Prabowo Summons Military, Police Chiefs to Discuss Forest Fires

President Prabowo Subianto summoned the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), General TNI Agus Subiyanto, and the Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, to his residence in Hambalang, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Tuesday (1/9). The meeting, held before the President's departure for Russia to attend the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, discussed the development of the national situation, including the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) in several areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that during the meeting, Prabowo received reports on the latest conditions on the ground and the steps taken for the handling and control of karhutla. "The meeting discussed the development of the national situation and the handling of forest and land fires in several areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan," Teddy wrote in an official Instagram post from the Cabinet Secretariat on Tuesday (1/9). Teddy added that the government continues to strengthen coordination to ensure that karhutla handling is carried out quickly and in an integrated manner. Coordination is also being conducted to anticipate the expansion of fire points in several regions. Several officials attended the meeting, including the Minister of Defense, the Minister of State Secretary, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, the Deputy Chief of Police, the Metro Jaya Regional Police Chief, among others. The meeting took place while the karhutla situation in several parts of Kalimantan remains a concern for the government. In West Kalimantan, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is still monitoring 30 karhutla hotspots, with air quality in some areas categorized as dangerous. Visibility has reportedly dropped below 1 kilometer. Berton SP Panjaitan, Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, said that ground and air suppression operations are ongoing. However, officers face challenges such as low visibility, peatland fires that are difficult to extinguish, and limited water sources. Meanwhile, the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government has declared an emergency response status for karhutla from August 31 to September 29, 2026. As of August 31, 2,285 karhutla incidents have been recorded, affecting an area of 6,587.84 hectares.