Indonesian Court Hears 'Negligence' Complaint Against State over Fires, Haze
Plaintiffs say officials ignored recurring fires that caused hazardous smog and respiratory illness, as judges postponed the case until Oct. 21.
- On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, a court in Pontianak, Borneo, opened a class action lawsuit against President Prabowo Subianto and officials over toxic wildfire haze, but judges adjourned proceedings until October 21 due to the government's absence.
- Indigenous groups and plaintiffs accuse the government of "gross negligence" regarding annual forest fires, which have triggered the most intense wildfires in 11 years, fueled by an intense Nino weather pattern.
- Four plaintiffs, including the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago and Catholic Youth, filed the suit in September, demanding a national disaster declaration to fund recovery and healthcare costs.
- Yakobus Kumis, representing a Dayak ethnic group, expressed disappointment at the government's absence, calling it a lesson that "violating the law is okay," while lawyer Glorio Sanen said the case was "a step to address the problem."
- The haze has shuttered schools and shrouded Malaysia and Singapore, while hundreds seek medical help; a similar lawsuit filed in 2025 in South Sumatra was dismissed, marking this as a critical test for the archipelago.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The Indonesian government has been accused of committing serious negligence in the management of forest fires that affect the country and spread a layer of toxic smoke across large areas of Southeast Asia. A collective action presented by indigenous groups and civil society organizations in the province of Western Kalimantan, on the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, calls for recovery and rehabilitation measures for affected residents, in…
Indonesian court hears 'negligence' complaint against state over fires, haze
Four plaintiffs, including a local chapter of Indigenous NGO AMAN, filed the class action lawsuit last month at a court in Pontianak in West Kalimantan province. The region has been hit hard by fires and smoke that have shuttered schools and forced hundreds to seek medical help for respiratory ailments. President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan are among 10 defendants. The plaintiffs' lawyer Glorio Sanen said after the firs…
Indonesian groups criticise government's no-show at forest fire hearing, Asia News
PONTIANAK, Indonesia - Indigenous and civil-society organisations in Indonesia's West Kalimantan criticised the national government for failing to attend the first court proceedings in their class action suit seeking to hold it responsible for the haze engulfing the province.Judges adjourned the hearing on Wednesday (Oct 7) until Oct 21 due to the government's absence from the proceedings in the provincial...
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