Jakarta Arrests 72 Arsonists

Indonesian authorities have arrested 72 people on suspicion of setting forest and land fires, which have caused thick, choking smoke clouds to spread across central and western Indonesia.

Forest fires in Indonesia recur frequently, often straining relations with neighboring countries due to the impact of transboundary haze.

Mohammad Erhamni, director of the Special Crimes Division at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency, told the Associated Press (AP) today that plantation owners and traditional farmers often set fires to clear land for agriculture.

He added that the suspects are under investigation in connection with 89 forest and land fire cases across five districts on the island of Borneo and four districts on the island of Sumatra, noting that most of the suspects are accused of deliberately burning land to clear it of trees for cheaper cultivation.