Prabowo Calls Forest Fire Perpetrators Environmental Terrorists, Direct Revisions of the Law Planned

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto labeled those who deliberately set fires to forests and land, causing forest and land fires (Karhutla), as environmental terrorists.

The government, through the Ministry of Law, is already considering legislative measures to address this issue through a revision of the law.

Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas stated that the government is contemplating a revision of the law to regulate ecological terrorism.

However, he has not confirmed which law will be amended.

"In terms of legislative regulation, we may revise the law related to this issue," Supratman said at the Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (21/10/2026).

Prabowo: Forest Fires as Environmental Terrorism

The push for this legislative revision arose during a cabinet meeting held to mark the two-year anniversary of Prabowo-Gibran's administration on Wednesday (21/10/2026).

Prabowo emphasized that intentional forest burning is not a trivial matter.

He even referred to such actions as crimes against humanity due to their impacts on the health of millions of people.

"Many corporations share responsibility, and the public has identified several individuals deliberately causing fires, which we can categorize as environmental terrorism," Prabowo asserted in the cabinet meeting at the Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Prabowo vowed that the government would thoroughly investigate all parties involved in forest burning.

He also warned that the government will no longer address this issue in a conventional manner.

"We cannot treat this lightly. We will take massive action, and this time, I apologize; we can no longer act in a routine manner," Prabowo declared.

On this occasion, he also cautioned that corporations found guilty would face the revocation of their business licenses.

"And for certain countries that tend to insult Indonesia, we will soon expose their companies," Prabowo made clear.

Government Opens Door for Legal Revisions

In a swift response, presidential aides believe that the government does not need to create a new law if the regulations on ecological terrorism can be incorporated within existing laws.