Pekanbaru, Riau, (Antarariau.com) - The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) said four out of the seven companies that were named as suspects in land-clearing forest fires in 2013 again used fire this year.
"They were named as suspects in 2013, but this year they did it again, isn"t it too much?" Walhi"s Riau Executive Director Riko Kurniawan said.
He said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently instructed Riau"s legal enforcers to firmly punish companies and individuals who deliberately lit fire to clear land for plantation and farming.
Previously, the environmental affairs ministry announced that four companies, identified by their initials as TKW, RML, SG and RUH, were suspected of having used fire to clear land.
The suspicions were based on data from the satellite and concession maps, Sudariyono, the environmental affairs ministry"s legal enforcement deputy, said on Tuesday.
TKW and RUJ are industrial forestry companies, while RML and SG are oil palm plantation companies.
The Riau Forest Protection Networking (Jikalahari), meanwhile, reported that in 2013 eight companies used fire to clear land.
Of the eight companies, four were oil palm plantations: PT Adei Plantation and Industry, PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa, PT Bumi Reksa Nusa Sejati and PT Langgam Inti Hibrindo.
The other four were industrial forestry companies, namely PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, PT Sakato Prama Makmur, PT Ruas Utama Jaya and PT Bukit Batu Hutani Alam.
"Only one, PT Adei Plantation, had been brought to court in Pelalawan, "while the steps to be taken against seven others are not yet clear," Jikahari"s coordinator Muslim Rasyid said.
The Indonesian government had banned the burning of land to clear it under Law No. 32/2009 on the Protection and Management of Environment and Government Regulation No. 4/2001 on Management of Environmental Degradation and/or Pollution linked to Forest or Land Fires.
The possible penalties for those found guilty of breaching Law No. 32/2009 include fines and prison terms.
