Indonesia vows to pursue criminal charges against companies behind fires causing haze

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government on Saturday vowed to pursue criminal charges against companies involved in open burning as it sealed off more plantations amid worsening haze in the region.

"The government has a serious commitment to prosecute . We will be able to address the fires only if we can change the behaviour of the people and companies, and we will take strict measures to do that," he said. That year, Indonesia was covered with choking haze which also blanketed neighbouring Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, for over a month. South-east Asia's largest economy suffered from around US$16.1 billion in losses because of the massive fires, said the National Disaster Management Agency .

Investigations would also be carried out against the companies whose plantations were sealed off, he added.

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Indonesia seals off plantations operated by 29 firms over fires, including Singapore, Malaysian companiesJAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR - Indonesia has sealed off plantations operated by 29 companies, including four subsidiaries of Malaysian groups and one Singaporean firm, after fires were detected in their concessions, the government said on Friday (Sept 13).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »