Police Chief Wants Regional Police to Pursue Firms Behind Forest

TEMPO.CO, Pontianak - Police chief General Tito Karnavian has urged Regional Police in Indonesia to be more assertive in investigating the cases of forest and land fires involving corporations. He would even salute Regional Police chief who prosecute corporations behind land clearing.

“Corporations [who burn land] must be arrested and prosecuted, for as long as they can be proven of conducting illegal burning [they] must be subjected to the law enforcement process to provide deterrent effects. They could be charged with corporate crimes. If [regional police] can do that, I will salute the regional police chief,” Tito said, Sunday, August 21, 2016, in Pontianak.

Tito expressed that the National Police will enhance law enforcement response against perpetrators of land and forest fires both individuals and corporations to provide deterrence effects. “It needs courage, I believe regional police chiefs and their subordinates have the courage to enforce the law,” he said.

On legal umbrella, Police chief said a regulation would be needed to elaborate further the provision for the clearing of 2 hectares of land by indigenous people. The regulation can be elaborated by regional governments by providing the details and drawing up a list of indigenous people in their respective regions. “So those who practice slash-and-burn, aside from indigenous people, would be prosecuted,” he said.

ASEANTY PAHLEVI