Weak Law Enforcement in Forest Fire Cases on Corporate Land in Riau?

The enforcement of law in forest and peatland fire (Karhutla) cases on corporate land in Riau Province, Indonesia, is raising questions. A seal sign from the Bengkalis Resort Police Criminal Investigation Unit remains affixed to a burnt peatland area in Dusun Air Raja, Desa Tanjung Leban, Bandar Laksamana District, on May 12. The fire covered an area of approximately two hectares, with clear signs of burnt wood, blackened roots and tree stumps, and charred logs scattered across the peatland. While the police banner does not name the landowner, several clues around the site, such as signs and information boards, indicate PT Sekato Pratama Makmur (SPM). A map overlay analysis by Mongabay Indonesia confirms this fact, linking it to a forest utilization business permit (PBPH) holder, an operational unit of APP Sinar Mas. The fires at SPM occurred between February and March 2026. Not only at the location with the police sign, but about one kilometer away, on the same line, another area was also burnt. The condition was exactly the same: blackened roots, stumps, and logs, with remnants of fire scattered across the burnt peatland. A third location experienced a more extensive fire. Sentinel-2 satellite imagery analysis identified the fire area at this location to be 99.7 hectares. Here, canals were present on each side of the outer boundary of the burnt area, situated between secondary natural forest and acacia plantations. The estimated total area of Karhutla at SPM reached 115.3 hectares, yet no police signs were found at the other two locations that burned simultaneously. At the third location, a light steel frame was erected for a banner stating that the area was prone to fire, prohibiting open flames, and warning of criminal penalties. The red banner bore the emblems of PT SPM and MPA, alongside the logos of the Riau Regional Police (Polda Riau) and the Indonesian Navy. This situation suggests that while companies acknowledge their responsibility in fire risk management, the effectiveness of law enforcement against extensive fires and the progress of investigations to ascertain the full extent of the damage remain subjects of concern.