Indonesia Calls for Forest Fire Prevention
6/4/99
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Title: Indonesia Calls for Forest Fire Prevention
Source: Reuters Limited
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: June 4, 1999
JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) -- President B.J. Habibie on Friday
called for strong efforts to control and prevent forest fires after
reports that new "hot spots" had been detected in parts of Indonesia.
He called on all parties to prevent a repeat of 1997's forest fires,
a regional disaster which blanketed much of Southeast Asia in choking
smog for months.
"I call for good preparation by the related institutions in the
Disaster Prevention Body and for the Department of Forestry and
Plantations to prevent forest fires," Habibie said in a speech
marking International Environment Day.
Singapore's Ministry of Environment announced on Thursday that
satellite images had detected a significant increase of fires in
Indonesia, mainly in Sumatra and Borneo.
The office said that most of the fires were mainly on plantations.
Burning of scrubland is commonly used in parts of Indonesia to
prepare land for agriculture.
Habibie said that government would pay serious attention to the
matter. The measures would involve locals who live near the forests,
he said.
Singapore said on Thursday the satellite pictures had been sent to
the Indonesian and Malaysian authorities as part of the sub-regional
co-operation to deal with the fires.
Fires in Indonesia in 1997 destroyed 5 million hectares (12 million
acres) of forest, agricultural land and bush, causing $4.4 billion in
damage.
Southeast Asian countries badly hit by the disaster have pledged to
cooperate to prevent a repetition.