Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is pushing for stricter legal penalties against forest and land burners, raising the possibility of classifying the destructive practice as ecological terrorism amid ongoing regional hazard concerns. Speaking at a hybrid limited meeting from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, President Prabowo addressed the severe impact of forest and land fires, known locally as karhutla, and directed his administration to overhaul existing regulations.
During the meeting, which focused on national disaster management, President Prabowo received updates on current karhutla mitigation efforts and warnings that hazardous conditions are expected to persist over the next 1.5 months. Joined by Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, while other government officials participated via video conference, the President emphasized that current laws are insufficient to deter offenders.
“I’ve said that let the Mensesneg and the Minister of Law examine this so that the legal sanctions, maybe the laws we ask the DPR to make heavier, that we classify this as ecological terrorism,” President Prabowo stated, according to official transcripts. He added that the issue is exceedingly serious because the resulting smoke and environmental damage routinely cross borders, threatening neighboring nations. While noting that the government has worked extensively on mitigation, he stressed that Indonesia must avoid creating burdens for other countries.
Crackdown on Regional Loopholes and Corporate Violators
Beyond national statutes, President Prabowo demanded the immediate removal of any local regulations or regional bylaws, known as perda, that continue to permit land clearing through burning. He instructed Minister of Home Affairs officials to ensure these local rules are revoked and reiterated that the national parliament will be asked to toughen federal legislation.
President Prabowo also trained his focus on corporate accountability, directing law enforcement and regulatory bodies to take harsh action against companies linked to blazes. Following evaluations presented by the National Police Chief regarding verified violations, the administration intends to cancel operating licenses for repeat offenders immediately. The President noted that any enterprise previously penalized that continues to violate fire bans will face license revocations without delay, followed by potential criminal investigations.
Did You Know?
During the September 16, 2026 meeting at the Merdeka Palace, President Prabowo explicitly dismissed arguments defending traditional land-clearing methods, stating that the government is prepared to directly assist communities with land preparation so that burning is never necessary.
Zero Tolerance for Burn-Based Land Clearing
The administration’s updated stance leaves no room for traditional or local community exceptions when it comes to utilizing fire for agriculture or land preparation. President Prabowo rejected local cultural claims or traditional practices as valid justifications for setting fires, maintaining that the government stands ready to deploy resources to help citizens clear land safely and mechanically.
“I have already said, do not let there be any excuses of the people’s local wisdom and so on, I think that is an excuse,” Prabowo said. “If the people need it, we will help open land. But this really must not continue. There must be no more forest fires to clear land or for any reason.” By pairing strict regulatory penalties with direct operational support for ordinary citizens, the government aims to root out the practice entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered President Prabowo’s call for stricter penalties?
The push follows disaster management updates delivered during a hybrid limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace on September 16, 2026, highlighting ongoing risks and cross-border smoke impacts from forest and land fires.
How might the legal framework change for offenders?
President Prabowo has asked Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi and Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas to work with the House of Representatives (DPR) to strengthen national laws, potentially categorizing severe land burning as ecological terrorism.
What measures are being directed at companies and local governments?
The government plans to revoke operating licenses for corporations found violating fire bans based on police verification, and has ordered the immediate repeal of local regional regulations that still allow land burning.
How effective do you think classifying environmental crimes as ecological terrorism will be in stopping annual land fires across the region?
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