Indonesia starts legal action against 4 companies linked to SE Asia haze

– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Indonesia has ordered four companies to suspend operations for causing forest fires that
sent smoke across a large swathe of Southeast Asia, an Indonesian Environment Ministry official said on Tuesday.

“These suspensions will be in effect until the criminal proceedings undertaken by the police are finished,” said Bambang Hendroyono, Secretary General at the Environment Ministry.

Three plantation companies have had their permits frozen and one forestry company has had its license revoked, he added.

PT Langgam Inti Hibrindo, which is owned by PT Provident Agro, was among the companies affected.

Thick smoke caused by forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan islands has blanketed the region in recent weeks, pushing pollution levels to unhealthy levels.

— Phuket Gazette Editors