Komnas HAM to Release Findings from Forest Fire Monitoring in Kalimantan

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is set to announce initial findings from its monitoring of forest and land fires (karhutla).

Chairperson of Komnas HAM, Anis Hidayah, stated that the team has been on-site to monitor conditions in areas affected by the forest and land fires.

“So Komnas HAM has already gone to Kalimantan. Initial findings have been made. We will announce them to the public shortly,” Anis said after meeting with the Head of the National Agrarian Reform Agency (BRAN) on Friday (23/10/2026).

Anis has not yet detailed the initial findings obtained by Komnas HAM from this monitoring.

When asked about the findings that have drawn attention, Anis urged the public to wait for the results of the monitoring to be delivered soon.

“Hold on for a bit. It won't be long. After this, we will discuss it, and it will be conveyed to the public immediately,” she remarked.

Previously, Komnas HAM pointed out the weak law enforcement as a primary factor contributing to the recurring forest and land fires.

Komnas HAM Commissioner Uli Parulian Sihombing noted that forest and land fires in Indonesia occur repeatedly every year in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

“Law enforcement is the weakest point, primarily because regulations also have shortcomings, especially regarding environmental criminal law enforcement,” Uli stated during the Focused Discussion with Experts (FGD) in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (13/10/2026).

Additionally, Komnas HAM believes that criminal penalties for those responsible for land burning, whether individuals or corporations, have not been fully effective.

“Criminal sanctions against those involved in forest and land fires, whether individuals or corporations, have not been effective; what's most important is the protection of critical peatland ecosystems,” she added.

According to Komnas HAM, the current priority is how the government can protect critical ecosystems like peatland.

“This has yet to be comprehensively accommodated within forestry laws, as we have observed that in 2015 and 2019, forest and land fires occurred primarily in peat areas,” she said.

Uli emphasized that forest and land fires directly impact human rights violations and require accountability for recovery.

Komnas HAM urges the government to consider the recovery of affected citizens in terms of health, jobs, economy, and education.

“From Komnas HAM's previous observations, there are several urgent points that need to be addressed; we urge the government to provide recovery assistance to the victims,” Uli stated.

So far, Komnas HAM has received nine complaints from the public regarding forest and land fires in various areas of Indonesia up to September 2026.

Most of these complaints come from Central Kalimantan (Kalteng) and West Kalimantan (Kalbar), followed by South Sumatra.