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Indonesia intensifies crackdown on corporations linked to forest fires
Indonesia is intensifying its response to widespread forest and land fires (karhutla) exacerbated by El Nino conditions. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered the National Police to take strict action against all responsible parties, including corporations. He has threatened to revoke land use rights (HGU) and business permits for companies found to be involved in intentional or negligent burning.
The National Police report they are currently processing 200 reports, 138 suspects, and 8 corporations. Additionally, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has sealed 21 corporations across seven provinces suspected of involvement in fires covering over 11,000 hectares.
To bolster mitigation, President Prabowo has called for increased disaster mitigation budgets and the deployment of advanced technology, including weather modification aircraft and large-capacity drones capable of dropping 50kg of water. Meanwhile, the government has extended rice assistance programs through the end of 2026 to support communities facing economic pressure from the El Nino phenomenon and related disasters.
In response to the fires, authorities have also implemented a moratorium on local regulations that allow land clearing through burning. In regions like Pekanbaru, smoke pollution has forced schools to transition to remote learning to protect student health.
Entities
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation · Central Kalimantan · Djamari Chaniago · Indonesia · Indonesian National Police · Kalimantan · MIND ID · Ministry of Environment and Forestry · Ministry of Forestry · Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia · National Disaster Management Authority · OFI
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Riau Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs condemned the burning of the Muara Takus Vihara in Rokan Hulu.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Palangka Raya has recorded 475 forest and land fire incidents, totaling 837.28 hectares burned since June 1, 2026.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Indonesian National Police (Polri) is shifting its strategy toward predictive policing, focusing on prevention and prediction rather than just firefighting.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] As of September 6, 2026, 113,616 hotspots and 202,010 hectares of burned land have been recorded across 38 provinces.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Pekanbaru implemented distance learning for students from PAUD to SMP on September 7-8, 2026, due to unhealthy air quality. www.riaukepri.com · riaupos.co
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of Forestry has provided 24-hour call center numbers for reporting wildlife affected by fires in West, Central, and East Kalimantan.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] MIND ID deployed 60 certified firefighters to assist in controlling peatland fires in Mempawah.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Forestry is strengthening the Wildlife Rescue Task Force in Central Kalimantan to protect animals like orangutans from forest fires.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] On September 6, 2026, 674 high-confidence hotspots were detected nationally, an increase from 558 hotspots on September 5.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Forestry has established 24-hour call centers to facilitate the rescue of wildlife, such as orangutans, affected by forest and land fires in Kalimantan.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] WALHI urged the Minister of Agraria and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency to evaluate problematic Land Use Rights (HGU) following the detection of 4,671 hotspots in HGU areas during August 2026. beritariau.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago ordered a moratorium on local regulations that allow land clearing through burning. www.jawapos.com