President Prabowo Orders Firm Action against Forest and Land Fire Perpetrators

President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening law enforcement against environmental crimes while safeguarding national defense and unity in facing various challenges. The President instructed all relevant institutions to thoroughly investigate alleged human and corporate involvement in forest and land fires and to take firm action against those proven to have violated the law.

“I ask the police, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Ministry of Forestry, with support from the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and intelligence agencies, to investigate because many corporations are also responsible. Members of the public have also caught individuals who deliberately set fires, which we can consider environmental terrorism,” President Prabowo said while leading the Cabinet Plenary Meeting on the First Two Years of the Government Work for the Nation at the courtyard of the Presidential Palace Compound in Jakarta on Wednesday (10/21).

President Prabowo highlighted field investigation findings indicating that forest and land fires were not solely caused by natural factors, but were also allegedly linked to human intervention and the responsibility of several corporations.

“This is a crime against humanity because what they have done endangers the health of millions of our people. We must not take this lightly. We will now address it on a massive scale, but we will also investigate it thoroughly. This time, I am sorry, we can no longer act in an ordinary manner,” the President added.

On the occasion, the President underlined that law enforcement must be carried out based on clear evidence and through a careful process. The Government will not hesitate to take firm action against companies proven to have committed violations, including revoking their business permits in accordance with applicable regulations.

“If the evidence is clear, we will act. We will revoke all permits of companies that violate the law. As for certain countries that like to insult our country, the time we will reveal [the information on] the companies,” President Prabowo said.

He also underlined Indonesia’s long journey in maintaining unity amid various attempts that could potentially divide the nation. According to him, history has shown that Indonesia has repeatedly faced rebellions, riots, provocation, and various forms of pressure, yet has remained able to preserve national integrity.

“Our people are becoming more intelligent, and the leaders will safeguard our unity. That is what I am pursuing now. My politics is the politics of national unity. I want to embrace all forces. Let us set aside our differences and unite for the greater interest, the interest of the Indonesian people to live in prosperity,” the President said.

Furthermore, President Prabowo called on all elements of the nation to preserve peaceful life, mutual respect, and values based on Pancasila. According to the President, diversity in religion, ethnicity, language, customs, and culture is a national asset that must be protected.

“The Indonesian people live in peace, in an atmosphere of Pancasila, of mutual respect, mutual support, and mutual love. We differ in religion, then let us protect all religions. We differ in ethnicity, then let us protect and respect all ethnic groups. We differ in regional languages then let us preserve all customs and regional cultures. Diversity is a treasure, and respect is noble,” President Prabowo remarked.

President Prabowo’s directives at the Cabinet Plenary Meeting conveyed two important messages for the Government’s path ahead, namely the state must be firm against anyone who damages the environment and endangers the people, while continuing to nurture unity as the foundation of national strength.

For President Prabowo, protecting forests means protecting the people’s lives, and safeguarding unity means safeguarding Indonesia’s future. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (EST/AW)