Prabowo berates countries that ‘insult’ Indonesia over wildfires, vows to reveal companies involved

Indonesia's president criticised countries for insulting his nation over wildfires, stating intentions to reveal responsible companies for the haze affecting the region.

The fires, exacerbated by drought and slash-and-burn practices, have spread toxic haze to Malaysia, Singapore, and East Timor, prompting regional concern.

Indonesia is investigating the fires as a crime against humanity, with plans to revoke licences of companies found violating the law.

JAKARTA, Oct 21 — Indonesia’s president railed today against “countries that like to insult” his nation over wildfires that have razed vast areas, spewing toxic haze into neighbouring countries.

The South-east Asian giant has for months struggled to contain fires that Nusantara Atlas, an independent monitor analysing satellite data, said have consumed more than 1.9 million hectares in the nine months to September.

The haze has sent air pollution levels surging to dangerous levels not only at home, but also in Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor, prompting the Asean regional bloc to call a meeting over the crisis.

“As for certain countries that like to insult the Indonesian nation, when the time comes, we will reveal the companies involved” Prabowo told a cabinet meeting today, claiming that “many corporations bear responsibility” for the crisis.

He did not name names or nationalities.

The leaders of Indonesia’s neighbours have offered help while steering clear of overt criticism at the highest diplomatic level.

With public anger growing, however, a Malaysian MP last week called for Indonesia to be treated as an “outcast” in the region.

“Indonesia is a polite and patient nation. Our country is often insulted, but believe me, our nation does not want to be insulted all the time,” Prabowo said.

The president said he had asked for investigations into the cause of the fires which he insisted was “not purely natural”.

Experts say Indonesia’s wildfires can be blamed in large part on slash-and-burn land-clearing practices that result in the destruction of fire-resistant forest cover and drained peatlands.

This year, the blazes were intensified by a severe drought fuelled by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

“I am asking the police, the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of Forestry, with the support of the Armed Forces and intelligence services, to investigate,” said Prabowo.

“The people have also caught various individuals who deliberately set fires — this is something we can regard as environmental terrorism.”

The president, who marked two years in office Tuesday with record-low approval levels, said deliberate fire-setting amounted to “a crime against humanity, because what they have done endangers the health of millions of our citizens”.

Once the evidence is in, he added, “we will revoke all licenses of companies that violate the law”. — AFP

Trump backlash and rising fuel costs put Republican Susan Collins under pressure in Maine

Michigan voters divided over Trump as Iran war, rising prices loom over midterms

WHO finds inequality shapes risk, diagnosis and treatment of major diseases

Haze or ship fumes? Maritime experts want closer watch on vessel emissions at Malaysian ports

Waze ban: MPs ask if WhatsApp, Instagram pose similar security risks

Sarawak announces two months’ salary aid for state civil servants, RM700 for federal staff

印尼总统批评其他国家因山火而侮辱印尼，并表示有意揭露造成该地区雾霾的责任公司。

干旱和刀耕火种加剧了火灾，有毒烟雾蔓延至马来西亚、新加坡和东帝汶，引发了区域关注。

印尼正在调查这起火灾，并将其定性为反人类罪，计划吊销涉嫌违反该法律的公司的营业执照。

雅加达，10 月 21 日——印尼总统今天猛烈抨击“喜欢就野火侮辱”印尼的国家，这些野火烧毁了大片地区，并向邻国排放有毒烟雾。

几个月来，这个东南亚大国一直在努力控制火灾。据分析卫星数据的独立监测机构 Nusantara Atlas 称，截至 9 月的九个月里，火灾已吞噬了超过 190 万公顷的土地。

雾霾不仅使韩国国内的空气污染水平飙升至危险水平，也使马来西亚、新加坡和东帝汶的空气污染水平飙升至危险水平，促使东盟地区集团就这场危机召开会议。

“至于某些喜欢侮辱印尼民族的国家，时机成熟时，我们将公布涉事公司名单。”普拉博沃今天在内阁会议上表示，并声称“许多企业应对这场危机负有责任”。

他没有透露姓名或国籍。

印尼邻国的领导人表示愿意提供帮助，同时避免在最高外交层面上公开批评。

然而，随着公众愤怒情绪日益高涨，上周一位马来西亚国会议员呼吁将印度尼西亚视为该地区的“弃儿”。

“印尼是一个礼貌而有耐心的民族。我们的国家经常受到侮辱，但请相信我，我们的国家并不想一直受到侮辱，”普拉博沃说。

总统表示，他已要求对火灾原因进行调查，并坚称火灾“并非纯粹自然原因”。

专家表示，印尼的野火很大程度上要归咎于刀耕火种的土地清理方式，这种方式破坏了耐火的森林覆盖层和排水的泥炭地。

今年，受厄尔尼诺现象引发的严重干旱加剧了火势。

普拉博沃说：“我要求警方、总检察长办公室、林业部在武装部队和情报部门的支持下进行调查。”

“民众还抓获了一些故意纵火的人——这可以被视为环境恐怖主义。”

总统周二迎来就职两周年纪念日，他的支持率创历史新低。他表示，蓄意纵火相当于“反人类罪，因为他们的行为危及了数百万公民的健康”。

他补充说，一旦证据确凿，“我们将吊销所有违法公司的营业执照”。——法新社

特朗普的反弹和不断上涨的燃油成本使缅因州共和党议员苏珊·柯林斯面临压力。

密歇根州选民对特朗普意见分歧，伊朗战争和物价上涨的阴影笼罩着中期选举。

世界卫生组织发现，不平等影响着重大疾病的风险、诊断和治疗。

是雾霾还是船舶废气？海事专家呼吁加强对马来西亚港口船舶排放的监测

Waze被禁：议员质问WhatsApp和Instagram是否构成类似的安全风险

砂拉越宣布向州公务员提供两个月工资援助，向联邦政府工作人员提供700令吉援助。