As reported by CNA, the plaintiffs have accused the government of “gross negligence” in its handling of recurring forest and land fires. Their argument is straightforward: if these fires keep happening, why isn’t the government better prepared?
It’s not just Indonesia’s problem
Four plaintiffs, including a local chapter of Indigenous NGO AMAN, filed the class action lawsuit at a court in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, last month.
The province has been among the hardest hit by the fires and thick haze, with schools forced to close and hundreds of residents seeking medical treatment for respiratory problems.
The lawsuit comes as fires continue to affect large parts of Sumatra, Papua and Borneo, producing thick smoke that has travelled across borders into Malaysia and Singapore.
In West Kalimantan, the haze has reportedly forced schools to close and sent hundreds of residents seeking medical treatment for respiratory problems. The fires have also disrupted hundreds of flights, highlighting the wider impact of the crisis beyond the health effects of prolonged smoke exposure.
The plaintiffs are calling on the Indonesian government to declare the situation a national disaster, which they say would pave the way for more comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation efforts, including covering healthcare costs for affected residents.
The bigger question: why does this keep happening?
Lawyer Glorio Sanen, who represents the plaintiffs, described the lawsuit as “a step to address the problem” of recurring wildfires.
This year’s fires have also been fuelled by an unusually intense episode of the drought-causing El Niño weather phenomenon, creating conditions that are particularly favourable for fires to spread. The plaintiffs argue that this makes adequate preparation even more important, given that severe drought and wildfires are recurring risks in the region.
There was also an unusual moment during the court proceedings: none of the 10 defendants were present.
Glorio said the plaintiffs were disappointed by their absence, although he joked that the haze may have made it difficult for them to fly into Pontianak.
The case will now test whether Indonesian authorities can be held legally responsible for their handling of a recurring environmental crisis.
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