Indigenous and civil society groups in Indonesia have filed a lawsuit against the government, accusing it of "gross negligence" in handling forest fires that have spread toxic haze across Southeast Asia. The suit, which names President Prabowo Subianto, demands assistance with healthcare costs for those affected by the smoke.
According to media reports, the legal action comes as air quality has plummeted across large parts of the region. The first court hearing in Pontianak was ironically postponed to October 21 because the defendants could not travel due to the severe haze.
A plaintiff from the Dayak indigenous community is demanding that the situation be declared a national disaster, arguing that officials waited too long to act. He emphasized the devastating impact of the fires on the health, livelihood, and culture of indigenous communities.
Seasonal fires in Indonesia are a recurring problem, often linked to land-clearing for palm oil and paper plantations. However, the fires this year have been particularly widespread due to drier weather conditions.
The resulting haze has severely impacted air quality in neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore. In Malaysia, authorities were forced to close schools in several states after pollution levels reached hazardous thresholds.
The Indonesian government has stated it is working to contain the fires, but environmental activists argue that the efforts have been insufficient and that a more comprehensive approach is needed to prevent future disasters.
Source: Media reports
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