Latest news with #BudiGunawan
The Star
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Forest fires in Sumatra are worsening as the Indonesian govt promises to ramp up the response
A police officer sprays water in an attempt to extinguish a fire that razes through a peatland field in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Sunday, July 20, 2025. -- AP Photo/Muhammad Hatta JAKARTA (Xinhua): Indonesian authorities have been accelerating efforts to tackle forest and land fires, particularly in Riau province and other regions across Sumatra Island in the country's western territories. According to the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan, a spike in hotspots was detected in Riau between July 19 and 20, with smoke potentially drifting to neighbouring countries. "The haze from the forest fires is starting to affect neighbouring countries, Malaysia and Singapore. They have expressed their concerns through diplomatic channels," he said during a virtual coordination meeting on wildfire management held in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Wednesday. Budi added that significant forest fires were also reported in other parts of Sumatra, including Jambi and South Sumatra provinces, as well as in West Kalimantan on Borneo Island. He urged the immediate deployment of all available personnel and equipment to the field to bring the fires under control. Indonesia is frequently affected by forest and land fires, a major contributor to regional haze and greenhouse gas emissions. The country faces increasingly prolonged and drier dry seasons, making it more vulnerable to such disasters. Recently, Riau Governor Abdul Wahid declared a state of emergency in response to the growing number of hotspots and fire points detected over the past week. The emergency status underscored the deteriorating conditions on the ground. - Bernama-Xinhua
Barnama
6 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Indonesia Ramps Up Response To Worsening Forest Fires In Sumatra
JAKARTA, July 24 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Indonesian authorities have been accelerating efforts to tackle forest and land fires, particularly in Riau province and other regions across Sumatra Island in the country's western territories, reported Xinhua. According to the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan, a spike in hotspots was detected in Riau between July 19 and 20, with smoke potentially drifting to neighbouring countries. "The haze from the forest fires is starting to affect neighbouring countries, Malaysia and Singapore. They have expressed their concerns through diplomatic channels," he said during a virtual coordination meeting on wildfire management held in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Wednesday.
The Star
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Indonesia ramps up response to worsening forest fires in Sumatra
JAKARTA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian authorities were accelerating efforts to tackle forest and land fires, particularly in Riau province and other regions across Sumatra Island in the country's western territories. According to the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, a spike in hotspots was detected in Riau between July 19 and 20, with smoke potentially drifting to neighboring countries. "The haze from the forest fires is starting to affect neighboring countries, Malaysia and Singapore. They have expressed their concerns through diplomatic channels," said Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan during a virtual coordination meeting on wildfire management held in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Wednesday. Budi added that significant forest fires were also reported in other parts of Sumatra, including Jambi and South Sumatra provinces, as well as in West Kalimantan on Borneo Island. He urged the immediate deployment of all available personnel and equipment to the field to bring the fires under control. Indonesia is frequently affected by forest and land fires, a major contributor to regional haze and greenhouse gas emissions. The country faces increasingly prolonged and drier dry seasons, making it more vulnerable to such disasters. Recently, Riau Governor Abdul Wahid declared a state of emergency in response to the growing number of hotspots and fire points detected over the past week. The emergency status underscored the deteriorating conditions on the ground.
Reuters
18-03-2025
- Reuters
Indonesia to question more than 500 citizens freed from Myanmar scam centres
JAKARTA, March 18 (Reuters) - Indonesia will question hundreds of its citizens arriving in the capital on Tuesday after they were rescued from online scam compounds in Myanmar, the largest batch of arrivals in the country following a multinational crackdown on the operation. Myanmar's Myawaddy scam centres are part of a Southeast Asia network involving criminal gangs trafficking hundreds of thousands of people to help generate illicit revenues running into billions of dollars a year, according to the United Nations. About 200 Indonesians arrived at Jakarta's airport on Tuesday morning from Myawaddy via Thailand and another 200 will land in the afternoon, the chief security minister, Budi Gunawan, said in a news conference. Around 154 more are expected to arrive on Wednesday, Budi added. They were among 7,000 people from different nationalities freed from scam centres in Myawaddy following a multinational crackdown to dismantle the illegal compounds. "We will conduct an assessment to find out which ones amongst them are victims or perpetrators. Because maybe some of them are the illegal players," Budi said. "We want the Southeast Asia region free from online scams," he said. The 554 people, consisting of 105 women and 449 men, will be taken to a dormitory usually reserved for hajj pilgrims where they will be questioned by police, he said. Those cleared would be allowed to return home but those suspected of being willing participants in financial crimes would face legal processes in Indonesia. Footage showed the arriving Indonesians wearing red masks and bandanas and being welcomed by authorities, including foreign minister Sugiono, after landing. Some of them cried and hugged the officials. Budi said some of them were beaten and electrocuted before being rescued. Others were also threatened that their body parts would be taken if they failed to meet targets set by the cartel, he added. "Be careful when you make friends on social media. I am the victim of social media," a survivor with the initials DN told reporters. Earlier this month, another group of 84 Indonesians returned home from Myanmar while 70 others remain in the country. Some of them were being detained and a few have refused to go home, Budi said. Aside from Indonesia, China and India have also repatriated their citizens from Myawaddy but thousands still remain in the area including those from African nations.
