Indonesia Names 112 Suspects in Forest and Land Fire Cases

Indonesian police have named 112 people as suspects in forest and land fire cases across parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, while keeping open the possibility that companies may also face action.

All 112 suspects are individuals. Pipit Subiyanto, head of Subdirectorate III at the Criminal Investigation Department’s Directorate of Certain Crimes, said most of the land involved belonged to local residents and had been verified as such.

Police said many cases involved the use of fire to clear land for farming or oil palm plantations, a practice that can lower land-clearing costs. Some fires, however, may not have been started deliberately and instead spread because the land was highly vulnerable to burning.

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Most of the land belongs to local residents, which we have verified.

Riau recorded the largest number of suspects, with 41. South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan each had 20, followed by East Kalimantan with 13, Jambi with eight, Kalimantan with seven and South Kalimantan with two. Police had received 167 public reports by September 3.

Investigators say the inquiry will not stop with individual suspects. Mohamad Irhamni, director of Certain Crimes at Bareskrim, said authorities would pursue evidence that a corporation ordered or supported the fires. “If there is even a small piece of evidence that strengthens the case that it was ordered by a corporation, we will pursue it and take action,” he said. Many suspects are farmers or casual workers, and investigators are still determining whether they acted independently or received orders or financial support from others.

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If there is even a small piece of evidence that strengthens the case that it was ordered by a corporation, we will pursue it and take action.