The Efforts to Extinguish of Forest Fires, President Invites All to Move

President Jokowi reviewing the land burnt in Guntung Damar village, Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday (23/9).

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) invites all elements of society to move and exert every effort to extinguish the forest fires in Indonesia.

“We must be aware that the land burnt already thousands of hectares. Losses from land fires have reached trillions. I want all of us to move, military, police, local government, the community all together ‘all out’ utmost fight the fire,” President Jokowi said, when reviewing land burnt in Guntung Damar village, Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan, on Wednesday (23/9).

Forest fires, according to President Jokowi, is difficult to extinguish so it needs the cooperation of all elements to overcome.

To the law enforcement officials, in particularly, President Jokowi asked to impose the same penalties against forest burning, either to the common people or to companies.
President Jokowi also asked the Minister of Forestry and Environment to revoke the license of the companies that intentionally burning the land.

Boost Socialization

To the government officials, military and police, President Jokowi urged for conducting socialization to the public to refrain from burning.

President Jokowi asserted that he always monitor forest fires have occurred in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

According Military Resort Commander (Danrem)101/Antasari, Colonel Abduh Ras in terms of forest fires, already 142 people have been examined and six of them have been named as suspects and seven companies.

He also revealed in South Kalimantan recorded of 1,538 hot spots and which has been extinguished 1,460 hot spots. “So there are 70 hot spots that cannot be extinguished,” he said.

To overcome the forest fires in South Kalimantan has deployed the CN295 and three casa 212 and 17 helicopters to conduct the land blackouts.

Accompanying the President during his visit among other Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei, and Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya. (UN/SLN/ES)/Sy.