Indonesia Screens 277,075 for Haze Illness as Rights Body Demands Fire Probe Transparency

JAKARTA — Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is demanding that authorities publicly release investigation results into the forest fires blanketing parts of the country, as the Health Ministry tracks hundreds of thousands of respiratory infections tied to the resulting haze.

The commission said law enforcement efforts have lacked openness, leaving the public unable to judge whether cases are being handled properly. It urged the government and police to share progress on investigations into companies or individuals suspected of starting the fires [262033].

Komnas HAM is also investigating how the fires affect people's rights in Kalimantan, focusing on health problems from toxic haze and the displacement of local communities. The probe aims to determine whether the government has met its duty to protect citizens [261993].

The Health Ministry has recorded 277,075 acute respiratory infection (ARI) cases nationwide as haze continues to blanket parts of the country. ARI refers to infections affecting the airways and lungs, including the common cold, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Health officials say surveillance efforts remain in place to track the impact on public health [262019].

Police have named nine individuals as corporate suspects in their ongoing investigation into the fires. The announcement was made by the Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), which handles major criminal investigations at the national level. A "corporate suspect" is a person identified as responsible for crimes allegedly committed by a company [262005].

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is focusing firefighting efforts on Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra, two provinces hit hardest by land and forest fires. The agency has deployed personnel and equipment to both regions to speed up suppression [262007].

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has ordered regional leaders to ban all forms of land burning as wildfires continue to spread. Land burning is often used to clear farmland quickly and cheaply but can easily spread out of control, especially during dry seasons. The directive calls on local governments to enforce the ban strictly [260790].

Indonesia is also testing a Brazilian-made liquid to combat forest and land fires burning in several regions. Officials say the liquid is designed to slow the spread of fires and help extinguish them faster than conventional water alone. The trial is part of a broader push to strengthen Indonesia's response to annual fires [259814].

President Prabowo Subianto has thanked military, police, and other personnel working to extinguish the fires across the country [260791].

The fires have also taken a toll on wildlife. The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the IAR Indonesia Foundation have rescued 46 Bornean orangutans from fires in West Kalimantan. The Bornean orangutan is a critically endangered species [259815]. A young female orangutan named Novita, three to four years old, was rescued from wildfires in Borneo after suffering burns on her hands and feet [258942].

On Sumatra island, a forest fire worsened by El Niño destroyed nearly 300 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate in Bangka Belitung province. Conditions are described as the worst in a decade [261653].

The recurring haze has also affected neighboring countries. Malaysia ordered schools to close in several states, including Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and the Rompin district in Pahang, while sporting events planned for the weekend were cancelled [259378].