Police to Take Action Against Forest Fires Suspects

Chief of Indonesian National Police General Tito Karnavian delivers press statement after attending a Limited Meeting on Forest and Land Fires Handling in Pekanbaru, Riau province, Monday (16/9). (Photo: Rahmat/PR)

Following forest fires that hit Riau province, Chief of Indonesian National Police General Tito Karnavian has issued a statement, saying the police will step up efforts to take actions against perpetrators (that began the fires).

“The forest was intentionally burnt and the police have nabbed several people as suspects,” Tito said in a press statement in Riau provincial capital of Pekanbaru, Monday (16/9).

Tito added that the people would also redouble efforts to enforce the law, saying that he had ordered all regional police chiefs throughout Indonesia including the provinces Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan, North Sumatra, Lampung, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, and provinces in Java to take legal actions against the perpetrators.

The police, he added, has also announced a reward and punishment system for the regional police to encourage them to perform better “I will discharge regional police chiefs who fail to meet the target and fail to arrest the suspects,” Tito said, adding that he will also give rewards to those who can perform well.

With the reward and punishment system, Tito expressed hope that the police will give their best.
As for suspects from corporate, Tito noted that the Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) and Ministry of the Environment and Forestry will handle the case. (RSF/UN/RAH/ES)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas