S

tate Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar has pledged to submit findings on massive forest fires in Riau to help the police take legal action against plantation companies that have showed disdain for environmental law.

Rachmat confirmed that several plantation firms operating in Riau were behind the forest fires that have disrupted flights and forced dozens of schools to close due to the thick haze from fires last week.

"We will file lawsuits against firms involved in forest fires in Riau this week," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Rachmat made the statement after his visit to Riau on Saturday when he and his Malaysian counterpart Douglas Unggah Embas flew over the forest areas to survey the impact of the fires.

"The forest fires in Riau were still at uncontrollable levels during my visit. I also saw forest fires in the plantation company areas," he said.

Environmental law allows civil investigators (PPNS) to investigate environment-related violations.

The results of these investigations are then submitted to police, who choose whether to investigate the matter further.

Violators can face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a Rp 500 million (US$50, 505) fine.

A team from Rachmat's office has been in Riau investigating the case for the past week.

In February, the ministry also carried out similar investigations of forest fires in Pelalawan, Riau, but no companies or local farmers have been taken to court.

WWF Indonesia said fire hot spots in Riau reached 2,395 in July, the highest ever across the country. A hot spot is defined as a fire covering at least a 1-hectare area.

The latest forest fires have caused the repeated closure of airports in Riau due to low visibility. The air quality also reached "dangerous" levels due to thick haze and has forced schools in the area to close. The haze reportedly reached Malaysia last week.

During a meeting with Rachmat, Douglas said that his country would not complain about the "export" of haze from Indonesia.

"We understand how difficult it is to stop the fires. I myself have seen the forest fires in Riau from a helicopter. It is difficult to control the fires as they have hit huge areas," he told reporters in Riau on Saturday.

"We also have the same problem in Sarawak."