Jakarta – At least 10 companies believed to be behind several land fire incidents across Sumatra and Kalimantan have been charged by the National Police with violating the Law on the Environment.
National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said police have charged 127 individuals along with 10 corporations, but refused to divulge the firms' names due to ongoing investigations against the firms.
"We charged [the companies] on several grounds. For example, their lands caught fire last year and this year they caught fire again, despite the law which says [companies] must do all it can to address the problem by getting the needed equipment and personnel ready. There are obligations which [the companies] sidelined," he said on Wednesday as quoted by Detik.com.
Badrodin said police are also considering charging the company's directors. "We will take it one step at a time, starting from who is responsible [for slash-and-burn practices] on the field and who is involved in [these incidents]," he said. "We can target the directors, commissioners all the way to the shareholders."
Separately, Coordinating Minister on Politicals, Legal and Security Luhut Pandjaitan said if the firms are found guilty, they will be placed on the government's blacklist and will have permits revoked. "This is a national issue, which endangers the health of many. We will take firm action by blacklisting them," he said.
The blacklist, Luhut said, will extend to the companies' board of directors, commissioners and landowners in anticipation of the possibility that the same people may begin establishing shell companies to avoid the government's blacklist.
"After the blacklist, there will be no more chances for the firms and businessmen and there is no chance for them to ever receive a plantation or forest clearing permit," he said.