# West Kalimantan forest fire litigation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/west-kalimantan-forest-fire-litigation
> Updated: 2026-10-07T06:56:10.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2.

A coalition of civil society and indigenous groups, including the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples (AMAN) West Kalimantan, filed a class-action lawsuit in the Pontianak District Court regarding severe forest and land fires and the resulting haze in West Kalimantan.

The plaintiffs named several high-level defendants, including President Prabowo Subianto, the Vice President, and various ministries, seeking a judicial declaration that the fires and haze constitute a national disaster. They requested the immediate disbursement of National Disaster Emergency Budget funds to support medical care, peatland fire suppression, and logistical aid for affected residents.

In legal proceedings, the plaintiffs alleged “gross negligence” in the government’s management of the wildfires, which have been driven by an El Niño-induced drought. The Ministry of Forestry reported 1,176 high-confidence hotspots, with air quality reaching dangerous levels across Borneo and Sumatra. The resulting smoke has caused respiratory illnesses, school closures, and flight disruptions, spreading to Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

During the initial hearing, none of the ten named defendants, including central government officials, appeared in court. While some observers suggested the thick haze might have prevented officials from landing in Pontianak, plaintiffs expressed disappointment, viewing the absence as a failure of accountability. The court has adjourned the proceedings until October 21.

## Claims

- The Indonesian government is accused of gross negligence in handling forest and land fires. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The first hearing in Pontianak was adjourned until October 21 due to the absence of government defendants. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The lawsuit seeks for the government to declare a national disaster state. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The lawsuit requests the government to cover medical expenses for affected residents. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The El Niño weather pattern has aggravated the wildfires by creating unusually dry conditions. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- 1,176 high-confidence hotspots were detected across Indonesia as of Wednesday night. (single source)
- Air quality reached unhealthy to hazardous levels in Central Kalimantan, parts of West and South Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Jambi. (single source)
- 61 aircraft have been deployed to support firefighting operations. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-07: Indonesia faces lawsuit over gross negligence in wildfire and haze crisis

Indonesian groups have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging “gross negligence” over the government's handling of severe wildfires and toxic haze currently affecting Borneo and Southeast Asia.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesian-groups-sue-government-over-borneo-wildfires-and-haze

### 2026-09-20: West Kalimantan residents file class-action lawsuit over forest fires

Civil society groups in West Kalimantan have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Indonesian government, seeking to declare forest fires and haze a national disaster and requesting emergency fund allocation

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/west-kalimantan-residents-file-class-action-lawsuit-over-forest-fires

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Cite as: West Kalimantan forest fire litigation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/west-kalimantan-forest-fire-litigation