Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) is optimistic that Indonesia could be free from haze in 2015 if the government strengthens law enforcement against perpetrators of forest and plantation fries.
"Our country could be free from haze in 2015 if the government is serious in enforcing laws and dealing with forest fires," Walhi's Forest and Plantation Campaign Manager Zensi Suhadi said here, Sunday.
The government should concentrate on preventive measures rather than on providing face masks and water hoses, he said.
Forest fires began from the policies of the forestry minister and regional heads, and so the Jokowi administration must address the root of the problem first, he added.
He urged President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to visit forest and peatland fire sites.
"We hope that the president would directly observe the forests and peatlands engulfed in flames in a number of regions," Zenzy Suhadi said earlier.
Suhadi added that if Jokowi personally visited the fire-affected locations, he would know how strong the blazes in various parts of Indonesia are.
If Jokowi visits the sites, it is expected that concrete efforts will be put in to comprehensively end the ecological disaster.
The request for Jokowi to visit the locations of peatland and forest fires was also voiced by civil society organizations in a discussion on solutions to end Indonesia's peatland and forest fires on Friday.
The event was also attended by the founder of Yayasan Perspectif Baru (YPB), Wimar Witoelar, Walhi Director Abetngo Tariga, the Head of Greenpeace Indonesia Longgena Ginting, CEO of The Body Shop Indonesia Suzy Hutoma, and a representative of victims of peatland and forest fires, Rachmi Carolina of Riau province.
"We met with Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya and discussed the president's plan to visit the forest fire locations," Wimar Witoelar affirmed. (WDY)
Indonesia Could Be Free from Haze In 2015 : Walhi
Minggu, 16 November 2014 10:46 WIB
