Student Alumni Group Urges President to Take National Command of Forest Fires, Calls for Negligent Officials to Be Evaluated

The Forum of Student Executive Board Alumni (FABEM) has urged President Prabowo to take national command of the forest fire response, punish perpetrators including corporations, and evaluate negligent officials.

JAKARTA — Calls for the forest and land fire (karhutla) response to be led directly from the center continue to grow. The central board of the Forum of Student Executive Board Alumni (DPP FABEM) has asked President Prabowo Subianto to take national command, crack down on arsonists, and evaluate negligent officials.

In a press release on Monday, 19 October 2026, FABEM chair Zaenuddin Arsyad said the fires have had wide-ranging impacts on public health, the economy, and even Indonesia’s diplomatic relations with its neighbors.

“The President must take control. The response cannot stop at putting out fires and expressing concern.”
DPP FABEM

Thousands of Flights and Hundreds of Thousands of Respiratory Cases

FABEM cited Ministry of Transportation data showing 2,458 domestic flights affected between 11 August and 17 October 2026, of which 1,324 were canceled or delayed. The group also highlighted 283,270 cases of acute respiratory infection (ISPA) linked to fire-related pollution, though the period, area covered, and direct link to the fires still require official government confirmation.

“Forest and land fires are not just an environmental disaster,” Zaenuddin said.

FABEM’s Six Demands

The President should take national command and mobilize all resources to speed up firefighting and protect affected residents.
Authorities should fully investigate suspected arson, including by corporations. Companies proven guilty should face sanctions, restore the environment, and pay compensation distributed transparently to affected residents.
Ministries, agencies, and regional governments should evaluate officials responsible for prevention and response. Those proven negligent or abusing their authority should face sanctions, including dismissal where the law allows.
The government should disclose data on hotspots, affected areas, budget use, firefighting progress, and investigation results, with independent public oversight.
The government should accept international assistance if needed, whether technical, equipment, air-quality monitoring, or humanitarian.
The Ministry of Health and regional governments should strengthen health services, including medical staff, medicine, oxygen, and emergency hospitals, prioritizing children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with respiratory conditions.

“The state must not bow to arson syndicates or allow bureaucratic negligence to sacrifice the people,” FABEM said.

Government Steps Since Then

On the same day as the release, President Prabowo chaired a limited cabinet meeting on forest fires at the State Palace in Jakarta. Since then, law enforcement has moved forward: the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency has named 245 individuals and 20 corporations as suspects and recommended revoking the licenses of 23 companies (read more). Pressure from civil society groups such as FABEM adds momentum to resolving the fire crisis at its roots.

Summarized from Holopis and TelusuR.ID (in Indonesian).