Riau Forest Fires: Questions Arise Over Delayed Corporate Accountability

The handling of forest and land fires (Karhutla) in Riau, Indonesia, is once again under scrutiny. Throughout 2026, the police have named 40 individuals as suspects in cases involving 904 hectares of burned land. However, as of the report by Mongabay published on August 30, 2026, no companies have been designated as suspects. This situation raises questions about the progress of investigations into fires occurring within corporate concessions. Walhi Riau, an environmental NGO, submitted findings and studies on four companies to the Riau Regional Police at the end of July. These companies are PT Sekato Pratama Makmur (SPM), PT Meskom Agro Sarimas (MAS), PT Arara Abadi (AA), and PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP). The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has confirmed indications of fires within these concessions. According to the ministry's calculations, the burned areas cover 103.4 hectares in SPM, 146.2 hectares in MAS, 66.8 hectares within AA's concession, and 71 hectares in RAPP. An additional 510.3 hectares were recorded outside AA's concession. Rizal Irawan, Deputy for Law Enforcement at KLHK, stated that investigations into the four companies are ongoing. "For these four companies, field verification is currently underway," he said. The police maintain that legal proceedings are based on scientific evidence. Investigations not only trace individuals present at the fire sites but also examine the origin of the fire, motives, responsible parties, and potential involvement of others. Despite this, environmental organizations are urging for clear and swift developments in the investigations. They emphasize that fires within concessions must be followed up with proof of accountability, rather than stopping at identification and sealing off the areas. Boy Jerry Even Sembiring, Executive Director of Walhi National, questioned the seriousness of law enforcement against corporations, stating, "It comes down to the courage and willingness of law enforcers. It shouldn't be arbitrary law enforcement." Similar calls have been echoed by other environmental groups. Forest fires in Indonesia frequently cause widespread haze, affecting neighboring countries as well. These fires are often linked to land clearing for industries like palm oil and pulpwood. The accountability of corporations in land management is therefore a critical issue. However, criticism persists that the slow pace of law enforcement and the tendency to focus on individual perpetrators hinder the resolution of the root problems.