Indonesia intensifies legal action against forest and land fires

forest fires karhutla environmental crime land encroachment Riau

Indonesian authorities are intensifying legal action against forest and land fires (karhutla). The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has named 72 suspects across nine regional departments, while investigators continue to pursue the financiers, or 'cukongs', behind the illegal burning.

The Ministry of Forestry has also uncovered criminal activities including illegal land sales and encroachment. In West Kalimantan, PT MAP was named a corporate suspect for land encroachment. In Riau, the government reports that out of approximately 16,277 hectares burned between January and August 2026, about 900 hectares remain to be addressed.

In response to the widespread environmental damage, Minister of Environment Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat has initiated a 'National Ecological Repentance Movement.' The Ministry plans to impose severe penalties, including potential fines reaching tens of trillions of rupiah, against those responsible for environmental destruction.

Entities

Ministry of Forestry · Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat · Polri · Prabowo Subianto · Riau

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] PT MAP was named a corporate suspect on August 14 regarding land encroachment in Mempawah, West Kalimantan. katadata.co.id
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Minister of Environment intends to impose heavy sanctions, including potential fines of tens of trillions of rupiah, on environmental criminals. rmol.id
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Ministry of Forestry is investigating parties who control land and benefit from forest fires, including illegal land sales and encroachment. katadata.co.id
[○ 1 SOURCE] Investigators are examining financial transaction flows suspected to be related to financiers of the forest fires. mediakampung.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 900 hectares of the burned land in Riau remain to be extinguished. www.medcom.id
[○ 1 SOURCE] Between January and August 2026, approximately 16,277.50 hectares of land burned in Riau. www.medcom.id
[○ 1 SOURCE] Polri has named 72 suspects in 89 police reports across nine regional police departments regarding forest and land fires. mediakampung.com

Sources

Polri Tetapkan 72 Tersangka Karhutla, Penyelidikan Cukong Pendana Masih Berlanjut [mediakampung.com]

about 3 hours ago

Kemenhut Usut Karhutla, Temukan Dugaan Jual Beli Kawasan hingga Perambahan - Nasional Katadata. co. id [katadata.co.id]

about 2 hours ago

Gerak Cepat Pemerintah Bereskan Sisa 900 Hektare Karhutla di Riau [www.medcom.id]

about 2 hours ago

Jumhur Dorong Tobat Ekologis Nasional untuk Lawan Karhutla [rmol.id]

about 1 hour ago