Police Arrest Five Perpetrators Of Forest Fires

Sampit, C Kalimantan, Sept 29 (Antara) - The police have taken five people into custody for setting off forest fires in Mentawa Baru Ketapang and Cempaga Hulu sub-districts in East Kotawaringin District, Central Kalimantan, noted a police officer. "The initials of the five perpetrators of forest fires are Bg, Ei, Ti, Mo, and Ga. We have named them as suspects and will interrogate them," Chief of the East Kotawaringin Police Himawan Bayu Aji stated here on Monday. They were caught red-handed while setting fires in bushes. The police have seized some evidence such as lighters, gasoline, hoes, and machetes. Four of the perpetrators were male, and one was female, he revealed. The East Kotawaringin district administration has declared an emergency status for haze due to forest and plantation fires in the district. The haze has blanketed East Kotawaringin over the past few days and has affected the health of local inhabitants, particularly children. To prevent the problem of wild fires from spiraling out of control in several provinces, Vice President Boediono led a coordinating meeting on forest fire mitigation efforts in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Sept. 23, 2014. "I ask the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to prioritize the implementation of preventive measures. It should take action before the fires flare up. This is the most effective measure," emphasized the vice president. The meeting was held to review the current situation of forest fires that has caused haze in several provinces across Indonesia, including in South Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.