In brief
The Indonesian Muslim Students Association (PB HMI) praised the police for naming 20 companies as suspects in the recent forest and land fires, urging comprehensive investigations and enforcement of environmental restoration measures. PB HMI stresses that corporate accountability and preventive actions are essential for protecting Indonesia’s forests and local communities.
The Indonesian Islamic Students Association’s Central Executive Board (PB HMI) welcomed Jakarta police on Saturday for identifying 20 companies as suspects in the most recent wave of forest and land fires sweeping parts of the country. The announcement followed a police briefing that listed the firms allegedly involved in environmental violations, according to Antara.
Herdiansyah Iskandar, PB HMI’s deputy secretary‑general for strategic policy, said the naming of suspects was an important step toward environmental accountability and law enforcement. “Prosecuting companies is essential to ensuring equal treatment under the law,” he said in a statement released in Jakarta. He added that the process of naming suspects must be followed by ongoing, transparent investigations to provide legal certainty.
“However, naming suspects must not end the process. The state must ensure investigations remain transparent, professional and accountable to provide legal certainty,”
Iskandar stressed the broader implications of the fires, describing them as matters of environmental justice that require more than punitive action after damage has occurred. He urged the government to strengthen preventive measures, recommending a review of land concession permits, enhanced monitoring of concessions, comprehensive environmental audits, and improved early‑detection systems in fire‑prone zones.
In the same statement PB HMI called for the state to enforce environmental restoration as a condition of corporate law enforcement. The association urged that companies found responsible for the fires must rehabilitate affected ecosystems and compensate local communities in line with applicable laws.
“The impact of forest and land fires extends beyond forest destruction to public health, local economies, livelihoods and the long‑term sustainability of ecosystems,”
Iskandar also highlighted the importance of legal sovereignty, particularly concerning foreign‑invested firms. He emphasized that environmental laws must apply equally to all parties, regardless of business size, financial resources or investment origin. “Indonesia welcomes investment, but not at the expense of the environment. Domestic and foreign companies operating here must comply with Indonesian law. No one should receive preferential treatment,” he said.
PB HMI’s stance reflects a growing call among civil society groups in Indonesia for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and for holding multinational corporations accountable for their operational impact. The organization believes that the police’s move is a constructive first step but will only be effective if followed by robust, impartial investigations and meaningful restoration efforts.
While Antara reported on the police’s announcement and the association’s reaction, no other national or international outlets have provided commentary on the event as of this publication date. The incident continues to be monitored as part of the broader debate over Indonesia’s forest protection policy and corporate accountability in environmental governance.
