Forest Fire, Haze Affected Indonesia's Reputation

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Forest fires and the consequent haze that spread as far as some neighboring countries, have affected Indonesia's reputation at the international level.

This view was expressed by the founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) Dino Patti Djalal.

"The forest fires on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan caused haze that affected neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia," Dino Patti Djalal told Antara on Wednesday.

The haze was no longer just an Indonesian problem, and had rather become a regional concern.

He said this has led to a negative effect politically, economically, socially, and psychologically, as it polluted the air, affected the transportation and disrupted flights, in Indonesia as well as in neighboring countries.

"It is reported that the forest fires could end up raising the rate of global emission by two percent," Djalal, former deputy foreign minister, noted.

The Indonesian government must deal with the problem by formulating short, mid and long term plans.

He said the Law No. 32 year 2009 on the Environmental Protection and Management has a clause that states, "Community living surrounding a forest area could set afire covering a farming area of maximum two hectares."

"This clause is used as an excuse for land clearing by resorting to fire. In fact, forest fire could not be kept confined within two hectares," he stated.

Moreover, because of the ongoing drought, any fire could spread rapidly and become a forest fire, he remarked.

The former Indonesian ambassador to the US suggested that the government and the parliament (DPR) should revise the Law No. 32 Year 2009, particularly to omit this clause, in anticipation of forest fires in every dry season.

Resorting to setting land afire for land clearing must be banned completely and any violator must be made to face heavy sanctions, he said. (WDY)