Executives arrested over illegal forest fires which made tens of thousands ill

Seven company executives have been arrested over illegal agricultural fires which have cloaked south-east Asia in haze. They were detained on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, where authorities have been battling smog-belching blazes which were started to clear land for palm oil and pulp and paper plantations. Some of those arrested were executives but police did not give details or reveal which companies they worked for. They could face up to 15 years in jail and heavy fines if found guilty of breaking Indonesian laws that ban starting forest fires.

The president’s instruction is clear – law enforcement must be firm so that this will not happen again next year

National police chief Badrodin Haiti

Tens of thousands have fallen ill in parts of Indonesia as the haze thickened over the past fortnight, and the smog has led to unhealthy air quality and reduced visibility in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia. President Joko Widodo pledged this week to crack down on companies and individuals behind the fires and hundreds of extra police and investigators have been sent to haze-hit areas to hunt for those responsible. They joined military personnel and water-bombing aircraft sent to tackle the fires. In addition to the seven arrested, 133 people have been named suspects, police said.

Asia-Pacific indonesia wildfire