Ministry of environment (MOE) until July, noted at least 1.308 hotspots scattered in West Kalimantan and 662 hotspots in Riau arising due to opening land by burning.
MOE’s notes until the beginning of August 2014 shows, there are 26 companies with 29 cases in Riau Province associated with the Karhutla (Land and Forest Fires). From 26 of the company, three of them has been upgraded to investigation. They are PT TFDI dan PT TKWL, both are palm plantations are in Siak Regency, and PT SGP is the holder of a Forest Plant industry (HTI) in Dumai Regency.
“Currently the case is under investigation or gather evidence and information (Pulbaket) along with the land and forest fire expert, as well as the environmental damage and calling witnesses from the company,” said Imam Abu Hendargo Ismoyo, MOE’s Deputy V of Environmental Law Affairs at MOE’s building, Jakarta (6/8).
In 2012, PT Kalista Alam proven guilty in civil litigation and fines Rp 366 billion. The company also processes in a criminal matters with the defendant Khamidin Yoesoef with the punishment of three years in prison and fine Rp 3 billion, and the defendant Subiyanto pay fine Rp 3 billion. “This is good news and a trigger for our spirit that we can still believe judges and expert witnesses,” he added.
He also mentions other case namely PT Surya Panen Subur that is currently in the stage of trial in District Court of Meulaboh, Aceh and the case in the near future will be decided by the judge in the High Court of South Jakarta.
He further explained that the Karhutla case in 2013 are handled by MOE, there are seven criminal files and one litigation files. The unexpected company is palm plantations, i.e. PT BHS, PT LIH/PT PA, while the HTI concession holder companies are JJP, PT, PT, PT RUJ SRL, PT and PT SPM BBH. All files have been handed over to the Attorney General’s Office. While the civil case of Palm Plantation PT AP, which is now in the process of preparing a draft of a lawsuit.
On the same occasion, Arief Yuwono, MOE Deputy III of Environment Damage Control and Climate Change Affairs said that the MOE will focus on Karhutla prevention efforts, such as strengthening the role of Fire Care Community in the socialization of preparation of land without fuel, and improve the skills of the community in handling fires.
“The results of our monitoring in Kubu Raya Regency West Kalimantan in last August, 5, succeeded in reducing 75 % scene of the fire, stated Arief. This is because MPA active doing inventory of fire-prone areas, report members of the community who burns to give a deterrent effect, and succeed to extinguish the fire together on a 20-acre community garden there. Januar Hakam.