Indonesia Arrests 7 Over Haze Blazes

Indonesia has been battered by such forest fires since the 1990s as the ensuing haze enveloped neighboring ASEAN countries and caused losses of billions of U.S. dollars.

Indonesia has come under pressure from its neighbors to halt the smog outbreaks, an annual problem in Southeast Asia during the dry season.

Indonesia has declared a state of emergency in Riau province.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered his military to deploy more soldiers to extinguish forest fires that are threatening thousands of acres and throwing up a haze across the region.

Mr Kalla on Tuesday also stressed that firm action would be taken against those involved in land and forest fires, adding that sanctions would be meted out accordingly. Jakarta agreed this week to share information with the city-state on companies accused of starting fires, which could lead to prosecutions there. This is a legal step in Indonesia that means investigators have enough evidence to consider filing charges against someone.

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya said some of those behind the fires were likely Malaysia and Singapore companies.

According to the BBC, Indonesian authorities said those arrested were from companies based in Sumatra or Indonesian Borneo, but did not reveal how many executives were arrested.

Police are currently investigating 133 individuals from more than 20 companies, and are seeking to broaden the net to include foreign companies and shareholders. Suharsono said some of the suspects have been arrested.

But analysts and environmentalists say they have heard similar promises before and are waiting to see if these tough words result in prosecutions, say our correspondents.

It’s unlikely. Organisers of Formula One’s only night race have acknowledged the situation is volatile but so far insist the event, which is coupled with pop concerts, will go on.