President Leads Haze Management Task Force Rally

Jakarta, June 25 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono led the rally of Riau haze management task force at Halim Perdanakusuma airport here on Tuesday. On the occasion the president asked the task force members to carry out their job well in overcoming the haze from forest fire in Riau province. "Are you able to overcome the haze that has been blanketing the Riau province? If you are, then do your task well," the president told the task force members participating in the rally. After leading the rally, the president and his entourage left Halim Perdanakusuma airport for Bali for a working visit on the paradise island resort. The Riau haze management task force is made up of 2,000 personnel from the National Defense Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), and the ministries of health, social, and forestry. BNPB spokesman Sutop Purwo Nugroho said the rally was also attended by BNPB Chief Syamsul Ma`arif, TNI Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono, National Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo, Navy Chief of Staf Admiral Marsetion, Army Chief of Staff Gen Moeldoko, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Ida Bagus Putu Dunia, and several cabinet ministers. President Yudhohono said earlier that the central government would take over the haze management because it has spread to Malaysia and Singapore.