NGOs in Indonesian Borneo have filed a class action lawsuit against the government, accusing it of gross negligence in managing wildfires that have enveloped large parts of Southeast Asia in a toxic haze. This situation has led to school closures and a surge in respiratory illnesses.
Lawsuit Details
The lawsuit, initiated by indigenous and civil society groups in the Indonesian region of Borneo, names President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan among ten defendants. The plaintiffs are seeking comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures, which would include covering healthcare costs for affected residents.
None of the defendants attended the opening day of court in Pontianak, the provincial capital of West Kalimantan, on Wednesday, prompting judges to adjourn the hearing until 21 October.
““We feel sad and regretful about their absence … But on the other hand, we also understand that perhaps this haze condition caused them to be unable to land in Pontianak,” said the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Glorio Sanen.
Context of the Wildfires
Sanen described the case as “a step to address the problem” of wildfires that flare up annually in Indonesia. These fires are often ignited as a cost-effective method for clearing land for oil palm cultivation. Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil and has faced criticism for not doing enough to prevent the so-called “slash and burn” land clearances. Despite government promises to crack down on these practices, military forces have been deployed to combat the fires.
