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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Prabowo Orders Faster, Coordinated Response to Kalimantan Forest Fires

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • President Prabowo Subianto expressed confidence in controlling the forest and land fires in Kalimantan, stating they are not worse than in previous years.
  • He assured that the government is providing necessary resources, including helicopters and equipment, and is focused on preventing new fire outbreaks.
  • Prabowo has delegated tasks to military and police leaders to ensure a swift, integrated, and simultaneous response across affected provinces, with strict legal action against violators.

President Prabowo Subianto believes Indonesia can soon bring the escalating forest and land fires in Kalimantan under control. He asserted that the current situation is not as severe as in past years, drawing confidence from the nation's history of managing similar crises.

I hope we can control it soon. If we look at history, the years, how many years before, it was much worse, and we were able to handle it. So, I believe we can overcome this soon.

— Prabowo SubiantoPresident Prabowo Subianto expressing confidence in controlling the forest and land fires in Kalimantan.

"I hope we can control it soon. If we look at history, the years, how many years before, it was much worse, and we were able to handle it. So, I believe we can overcome this soon," Prabowo stated during a coordination meeting in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. He emphasized the government's commitment to mitigation efforts, particularly focusing on preventing the spread of new fires.

What's important is to quickly stop the expansion of new fire points.

— Prabowo SubiantoPresident Prabowo Subianto emphasizing the government's focus on preventing the spread of new fires.

The President assured that all necessary resources, including additional helicopters, equipment, and water drilling machines, are being supplied to the affected areas. He highlighted that the central government has been responsive to the needs reported by officials. "Alhamdulillah (Praise to God), this is ongoing. All officials report their needs, and we strive to fulfill them," Prabowo said.

Alhamdulillah (Praise to God), this is ongoing. All officials report their needs, and we strive to fulfill them. Every day we add helicopters, equipment, and drilling machines for water. We fulfill all the equipment.

— Prabowo SubiantoPresident Prabowo Subianto assuring that the government is fulfilling all the needs of the affected areas.

To ensure a rapid and coordinated response, Prabowo has assigned specific tasks to the leadership of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri). These assignments cover West, Central, South, and East Kalimantan, with instructions for swift, integrated, and simultaneous handling of the fires. The President also mandated firm legal action against anyone found violating the law in relation to the fires.

Task distribution is carried out to ensure that the field handling is faster, integrated, and simultaneous.

— Teddy Indra WijayaCabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya explaining the purpose of delegating tasks to military and police leaders.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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