Our hazy situation considerably went down today, and it could be due to changing winds or the bouts of rain yesterday. Another factor you could consider? Top-level people are being arrested for their connection with the illegal forest fires raging across Sumatra and Kalimantan.
The Straits Times reports that Indonesian police have arrested seven corporate executives yesterday, including one from Bumi Mekar Hijau — a unit of Singapore-based firm Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).
The Singaporean connection to the forest fires causing a chokehold in three Southeast Asian countries was affirmed recently by Bogor Agricultural University professor Herry Purnomo. “About 50 percent of palm oil companies operating in Indonesia are owned by Malaysians and Singaporeans,” he states.
Bumi Mekar Hijau has been on the hit-list of the Indonesian government for environmental crimes, and is even facing trial for a separate civil case in Palembang. Previously, they were demanded to fork out $780 million to the state in compensation for burning land.
If found guilty yet again, the company’s management could be jailed for up to 10 years.
APP however, claims to not have been aware of any formal police charges against their suppliers — Bumi Mekar Hijau included. The company, headquartered in Singapore, maintains that they’ve operated on a strict policy against slash-and-burn techniques in their supply chain since 1996.
The hazy plot continues to thicken.
Photo: Reuters
