12 Named Suspects in Central Kalimantan Forest and Land Fires

Central Kalimantan Police have identified 12 suspects in connection with the ongoing forest and land fires (karhutla) in the province. The regional police chief, Inspector General Pol Iwan Kurniawan, stated that the police are not only focused on extinguishing the fires but also on thoroughly investigating their causes and identifying those responsible.

"As of now, there are approximately 12 individuals who have been named suspects, spread across several police precincts," Kurniawan said on Tuesday. He stressed that tackling karhutla requires the involvement of all parties, emphasizing that prevention efforts cannot solely rely on the government and the karhutla task force.

Kurniawan highlighted the importance of public awareness and participation in environmental protection. "This effort cannot just be handed over to the government or the task force, but must be done together with the community," he asserted.

The police are committed to enforcing the law against anyone found to have deliberately started fires. "The principle is, all forest and land fires that occur in Central Kalimantan, we conduct investigations," Kurniawan added. He warned the public against carelessly burning land and urged all elements of society to work together to prevent hotspots from escalating into widespread fires.

"My message to the public is, let's protect together, don't let the forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan spread further," he concluded.