World · East Asia & Pacific · 5 hrs ago
Indonesia Investigates Possible Foreign Links to Forest Fires
Indonesia's police chief, Suyudi Ario Seto, says foreign parties may be linked to forest fires in the country.
The claim comes from investigations into 98 corporate fire cases, but police have not named the foreign parties or countries.
Suyudi said investigators are sorting out whether the links involve foreign investment or other parties.
Separately, police have named nine plantation companies as suspects, in cases involving 25,600 hectares of burned land.
Singapore's environment agency has also identified 10 Indonesian companies it suspects may be linked to fires, but those claims are separate from Indonesia's investigations.
The fires have burned large areas and sent haze across borders, while smoke has been linked to hundreds of thousands of respiratory illness cases in seven Indonesian provinces.
Investigators are collecting evidence and expect to name suspects soon, and Suyudi said company owners and shareholders may also be held responsible.
Indonesian police chief Suyudi Ario Seto says foreign entities may be involved in forest and land fire cases under investigation.
Police are reviewing 98 cases involving corporations and are still identifying which involve foreign investment or other foreign parties.
Suyudi said some suspected foreign parties are from neighboring countries but did not identify any country or party.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency separately named 10 Indonesian companies it suspects are linked to fires; the allegations are distinct from Indonesian investigations and proof by law enforcement.
The fires have burned about 202,000 hectares from January to July 2026, while smoke-related respiratory illness has been recorded in seven provinces.
- Who
- Indonesian police, led by Chief Suyudi Ario Seto, are investigating. Foreign entities and corporations are among those under scrutiny.
- What
- Police are examining possible foreign involvement in forest and land fires. Suyudi said 98 corporate cases are being reviewed.
- When
- Suyudi made the remarks on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The fires are reported in Indonesia, including areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
- Why
- Authorities are investigating alleged corporate responsibility for the fires and possible involvement by foreign parties.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
About 202,000 hectares of land were burned in Indonesia.
Police data showed 273 reports of suspected fires caused by individuals, with 223 people named as suspects.
The Health Ministry recorded 283,270 acute respiratory infection cases in seven provinces, including 63,711 among children under five.
Suyudi said police were reviewing 98 corporate fire cases and had found suspected foreign involvement.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency named 10 Indonesian companies it suspected were linked to fires.
- Corporate cases under review
- 98
- Land burned, January–July 2026
- About 202,000 hectares
- Companies named by Singapore’s NEA
- 10
- Individual fire suspects
- 223 people
- Respiratory infection cases
- 283,270 across seven provinces
3 sources
What people are saying
Of the 98 corporate cases we are reviewing, there are indeed foreign entities involved. But we are still sorting out which are foreign investments or foreign parties and which are not,
The company owners and their shareholders are responsible for the corporations linked to forest fires in Indonesia.