Josi: So, was this set fire to or is it on fire?

The National Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim) has revealed the modus operandi of suspects involved in forest and land fires across nine regions. Police found that most suspects intentionally set fire to the land to reduce the cost of clearing plantation areas.

Bareskrim Specific Criminal Acts Director Brigadier General Mohammad Irhamni said that fire is used by perpetrators because it is cheaper than using heavy equipment.

"The majority of the suspects used deliberate burning to make the operational costs of plantation activities cheaper or more economical", Irhamni said at a press conference at National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on August 23.

This pattern was identified by police while handling forest and land fire cases in Riau, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Jambi, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Aceh and North Kalimantan.

According to Irhamni, investigators recovered several items that point to deliberate land burning such as lighters and fuel. "This is evidence that there was indeed an intentional act of burning, not due to natural causes from El Nino heat", Irhamni said.

According to Irhamni perpetrators took advantage of the dry season to clear land with fire before using it for plantations once the rainy season starts. "The motive for the burning is certainly land clearing", Irhamni said.

Bareskrim recorded 89 police reports related to alleged forest and land fire crimes across the nine regions and have named 72 individual suspects. According to Irhamni, police are applying provisions under the Forestry Law, the Plantation Law, the Environmental Protection and Management and the Criminal Code against the suspects.

Bareskrim also stated that the investigation will not be limited to field operators. Investigators will pursue those who ordered the fires or profited from the land clearing. "We will continue to pursue all perpetrators, those who ordered the act, and all parties who benefited from the crime of forest and land burning", Irhamni said.

[Abridged from a Tempo English article titled Police: Suspects burn forests to reduce land clearing costs.]