HANURA: SBY Should Have Not Apologized on Riau Fires
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Rabu, 26 Juni 2013 14:02 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the People's Conscience Party (HANURA), Syarifuddin Sudding, said that President Susilo Bambang Yuhoyono (SBY) should not have apologized to Singapore and Malaysia on the Riau fires.
Sudding claimed that the companies which caused the fire were not local companies. "Singaporean and Malaysian companies," Sudding said on Tuesday. "SBY should have addressed those companies in his speech."
Sudding further added that SBY should have apologized to the Riau residents instead of Singapore and Malaysia. "It is as if he does not respect his own citizens," he said.
He also demanded the government to punish the forest fire starters. "Bring them to the court, we will see who's guilty."
Earlier, President SBY stated his apology to Singapore and Malaysia for the forest fires which caused thick haze in the countries. "I, as the President of the Republic of Indonesia, apologize, and ask our brothers in Singapore and Malaysia for their understandings," he said in a speech.
ANANDA BADUDU