West Kalimantan Haze Case Accuses Prabowo of Negligence
A class-action case over the haze and wildfires in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province has opened in court, naming President Prabowo Subianto and other…
Smoke from wildfires in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan has disrupted daily life and drawn scrutiny beyond the province. The west kalimantan haze government negligence case opened in court in Pontianak, with plaintiffs accusing President Prabowo Subianto and government officials of failing to protect residents.
The class-action lawsuit names Prabowo and officials from national, provincial and local governments, as well as police and emergency services. The plaintiffs are seeking a national emergency declaration to release resources for fire containment and recovery, along with free health services for people affected by acute respiratory infections and compensation.
The haze has affected schooling, outdoor activities and farming, while fires have spread smoke as far as Malaysia and Singapore. Residents venturing outside have been advised by necessity to wear masks, according to the account of plaintiff Sisilius Rami, who described the effects on daily life.
“We're not asking for anything excessive. We're only demanding our basic rights as citizens: Clean air and a healthy environment,” Rami told AFP from Pontianak. He is one of four plaintiffs in the case.
West Kalimantan haze government negligence case
The plaintiffs also include non-governmental organizations representing youth, environmental and Indigenous causes. Their filing says they are residents affected by the 2026 haze disaster and that the number of people affected makes individual claims impractical.
For weeks, communities have fought fires that burned large areas and polluted the air. The government deployed firefighters alongside volunteers and used cloud-seeding and water-bombing, but the efforts had limited success, according to CNA.
“If the government had truly been serious about extinguishing the fires, there would be no haze anymore,” said Tono, an AMAN representative and plaintiff. He said more borewells, firefighting equipment and water-bombing planes should have been provided to communities.
“The government has far more adequate resources and facilities than the community. Yet on the ground, it is the community that is fighting with limited means,” Tono said. His remarks point to the immediate burden on residents, who have faced smoke and fires while relying on limited equipment and protective supplies.
Lawyer Glorio Sanen said the state had not prepared adequately despite months of warning about a particularly intense dry season linked to El Niño. He said the president was named because of his authority to coordinate across government ministries and levels.
The case follows repeated wildfire emergencies in West Kalimantan, where haze has been associated with illnesses, school closures and economic disruption. A separate report by the Guardian said the lawsuit seeks recovery and rehabilitation measures, including covering residents’ healthcare costs. It reported that Prabowo and the province’s governor were among 10 defendants.
The defendants did not attend the opening hearing, according to the Guardian, and judges adjourned proceedings until 21 October. The hearing was held in Pontianak, the provincial capital.
“We feel sad and regretful about their absence … But on the other hand, we also understand that perhaps this haze condition caused them to be unable to land in Pontianak,” Sanen told reporters, as reported by the Guardian.
The government has not been quoted responding to the allegations in the supplied reports. The plaintiffs’ requested measures include free health services for people laid low by acute respiratory infections.
Source: bbc.com
