INDONESIA-HAZE/NEWSER Indonesia says countries suspected of involvement in forest fires from Malaysia, China

Record ID: 134616

  • Title: INDONESIA-HAZE/NEWSER Indonesia says countries suspected of involvement in forest fires from Malaysia, China
  • Date: 12th October 2015
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (OCTOBER 12, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF COORDINATING MINISTRY OF POLITICAL, LEGAL AND SECURITY AFFAIRS OFFICIALS AND REPORTERS IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) INDONESIA POLICE CHIEF, BADRODIN HAITI SAYING: "The countries (of the companies) are Malaysia and China. (A company from) Singapore is st
  • Embargoed: 27th October 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA69T5RRGRQ0WQ0C0PS1FIHS5GR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Indonesian police on Monday (October 12) said two companies suspected of involvement in forest fires were from Malaysia and China.
    The resulting smoke has pushed up pollution to dangerous levels across parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and southern Thailand, disrupted flights and closed schools on bad days.
    "The countries (of the companies) are Malaysia and China. (A company from) Singapore is still under investigation," Indonesian police chief Badrodin Haiti told a news conference in the Coordinating Ministry of Political, Legal and Security Affairs.
    Indonesia has launched investigations against more than 200 companies as it scrambles to bring the fires on Sumatra and Kalimantan islands under control by the end of November, amid complaints from neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.
    It has revoked one company's license and froze three others.
    Indonesia, which had turned down assistance from foreign countries in the past, has formally requested international aid.
    Aircraft from Singapore and Malaysian have been deployed to South Sumatra Province in western Indonesia to reinforce fire-fighting operations.
    The Southern Sumatra island and parts of Kalimantan are the areas worst affected by forest fires caused by slash-and-burn land clearing practices.
    Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Russia and Japan also agreed to help.
    "The Japanese government will also provide us chemical substances that will help speed up the process to put out fires, as well as some experts with the knowledge of using those chemicals. Meanwhile, we are doing final preparations with Russia. At this moment, they will offer two Amphibi B-200 planes, (each) with a 12,000-litre capacity. We are also discussing with Thailand and China about the type of cooperation needed at this time," said Marsudi.
    Australia will send a Hercules L-100 in a few days, the Australian ambassador said on Sunday (October 11).
    Indonesia routinely brushes off complaints while vowing to act to stop the burning. But year after year, the problem flares in the dry season.
    It has been exacerbated this year by the El Nino weather phenomenon which has brought unusually dry conditions.
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