actions to a crime against humanity due to the health risks they pose to millions of citizens.

Once the evidence is gathered, Prabowo added, the licenses of companies violating the law will be revoked.